Really bad in-city mileage.

[Bill B]

I don't get it. I am only averaging 30mpg in my hybrid Maverick. That is 40% town, and 60% highway driving. IF I drive all in town, I average 20-22 mpg. This is done by actual math at the pump, not by the trucks estimate. Here's the thing, I BARELY touch my accelerator pedal, and I can stay in electric up to about 20mph. After that it kicks on the gas engine. When I say barely I mean it takes me two blocks to get up to 20. Now, also, if I am looking at my instant mileage, it NEVER shows more than 8-20 mpg at low speeds but accelerating with the gas engine on. Then I get up to speed speed and back off the pedal to put in in hybrid mode. On the highway I will regularly get 35-38 mph indicated on instant mileage.
Here's my thought and question. When the gas engine cuts in at low speeds (30mph) doesn't the electric motor keep assisting the gas engine? I can't figure out how in the world people are getting over 40mpg.. My truck just doesn't seem to have any power in electric operation.
Before you start thinking I am driving crazy, I'm 66 years old and being passed by other cars all day long. I brake easy and accelerate lightly, backing off the gas pedal to let it kick into hybrid as much as possible.
Bad battery? Bad programming? Bad electrical connection somewhere? Anybody have any ideas? Took it to the dealer, they drove it on the highway and said "It's getting 35 mpg, what do you want?" Well, the big problem isn't on the highway, it's on the damn city streets at sub 40mph speeds!
Or is this just all I can expect? Yeah I'm frustrated. And yes I know how to drive a hybrid.

Sponsored

 

[Snax]

Getting good range with hybrid is more about good braking, not as much about acceleration. Do you run the brake coach, and get 100% regen when stopping?

 

[Bill B]

Yes almost always 100%

 

[Impetus19]

Is it possible there is an issue with your regenerative brakes?? Almost seems like they are not charging the battery at all.
How do you normally calculate the mpg manually?

 

[Bill B]

Is it possible there is an issue with your regenerative brakes?? Almost seems like they are not charging the battery at all.
How do you normally calculate the mpg manually?

Miles driven divided by gallons used. I notice that my truck starts the engine after I back out of my driveway every day and will NOT use the electric motor until I have driven about 5 miles, even while coasting.

 

[Bill B]

Also the power meter shows that charging is happening when I brake.

 

[Snax]

Have you tried letting someone who isn't familiar with hybrids drive your truck? It might be possible that in your efforts to maximize range are actually conflicting with the computer's algorithms.

 

[Darnon]

What sort of ambient temperatures? 5 miles before it can start using EV seems pretty long. Mine is usually ready in a little over a mile, closer to 1.5 mi as it's getting below 60 degrees in the morning here.

 

[daemonic3]

I do not think the OP is an inefficient driver, I think it is a vehicle issue.

I have a hybrid Powerboost F150 and for the life of me I do *not* get the EPA rating nor what nearly every other forum member gets. In 3 other recent vehicles (my F150 Ecoboost, our Mach E, and our Hyundai Venue) I exceed(ed) the EPA ratings, even when I'm not trying. I feel that there is just a distribution of efficiency on these vehicles and my Powerboost is on the unlucky side of the distribution. It has an EPA rating of 24mpg and I get 20-21 with best tank ever of 21.5mpg.

Regarding the behavior, I think it is likely normal for the engine to stay on until the battery is "warmed up". On my Powerboost, it likes to get and keep the hybrid battery at 95 degrees, probably similar for the Mav but I won't know unless I can plug in my ODB2 reader and test it. It will use engine-only until the battery temp is "warm" before letting it charge and discharge.

I don't know if the OP has access to an OBD2 reader and an app like Torque or Carscanner but it would be a useful exercise to see if the HV battery current is actually feeding the battery, and also would be good to monitor the SOC%. It should range from about 40% minimum to ~60% maximum around the city (on downhills it will go up to 70% but no more)

Anyway, I would have never been in the "some cars are less efficient" camp until I am a victim of it myself. I know every tip and trick used by others on forums and from experience my driving style exceeds EPA on every vehicle except my Powerboost. (the saddest part is I got better combined MPG in my old Ecoboost F150 than my Powerboost)

 

[Bill B]

it's been 75-80 degrees in the mornings. I have driven several other hybrids and they all had lots more low end torque on electric than my Mav.

