Regular battery questions

[DanaL]

My Maverick has been jumping into hybrid mode when the battery level on the EV screen is pretty large.
I called the dealer and he said that my regular battery was at 52% and the car will switch to hybrid mode to charge the regular battery.
He suggested I go for a long drive.
It's getting colder here and I have been doing many short trips, so that made sense.

Does the regular battery charge while I see charge on the EV screen or is that just the hybrid battery that's charging?
If that is the case, does putting on a trickle charger make sense or would that kill the battery faster?

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[HeyBales]

So they are not talking with knowledge of how it works.

So suggesting a low 12VB reading is causing the HVB to not be useable down to the normal 30% when the power request is low enough.
Ya, that's not right.

The 12VB is charged all the time when the truck is in Ready mode - doesn't matter if ICE is running or not, doesn't matter if you are driving or not.
12V and a few amps is barely anything from the HVB, even just sitting in driveway - which is all that's required, that changes nothing for the charging rate.

So beyond the obvious reason why the HVB can be high but the ICE is enabled - when the power request is above 10% on the gauge, there are other reasons why once ICE is enabled, it may keep running.

Now that it's getting cooler - this will start happening more.
If the coolant temp is below 120 F, ICE will be kept running until it is. That's the outside edge of the 1st tick mark on the coolant temp gauge, when the outside edge of the arm matches it.
Here's the wrong side of that 1st tick.

If the catalytic convertor temp is below 1000, actually the ICE will run but main power still from the Traction Motor is used while the ICE idles - unless you are just punching it.

If you have the desired heat temp well above a cold ambient outside temp - then the minimum desired coolant temp may be well above 120, which means the ICE must run more.
I think I recall abouts 140 last winter.

So those are reasons why your ICE may be starting or running longer, despite having HVB power available and you aren't asking for more than 10%.

And a couple directions to go on that 12VB if really at their tested 52%.
They'll warranty when it falls below 40% - unless earlier by a friendly nice dealer.

So either carry a jump pack for the final day it doesn't, or charge it.
I'd suggest wait until you get no lights on entry, that should be low enough.
Then drive it in for their test, should be warranty replacement.
And they seem to be providing an AGM under warranty now - at least if dealer is out of the prior FLA's that were same part #.

 

[DanaL]

Thanks for the reply.
While I understood what he was saying, it didn't make sense that the EV system would care about the regular battery except when starting the truck, but I wasn't going to question his knowledge. There is much about how the truck works that I don't understand.
I can't say how much percent HVB I have, but I've seen it go down WAY lower and still be in electric mode. To me, it very close to full.
I understand the truck operates differently when it's cold, but it has happened after the truck was warm and I am barely on the gas. I am very aware of the 10% and watch it very carefully.

I had my battery replaced already.

 

[HeyBales]

Thanks for the reply.
While I understood what he was saying, it didn't make sense that the EV system would care about the regular battery except when starting the truck, but I wasn't going to question his knowledge. There is much about how the truck works that I don't understand.
I can't say how much percent HVB I have, but I've seen it go down WAY lower and still be in electric mode. To me, it very close to full.
I understand the truck operates differently when it's cold, but it has happened after the truck was warm and I am barely on the gas. I am very aware of the 10% and watch it very carefully.

I had my battery replaced already.

So this is overfull you might say. Way beyond the word Electric, where 70% normally lands.
So not this long, normal back at the tri?

Actually - it'll display this big sometimes (not sure how to make it do that, but always after initial start), and the SOC will still be the max 70%, actually a little over usually.
At this point it'll allow up to 15% abouts (what the MY25 has as a max) power, almost to 123 Amps.

And you are sure not going over the 10% power request?
How full is the box with solid blue when you have the ICE turn on?

 

[DanaL]

I'm going to say it's near the "I" or the "r".
I am absolutely positive I am not at 10.
I'm thinking I'm very close to charge.

 

[Robot-Wrangler]

I am disappointed in that all of these years Ford has not figured out how to properly charge their hybrid 12v battery also the undersized battery is a joke with no cold weather reserve to speak of. I owned a 2014 Fusion Hybrid and now a 2025 Maverick hybrid Lariat and the past three days I'm getting this battery saver mode.

As soon as the temperature dropped below freezing - kaput! I can't start the truck remotely to warm it up. I drove it plenty of miles each day this week, as I always do, 100+ per day.

I have my code reader plugged in and the hybrid system battery had a 59% charge when I parked it last night. I'm going out for breakfast after chores and I hate the idea of paying for features that are disabled when I want to use them. I'll check the state of charge and voltages before I start.

 

[Robot-Wrangler]

I am disappointed in that all of these years Ford has not figured out how to properly charge their hybrid 12v battery also the undersized battery is a joke with no cold weather reserve to speak of. I owned a 2014 Fusion Hybrid and now a 2025 Maverick hybrid Lariat and the past three days I'm getting this battery saver mode.

