Hybrid mileage down after dead battery

[cja9500]

Hi,
I’m new to this forum and I am looking for some advice. I own a 2023 Maverick XLT hybrid. I drive a lot and have 42,000 miles on it. I average 40+ miles per gallon. At the end of November, my battery was dead. I got a jump and was on the road again. For the last month, I’ve been averaging 32-35 mpg (regular driving). The regenerative braking when stopping downhill has been “clunky.” I have the extended warranty and had took the truck to my local dealer. They pretty much told me the brakes are fine and that the truck has to re learn my driving habits since the battery died. I discovered some battery issues on this forum. (Thank you). I brought that up to the dealership and was told that Ford does not have recommendations on what to do and that my battery only died once. Any guidance, advice, or feedback is appreciated.

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[HeyBales]

Sadly they are a bunch of goof-balls.
There is no learned shift points for an automatic transmission in this case.
This is an eCVT there are no shift points.

New battery not related to brakes, or gas mileage.
Colder temps perhaps.

But if battery did die it may have been harmed & can't hold a good charge.
They should load test it.

 

[NedF]

Hi,
I’m new to this forum and I am looking for some advice. I own a 2023 Maverick XLT hybrid. I drive a lot and have 42,000 miles on it. I average 40+ miles per gallon. At the end of November, my battery was dead. I got a jump and was on the road again. For the last month, I’ve been averaging 32-35 mpg (regular driving). The regenerative braking when stopping downhill has been “clunky.” I have the extended warranty and had took the truck to my local dealer. They pretty much told me the brakes are fine and that the truck has to re learn my driving habits since the battery died. I discovered some battery issues on this forum. (Thank you). I brought that up to the dealership and was told that Ford does not have recommendations on what to do and that my battery only died once. Any guidance, advice, or feedback is appreciated.

The computer may take a while to calibrate and better anticipate your expected Mileage/ tank. Last trip should be as accurate as it was (but could be lower than you expect because of colder temps). If the computer it starting from scratch the better mileage you may have had in the summer is not going to be there to boost your current trend.

 

[Parts Russ]

Sadly they are a bunch of goof-balls.
There is no learned shift points for an automatic transmission in this case.
This is an eCVT there are no shift points.

New battery not related to brakes, or gas mileage.
Colder temps perhaps.

But if battery did die it may have been harmed & can't hold a good charge.
They should load test it.

And if you replace your battery get your computer reset.

 

[Steve_B]

Sadly they are a bunch of goof-balls.
There is no learned shift points for an automatic transmission in this case.
This is an eCVT there are no shift points.

New battery not related to brakes, or gas mileage.
Colder temps perhaps.

But if battery did die it may have been harmed & can't hold a good charge.
They should load test it.

Since getting the low battery features disabled warnings my mileage has also dropped from 40+ MPG to mid to low 30's . Not sure if cold weather or a bit lower tire pressure or constantly trying to recharge battery is to blame.

 

[Maverick2023]

I jumped my dead battery several times before replacing it with an AGM. Never had a change in mpg except in cold weather. MPG will be affected due to weather and driving conditions.

 

[HeyBales]

Since getting the low battery features disabled warnings my mileage has also dropped from 40+ MPG to mid to low 30's . Not sure if cold weather or a bit lower tire pressure or constantly trying to recharge battery is to blame.

If it was constantly trying to recharge the 12V battery at any decent level that mattered and caused an effect, we wouldn't have the issues people have.

Colder, maybe tire pressure which obviously lowers with the cold.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

Since getting the low battery features disabled warnings my mileage has also dropped from 40+ MPG to mid to low 30's . Not sure if cold weather or a bit lower tire pressure or constantly trying to recharge battery is to blame.

In your case (if not entirely highway miles) the mileage drop is probably mostly from running the heater, which makes the gasoline engine come on to make waste heat for the cabin heater and to warm up the battery. Whereas, running the electric A/C in summer city driving will not lower the mileage much at all.