 

[Bill B]

I do not think the OP is an inefficient driver, I think it is a vehicle issue.

I have a hybrid Powerboost F150 and for the life of me I do *not* get the EPA rating nor what nearly every other forum member gets. In 3 other recent vehicles (my F150 Ecoboost, our Mach E, and our Hyundai Venue) I exceed(ed) the EPA ratings, even when I'm not trying. I feel that there is just a distribution of efficiency on these vehicles and my Powerboost is on the unlucky side of the distribution. It has an EPA rating of 24mpg and I get 20-21 with best tank ever of 21.5mpg.

Regarding the behavior, I think it is likely normal for the engine to stay on until the battery is "warmed up". On my Powerboost, it likes to get and keep the hybrid battery at 95 degrees, probably similar for the Mav but I won't know unless I can plug in my ODB2 reader and test it. It will use engine-only until the battery temp is "warm" before letting it charge and discharge.

I don't know if the OP has access to an OBD2 reader and an app like Torque or Carscanner but it would be a useful exercise to see if the HV battery current is actually feeding the battery, and also would be good to monitor the SOC%. It should range from about 40% minimum to ~60% maximum around the city (on downhills it will go up to 70% but no more)

Anyway, I would have never been in the "some cars are less efficient" camp until I am a victim of it myself. I know every tip and trick used by others on forums and from experience my driving style exceeds EPA on every vehicle except my Powerboost. (the saddest part is I got better combined MPG in my old Ecoboost F150 than my Powerboost)

Thanks! I have been a mechanic all my life, and my first impression (gut feeling) is that somehow the hybrid battery is not holding a charge like it should.

 

[Impetus19]

Miles driven divided by gallons used. I notice that my truck starts the engine after I back out of my driveway every day and will NOT use the electric motor until I have driven about 5 miles, even while coasting.

Does the maverick have a battery gauge similar to the prius? Does anyone know? I have never had our prius wait 5 miles to use the battery.

 

[TedTX]

Sounds wrong, very wrong. Try sports mode, if it’s not very noticeable difference in acceleration I would guess a bad wire. If it is noticeable but short lived then poor battery.
There are tools and phone apps that will show cell performance and overall battery ‘health’ dealership and Ford has even better tools but would have no desire to admit unhealthy battery

 

[huunvubu]

A few techniques to get better Hybrid MPG's.

First Show the EV COACH display in the Instrument Cluster Display

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the user manual:

EV coach can help you get the most out of your vehicle's electric driving capabilities.

Note: EV coach is a selectable screen. See Customizing the Instrument Cluster Display (page 117).

When you are accelerating or maintaining speed you see a blue or white solid bar indicating vehicle power. You may also see a blue rectangular box which shows the power level at which the engine turns on.

• When the power level is within the box, the color of the bar is blue. This means you are in electric operation and the engine is off.

• When the power level is outside of the box, the color of the bar is white. This means you are in hybrid operation with a combination of the electric motor and the engine providing vehicle power.

When you are decelerating with either your foot off the accelerator pedal or on the brake pedal, a green or white solid bar displays indicating the power being used to slow down your vehicle. You may also see a green rectangular box which shows the amount of power that can be recaptured by the regenerative braking system and returned to the high voltage battery.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When accelerating get up to speed as you normally would then very briefly take you foot off the accelerator pedal then reapply the accelerator pedal. This usually puts you into electric only mode. Now continue driving at speed in electric only mode. You will exit electric mode is you accelerate quickly or if the charge on the HV battery drops too much and the ICE engine will turn on to keep your speed and charge the HV battery.

Also drive in ECO mode. This helps in putting power back into the HV battery when stopping. If you brake properly you should see a 100% Brake Coach report when fully stopped.

 

[jsus]

If you're seeing that disparity, then something must surely be wrong with the vehicle, or you are accelerating very hard and idling a lot during your city driving. Upper 30s highway and low 20s city in a hybrid can't be explained otherwise.

Sponsored