Tested: Slippery Mode is best for highest MPG (in Hybrid Maverick)

[GPSMan]

It's mainly about what is most comfortable for your style & conditions.

If a button could magically net you 5 mpg more, it wouldn't be a button. It would be a permanent aspect of the truck. Don't you think Ford would have advertised it as a 47 MPG truck if a button press could do that?

I prefer slippery because it lowers regen strength. This means I can coast longer distances with the gas off. I'm a fan of coasting. Coasting fits my style and conditions. I'm laid back.

I can mimic the same, and get the same MPG in other modes, but other modes are less "relaxing" to drive in.

Sponsored

 

[SoCal OG]

I’m trying to follow all this however my COVID rattled brain can’t keep up. Would someone please cut to the chase and say what gives the best mileage. I just bought my third tank of gas. This tank was 95% my wife driving in the standard mode. I filled up with 568 miles on the tank averaging 40.2 mpg. My goal is to hit 600 miles on a tank without running out of gas. Where I live there is a combination of rolling hills and flat land. I try to drive in eco mode and most of the time I can get the truck back into the green once at the top of the hills.
The gas mileage game is what reduces my regret for not buying the 2.0 engine with a trailer towing package.
Speaking of trailer towing has anyone had any experience towing a light trailer with a hybrid? I need to be comfortable with this or sell my boat.

I just towed a 5x8 uhaul trailer from Los Angeles to San Francisco. No problems at all, pulled it like a champ.

 

[spacenavy90]

Has anyone experimented with highway/city driving in eco/slippery mode in "low gear"?

I would assume that slippery in normal gear would be best for highway driving, while stop-and-go city driving in eco mode with "low gear" could be better.

Would be interested to see some controlled tests comparing these scenarios.

 

[GPSMan]

Has anyone experimented with highway/city driving in eco/slippery mode in "low gear"?

I would assume that slippery in normal gear would be best for highway driving, while stop-and-go city driving in eco mode with "low gear" could be better.

Would be interested to see some controlled tests comparing these scenarios.

Low should only be reserved for holding your speed on steep down grades. Period. There are no brake lamps illuminated unless your foot is on the brake, and low heats up the battery quickly. Nice when below freezing, bad for the battery the rest of the time.

It's pretty much all been spelled out.
Slippery is gentle throttle response and gentle braking response and lowest regen while coasting... closest to neutral coasting. Helpful when you want to coast. Does nothing when you don't. It's the opposite of sport.

Every mode is going to net the same MPG in steady state (cruise) highway driving.

The modes only change the feel of accelerating and decelerating.

Small other nuances like normal will run your battery to a lower state of charge and tow/haul will tend to run the battery at higher state of charge and dis-allow EV driving. Also changes RPM mapping.

The mode changes are most apparent, and most useful IMHO when in city, stop n go, and slow n go conditions.

 

[Panther City Outdoors]

any experience towing a light trailer with a hybrid

I've been towing a SylvanSport Go.. Its 890lbs, plus 260lbs with my scoot. getting 36-44mpg. I think I was in tow mode, but it was probably normal. Going on a longer camping trip after Xmas and will make a video on it.

 

[Mav_RICK]

I came out of a F150 getting 14-15 mpg and am now getting 42-44 mpg and I don’t push any button. I don’t push the mode button, I don’t push any OK buttons. That’s about as relaxed as I need to get.

 

[Joeneonturbo]

After almost a year of driving, I just leave it on normal. Slippery’s slow response is bad in California driving. Low seems to charge more but holds back on normal acceleration. I get nearly the exact mpg rating Ford states. California highway rush hour traffic I easily get high 50s with ACC on. I drive mainly 1-3 mile trips in California Central Valley there’s no trick in getting a big mpg boost.

 

[SLJ]

If it's the same as my original Bronco Sport was, the Ford manual stated that Slippery Mode in AWD should only be used in slippery conditions and using it for prolonged times on hard surfaces could damage the drivetrain. They also said it about Sand Mode. I don't see anything in the manual about prolonged use of Slippery Mode for the AWD Maverick. Maybe the software has been changed.

 

[Automate]

If it's the same as my original Bronco Sport was, the Ford manual stated that Slippery Mode in AWD should only be used in slippery conditions and using it for prolonged times on hard surfaces could damage the drivetrain. They also said it about Sand Mode. I don't see anything in the manual about prolonged use of Slippery Mode for the AWD Maverick. Maybe the software has been changed.

For the Bronco Sport that is due to the AWD. The Maverick Hybrid does not have AWD so it does not apply.

 

[spacenavy90]

Low should only be reserved for holding your speed on steep down grades. Period. There are no brake lamps illuminated unless your foot is on the brake, and low heats up the battery quickly. Nice when below freezing, bad for the battery the rest of the time.