As soon as the temperature dropped below freezing - kaput! I can't start the truck remotely to warm it up. I drove it plenty of miles each day this week, as I always do, 100+ per day.

I have my code reader plugged in and the hybrid system battery had a 59% charge when I parked it last night. I'm going out for breakfast after chores and I hate the idea of paying for features that are disabled when I want to use them. I'll check the state of charge and voltages before I start.

FYI: The Fusion destroys a battery every couple of years and locks you out. It sucks crawling through the back seat to release the trunk! I gave it to my brother with a fresh battery and all maintanence performed with new tires. I included a trickle charger. It appears that this truck will need the same charger so the time on cold weather. I would prefer -0.5mpg for an alternator and voltage regulator. And a bigger battery. This sucks!

 

[Robot-Wrangler]

FYI: The Fusion destroys a battery every couple of years and locks you out. It sucks crawling through the back seat to release the trunk! I gave it to my brother with a fresh battery and all maintanence performed with new tires. I included a trickle charger. It appears that this truck will need the same charger so the time on cold weather. I would prefer -0.5mpg for an alternator and voltage regulator. And a bigger battery. This sucks!

Well, well, the OBDII port is not operating. No data. Probably another weird electical fault. My FORDs seem to have plenty.

 

[HeyBales]

Well, well, the OBDII port is not operating. No data. Probably another weird electical fault. My FORDs seem to have plenty.

It can get into that state, even with full 12VB, where the reader doesn't get anything from the truck in Accessory mode.
I have to click it to On, get the Green icon in Forscan Lite, and back to ACC mode. (24XLT, so keyed).

So while there is maybe 2 seconds of charge being thrown at the 12VB during the On time, if I quickly hit the Play button in the app to see the data - you see it drop right back to where it was. Hit the brakes to drop the surface charge.
Then you can see it again.

I will mention that while the small CCA isn't an actual problem for something that requires so little power, during the worst of winter last year and a terrible SOC%, the SOH% always tested at 100% or close to stated Ah or CCA.
So while it's small, it's got more than stated in my case.
My current bigger battery warranty replacement - I don't think so.

 

[DanaL]

I am disappointed in that all of these years Ford has not figured out how to properly charge their hybrid 12v battery also the undersized battery is a joke with no cold weather reserve to speak of. I owned a 2014 Fusion Hybrid and now a 2025 Maverick hybrid Lariat and the past three days I'm getting this battery saver mode.

As soon as the temperature dropped below freezing - kaput! I can't start the truck remotely to warm it up. I drove it plenty of miles each day this week, as I always do, 100+ per day.

I have my code reader plugged in and the hybrid system battery had a 59% charge when I parked it last night. I'm going out for breakfast after chores and I hate the idea of paying for features that are disabled when I want to use them. I'll check the state of charge and voltages before I start.

I had a similar problem. They replaced my battery. Talk to your dealer.

 

[LGM30G]

I’ve had my 2024 Hybrid Lariat for about 18 months. No recalls or issues. Today I took it to the dealer for deep sleep issues. Replaced the stock battery with an AGM battery. No questions or issues.

 

[MaverickDragon]

... does putting on a trickle charger make sense or would that kill the battery faster?

I didn't see this question answered so far so...
A trickle charger typically puts out its rated amperage regardless of the battery need, so it can overcharge and damage the battery.
OTOH, using a battery MAINTAINER on a battery is a good thing.
It will keep it charged up and batteries like to be charged up.

I keep my motorcycle on a maintainer while it's parked, and my batteries last more than a decade.
I like the Noco brand. Install pigtails and it's easy-peazy to hook up when you park, assuming you have power. If you haven't done so already, consider upgrading to an AGM, as they don't need maintenance and eliminate the fun of dealing with the typical corrosion a FLA produces.

 

[DanaL]

I didn't see this question answered so far so...
A trickle charger typically puts out its rated amperage regardless of the battery need, so it can overcharge and damage the battery.
OTOH, using a battery MAINTAINER on a battery is a good thing.
It will keep it charged up and batteries like to be charged up.

I keep my motorcycle on a maintainer while it's parked, and my batteries last more than a decade.
I like the Noco brand. Install pigtails and it's easy-peazy to hook up when you park, assuming you have power. If you haven't done so already, consider upgrading to an AGM, as they don't need maintenance and eliminate the fun of dealing with the typical corrosion a FLA produces.

Interesting. Thank you. Based on the first reply, I wonder if it's necessary though. I love this truck, but it is so confusing...

 

[Robot-Wrangler]

I had a similar problem. They replaced my battery. Talk to your dealer.

Thanks to you, I have an appt with the dealer Friday.

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