The “L”ow Down (shifting into L - Low when approaching a stop)

[Brent@ANParts]

How does this compare to engine braking (in say a manual Ranger)?

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[HeyBales]

Ohhhh - now there's some observation I need to make on PID's I already display.
Brake pressure to each wheel.

Does the regen from braking engage the rear brakes on it's own, maybe different at different speeds?
Considering some of the comments on rear brake wear that seems premature - must be getting used extra at some point, or it truly just is the effect seen with gentle brakers.

Data snippet for the following final seconds before a stop.
Was going 40 mph with ICE on, starting coasting as foot went to brake and ICE went off.
Pressed brake enough to stay at higher end of regen but didn't need max braking, plenty of battery to fill. About 1.1 mm on brake.
At 11.8 mph brake pressure started being applied - still totally in regen area for my press.
Rear brake PSI higher than front, until about 3.7 mph and 1.6 seconds later, when they all merged. (curious why front right about 2x PSI as left until merge, straight road)
I've noticed this effect before, rear's given pressure just barely stronger than fronts.

Data attached. Graph pic. Blue line showing amps going to battery, with neg traction motor torque confirming regen.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

How does this compare to engine braking (in say a manual Ranger)?

I don't have the Ranger. But compared to other cars in general, I would say (subjectively):

While you have empty battery space (about 1 mile of downhill) it is just as strong as any other vehicle.

When battery is full and you have engine brake alone, it depends greatly on your speed.

At 10 mph and under, you really don't get much, if any engine brake effect at all. The gearing can't go low enough. It's all brake pads. So if you are riding the brakes a lot on trails at 10 mph and under, give your brakes time to cool once in a while.

15-25 MPH it feels like being in 1st gear.
30-50 MPH it feels like being in 2nd gear.
55 to 75 MPH it feels like 3rd gear.

 

[CBennett]

My other car is an Automatic Miata and the paddle shifters are loads of fun. Tap the downshift a few times and I don't have to move my feet (except keep foot off the accelerator).

Ive had those on 3 cars ive owned outside using them just to see what they did(aka did they work well..were they worth using) I think I used them in 3 cars..less than 10 times.

 

[TheSEARCH]

Ever drive a stick?
If so, did you downshift as you approach a corner?
As you came to a STOP or YIELD sign, did you just brake? Or did you downshift?
(On a bike, downshifting is practically mandatory.)
Pushing the L button is downshifting. Only problem is there’s only one lower gear.
Wife’s hybrid RAV allows three lower “gears”, allowing more regen.
After driving hers for a while, coming back to the Mav, I miss more lower gears.
By the way……..
Seems that there are quite a few Mav & Rav couples out there!

When you say allows more regen I think you mean harder or FASTER slow down via regen,

If you apply brakes lightly Mav stops almost fully regen .So really the same as L its just faster slow down with L. BUT if you step on brakes harder friction brakes come into play. So allowing more regen is really letting regen do HARDER regen braking or faster slow downs via regen .

If it allows faster regen you can drive one foot driving. BUT danger as no brake lights. As I said I never hit L if someone is behind me. I think Telsa are the only ones with brake lights from regen braking. Plus I only use L on this one hill I drive down with a stop sign at bottom of hill.

 

[basicUse]

This was my thought also. I have a hybrid and I like to use "L" to slow down, this way I know I am using regen and not the brake pads. BUT I ALWAYS make sure there is not a car behind me!

Before I realized the brake lights did not come on, I had noticed cars approach very quick and then slam the brakes! At first I would get mad at them for almost hitting me, but that is when I realized what was happening and that I was causing the problem, AND I had to be careful when I use "L".

just flash the hazards same time.

 

[Ryom]

All the 100% brake coach means is that you never over-braked into the hydraulic brake application. Lightly braking for longer will get you 100% returned energy notifications every time.

 

[Robot-Wrangler]

Verified! I was decelerating in ECO mode which uses more regenerative braking last night and no brake light came on. Then I set the adaptive cruise from 55 to 45 and the truck decelerated again with no brake light. I have not used the L setting, but I'll try it through the construction with stop and go low speed driving.

Now I understand why tailgating drivers nose dive their brakes behind me so often!

I've been using the ECO with "L" the past two weeks like an exhaust brake/one pedal drive. It does assist with deceleration and acceleration from a stop is a tiny bit quicker. Leaving it on does not appear to adversely affect the truck any. Regenerative braking is more pronounced in L. Stop and go slow speed driving with the adaptive cruise on, ECO/L is very efficient indeed and boosts your electic miles and mpg at up to 50mph.

For a really weird kick, try SPORT/L. Tell me what you think about that combo. It's like hybrid on crack, It makes the truck take off like an Ecoboost, yet regenerative braking is maxed out.