That's not the only reason you would use low. Many others have reported using low continuously with no issues. Its useful for max regen and simulated one-pedal driving. I do with it would illuminate the brake lights when braking this way, and in my part of the country especially at this time of year excess battery heating is a good thing.

It's pretty much all been spelled out.
Slippery is gentle throttle response and gentle braking response and lowest regen while coasting... closest to neutral coasting. Helpful when you want to coast. Does nothing when you don't. It's the opposite of sport.

The modes only change the feel of accelerating and decelerating.

The mode changes are most apparent, and most useful IMHO when in city, stop n go, and slow n go conditions.

This is why I would like to see tests run in city driving in some of the different modes (yes even with low gear enabled to).

 

[jsalewicz]

Hello folks-

I did a few well controlled tests on my 2022 Hybrid Maverick to explore the features of the different modes. I now drive in slippery mode ALL THE TIME. If top MPG matters to you; maybe you will too.

I have a ScanGauge III attached to the OBDII port and see data in real time from the Maverick's sensors.

On the same road traveling the same direction for all tests with the HV battery between 41.5 and 42.0% for all tests, I got up to 28 MPH, put it in Neutral, coasted to 25 MPH then without touching either pedal, put in back in drive. This was to measure the amount of regenerative charging. I coasted from 25 mph to 15 mph and recorded the results.

Eco Mode: 34A (7.5kW) at 25 MPH
Eco Mode: 15A (3.3kW) at 15 MPH

Tow Mode: 34A (7.5kW) at 25 MPH
Tow Mode: 15A (3.3kW) at 15 MPH

Sport Mode: 34A (7.5kW) at 25 MPH
Sport Mode: 15A (3.3kW) at 15 MPH

Normal Mode: 22A (4.8kW) at 25 MPH
Normal Mode: 10A (2.2kW) at 15 MPH

Slippery Mode: 12A (2.6kW) at 25 MPH
Slippery Mode: 3A (0.66kW) at 15 MPH

Slippery is best if you want to coast the longest distance without using fuel.
Slippery has given me +10 MPG over Eco in slow rolling conditions such as California freeways at rush hour.

Other observations:
Normal, Eco, Slippery allow EV driving.

Tow/Haul and Sport DO NOT allow EV driving, but will "idle stop" while you are not moving.

Normal, Eco, Slippery modes force the gas engine on when the battery drops below 30% state of charge.

Tow and Sport modes I could not get the battery to 30% because the engine was always running!

There is hysteresis in charging. Sometimes.

In Normal, Eco, Slippery it can start and stop the engine at any battery percent down to 30.01%. Once you hit 30% and below (can briefly hit 29% for example) then the engine must run until the battery exceeds 40%.

In Normal, Eco, and Slippery the HV battery likes to stay in the 30's and 40's for percent. Rarely over 50% SOC. Almost never over 55%.

In Tow/Haul and Sport modes the battery quickly charges to 70%! Presumably so you have more juice at the ready for hill climbing, and presumably, drag racing.

Beware- from 30% to 70% you have full regen braking from the brake pedal, which is 145 Amps (32 kW). At 70.2% my regen brake limit went from 32 kW to 7 kW in one step. Surprised me it wasn't a taper, but this was day one of data collecting.

-John

WOW GREAT STUFF! I will now try slippery mode. I have yet to try it. My commute ranges from 50mph to 20mph and I get 47 mpg on average I am just shy of 4000 miles. Last commute 30:42 53.0mpg 18 miles total 10.3 miles electric in ECO mode 75% of the drive 25% standard mode. I did have a tail wind

 

[Automate]

That's not the only reason you would use low. Many others have reported using low continuously with no issues. Its useful for max regen and simulated one-pedal driving.

The problem with low is that it will use engine braking sometimes without the driver being able to control it. So it can hurt gas mileage and put more wear on your engine. You are better modulating the brake pedal and watching the power meter so you only use regen. Therefore no engine or friction braking and maximum regen.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

The problem with low is that it will use engine braking sometimes without the driver being able to control it. So it can hurt gas mileage...

In this type of engine braking, isn't it done with the engine off?

 

[spacenavy90]

The problem with low is that it will use engine braking sometimes without the driver being able to control it. So it can hurt gas mileage and put more wear on your engine. You are better modulating the brake pedal and watching the power meter so you only use regen. Therefore no engine or friction braking and maximum regen.

In my experience, engine braking only happens if you aren't using the electric mode enough. The idea is to charge to full with low gear and then expend as much of the battery as possible with max electric power.

 

[Automate]

In this type of engine braking, isn't it done with the engine off?

Engine is turning but no fuel is being used, no combustion.

Sponsored