 

[Steve_B]

In your case (if not entirely highway miles) the mileage drop is probably mostly from running the heater, which makes the gasoline engine come on to make waste heat for the cabin heater and to warm up the battery. Whereas, running the electric A/C in city driving will not lower the mileage much at all.

Thanks,
Sounds like the heater is most likely the main culprit . Driving is pretty mixed between city and highway.

 

[cja9500]

Since getting the low battery features disabled warnings my mileage has also dropped from 40+ MPG to mid to low 30's . Not sure if cold weather or a bit lower tire pressure or constantly trying to recharge battery is to blame.

Thanks for the responses. I did check tire pressure and even changed the air filter. I’m in southwestern PA. The winter has been mild so far and I had it last winter with no noticeable dip in mpg. I didn’t realize that the heater uses more gas than the ac. This is my 1st hybrid.

 

[icegradner]

Thanks for the responses. I did check tire pressure and even changed the air filter. I’m in southwestern PA. The winter has been mild so far and I had it last winter with no noticeable dip in mpg. I didn’t realize that the heater uses more gas than the ac. This is my 1st hybrid.

Also a drop happens with the switch to winter gas in mid-late fall. It has more additives to help prevent freezing, this decreases fuel economy. That said, I find it takes hitting below freezing temps to really hurt the numbers.

 

[NedF]

Thanks for the responses. I did check tire pressure and even changed the air filter. I’m in southwestern PA. The winter has been mild so far and I had it last winter with no noticeable dip in mpg. I didn’t realize that the heater uses more gas than the ac. This is my 1st hybrid.

The A/C is electric where as the heat comes from the ICE. The ICE will always run when it's temp is below 50°C - 1) to heat the HV battery and 2) to deliver heat to the cabin if the heat is called for. I tend to keep it off unless the windows need to be defrosted and use the heated seats and steering wheel to keep me warmish.

 

[DavidB367]

Hi,
I’m new to this forum and I am looking for some advice. I own a 2023 Maverick XLT hybrid. I drive a lot and have 42,000 miles on it. I average 40+ miles per gallon. At the end of November, my battery was dead. I got a jump and was on the road again. For the last month, I’ve been averaging 32-35 mpg (regular driving). The regenerative braking when stopping downhill has been “clunky.” I have the extended warranty and had took the truck to my local dealer. They pretty much told me the brakes are fine and that the truck has to re learn my driving habits since the battery died. I discovered some battery issues on this forum. (Thank you). I brought that up to the dealership and was told that Ford does not have recommendations on what to do and that my battery only died once. Any guidance, advice, or feedback is appreciated.

My current 10 year old honda always gets worse gas mileage in the winter. I always track my MPG and 2 things reduce my MPG: Oil life and colder weather.

 

[BlueSpec1]

Hybrid: Before engine coolant is heated up:
Electric booster heater operating parameters:
• Engine is running
• HVAC controls have been switched to the highest temperature setting
• Engine coolant temperature is below approximately 75°C (167°F)
• Ambient air temperature is below approximately 12°C (53.6°F)
• Sufficient generator capacity is available

The electric booster heater is deactivated when an engine coolant temperature of approximately 85°C (185°F) or an ambient air temperature of approximately 15°C (59°F) is exceeded.

Component Description
Electric Booster Heater
The electric booster heater, also known as the PTC heater, is made up of three separate ceramic resistor elements.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

I didn’t realize that the heater uses more gas than the ac. This is my 1st hybrid.

The electric AC is very efficient and runs off the HV battery. If driving conditions allow the truck to only run in Electric mode (city driving for example), the gasoline engine (ICE) will only come on periodically if the AC has drained the HV battery more than it is can be recharged by regenerative braking. Once the HV battery charge reaches a threshold, the ICE will shut off again. It is not belt-driven, in fact your Hybrid has no belts visible in the engine compartment.

In all-highway driving, the heater does not cause a hit to mileage, since the ICE will be running anyway.

The A/C will drop highway mileage a tad, because extra energy is being used to keep the HV battery charged. Less of a hit though, than the additional aerodynamic drag caused by driving with the windows down.

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