The truck won't come to a complete stop with cruise off, in ECO/L and no obstacle in front. It will roll on level ground at between 3 and 5mph. So it's not a true single pedal EV experience. Dang close though.

 

[Robot-Wrangler]

It will NOT use the brake pads instead of engine when the battery is full, if you are still pressing the pedal just enough to stay in Regen area. (unless 25MY massively changed something)

That is the whole reason why the engine is spun up - Regen is still happening (tad less from the traction motor), but now instead of energy going to the battery it's wasted going to the engine via the generator motor.

If the battery was full and it just engaged brake pads instead - there would be no reason for the engine to be spun up.

Remember that Motor 1 is direct coupled to the engine. Perhaps it's generating more charge? I'll research this increased charging before declaring it to be fact by observing the battery charge level with my Car Scanner. Compression braking a gas engine reduces brake wear and I'll verify increased mpg.

 

[MaverickNoticer]

I prefer to shift in to W and win! L? pffff. that's for

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Remember that Motor 1 is direct coupled to the engine. Perhaps it's generating more charge? I'll research this increased charging before declaring it to be fact by observing the battery charge level with my Car Scanner. Compression braking a gas engine reduces brake wear and I'll verify increased mpg.

Not sure what you mean.

The traction motor is directly geared to the output shaft- aka wheels.

Traction motor has to be still when the wheels are still. And has to spin in a fixed gear ratio when the wheels spin.

No motor is directly tied to the engine.
That's the continuously variable part.
Engine RPM can be anything at any wheel speed between the min / max tolerances.

 

[Chops]

I recently consulted ChatGPT on a question I had about using the L transmission setting when I’m approaching a stop sign or red light.

For those of you not familiar with ChatGPT it is in AI based data repository that essentially searches all available data on subjects and provides the detail you have requested.

Here is a response I received:

Yes, it’s generally okay to shift your Ford Maverick Hybrid into “L” (Low) when approaching a stop, but there are some important things to understand:

What “L” Does in the Maverick Hybrid

• On the Ford Maverick Hybrid, shifting to “L” increases regenerative braking, which helps slow the vehicle down more aggressively and charges the battery.
• It doesn’t lock you into a single gear like in traditional automatics — it’s more about changing the vehicle’s behavior to prioritize engine braking and regen.

When It’s Useful

• Approaching a stop or going downhill: “L” can help slow you down more quickly, reducing brake wear.
• Heavy traffic or city driving: If you want to make more use of regenerative braking and improve efficiency slightly, “L” can be helpful.
• Steep descents: It gives you better control without riding the brakes.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Shifting into “L” at low speeds (like under 30 mph) is completely safe.
• Don’t downshift abruptly at high speeds — it won’t harm the vehicle due to built-in safeguards, but it’s unnecessary and may feel jerky.
• Using “L” all the time isn’t harmful, but it may make the ride feel less smooth in normal driving.

Bottom Line

Yes, you can shift into “L” when approaching a stop in your Ford Maverick Hybrid. It’s safe and can even be beneficial in some situations. Just don’t treat it like an emergency brake — use it for controlled slowing.

Some Maverick Hybrid drivers use the “one foot driving” method. What is one foot driving in the context of hybrid driving in “L” mean?
Per Grok:
“"One-foot driving" in the Ford Maverick Hybrid refers to the potential to primarily use the accelerator pedal to control both acceleration and deceleration, leveraging the vehicle’s regenerative braking system. While the Maverick Hybrid’s regenerative braking is strong and supports a driving style that reduces brake pedal use, it does not offer a true one-pedal driving mode like some electric vehicles. The system allows for efficient driving, especially in urban settings, but inconsistencies in low-speed braking and the need for occasional brake pedal use mean it’s not fully optimized for one-foot driving. Owners suggest that a software update could enhance this capability, making the Maverick Hybrid an even more compelling option for those seeking an EV-like experience in a compact hybrid pickup.”

 

[HeyBales]

Remember that Motor 1 is direct coupled to the engine. Perhaps it's generating more charge? I'll research this increased charging before declaring it to be fact by observing the battery charge level with my Car Scanner. Compression braking a gas engine reduces brake wear and I'll verify increased mpg.

How would any compression ICE braking which reduces brake wear increase the MPG?

Are you talking what Ford calls the generator motor - not directly coupled.

In my description to what I was replying to - the HVB is full. The question/comment was if the brake pads were brought in sooner then when HVB is full.
No.

 

[nekodan]

How would any compression ICE braking which reduces brake wear increase the MPG?

Are you talking what Ford calls the generator motor - not directly coupled.

In my description to what I was replying to - the HVB is full. The question/comment was if the brake pads were brought in sooner then when HVB is full.
No.

Oh how can you tell the state of charge on the HVB?

 

[HeyBales]

Oh how can you tell the state of charge on the HVB?

Scanner tool/display.

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