What’s your EV coach “blue bar” length?

[MostlySafeBear]

It's not the only time you can get into EV though. You can get EV at any time (well 99% of the time) on a warm engine by taking your foot off the torque pedal (throttle) completely.

I mean, yeah, you can, but at that point, the truck isn't moving with no throttle input, so it's not very useful as a vehicle.

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[Aherpa]

Hey guys, I came across somebody else’s dash image in EV coach showing their “blue bar” quite a bit larger than I’ve ever seen mine, I drive pretty conservatively to maximize MPG and I have to drive VERY conservatively to try and keep it in “electric”, mainly in ECO. Can I get some input on the typical size bar you’re seeing on the coach screen. The biggest I’ve ever seen mine was extending to under the R in “electRic” The image I saw his was well beyond the word “electric” if that makes sense. I’m Wondering if there’s something up with mine.

The bar on my truck will vary in length. When it is shorter, I can tell the ICE will kick in soon because the charge is not sufficient to run the truck.

It took me a while to realize that the bar length seems to be a charge indicator. Take note if the bar length gets longer after regen braking or the ICE running.

If you are concerned about the battery not charging to it's full capacity, take your truck out for a run on a road with hills so you can watch the regen kick in. A small road trip should max-out your bar. . .

 

[daddio211]

What’s your EV coach “blue bar” length?

Isn't that a personal question

If yours is blue you need to see a doctor. Or at the very least stop choking it!

 

[Chris_G]

If yours is blue you need to see a doctor. Or at the very least stop choking it!

 

[GPSMan]

I mean, yeah, you can, but at that point, the truck isn't moving with no throttle input, so it's not very useful as a vehicle.

Ever hear of coasting?
100% useful.

 

[MostlySafeBear]

Ever hear of coasting?
100% useful.

Not unless you can coast from a stop to appropriate traffic speeds, which is after all why we use the accelerator pedal.

I'm not saying that coasting is not situationally useful, but you specifically referred to removing all throttle input, and outside of limited situations, you won't get to work and back with no throttle input.

 

[GPSMan]

Not unless you can coast from a stop to appropriate traffic speeds, which is after all why we use the accelerator pedal.

I'm not saying that coasting is not situationally useful, but you specifically referred to removing all throttle input, and outside of limited situations, you won't get to work and back with no throttle input.

You're a funny guy.

I coast to every single stop light and every single stop sign.

You should try it some time.

 

[GPSMan]

The blue bar comes on, on top of the white "hybrid" bar at battery 43% SOC.

I guess this is when Ford programmed in a little bit of "encouragement" to try and utilize EV drive mode. Implying "don't bother" when SOC is below 43% and gets larger as charge increases.

You can have EV all the way down to 30%.

 

[GPSMan]

Hey guys, I came across somebody else’s dash image in EV coach showing their “blue bar” quite a bit larger than I’ve ever seen mine, I drive pretty conservatively to maximize MPG and I have to drive VERY conservatively to try and keep it in “electric”, mainly in ECO. Can I get some input on the typical size bar you’re seeing on the coach screen. The biggest I’ve ever seen mine was extending to under the R in “electRic” The image I saw his was well beyond the word “electric” if that makes sense. I’m Wondering if there’s something up with mine.

Seems I inadvertently created some concern. Here is a very detailed description, with photos, from my observations today.

New information:
I CAN create the long bar on demand. Many times now.
If you park with high state of charge, when you restart you get the long bar, but sadly; only the first time. But why?

The power output is up to DOUBLE the first time out on a start up.
If you park with high SOC.

70% SOC

 

[GPSMan]

Unrelated but kind of related the temperature needle behaves much the same way. It's very linear until 185°F then does not move at all between 185°F and at least 215°F.

I've never been hotter than 215°F.

 

[Automate]

Seems I inadvertently created some concern. Here is a very detailed description, with photos, from my observations today.

The bar is showing how much power is available from the battery. SOC is the most important factor but battery temperature is a secondary factor. The ideal battery temperature is around 70 degrees. If the battery is colder or hotter, it will shorten the bar.

 

[Sykotyk]

Also depends on how fast you're going.

 

[CuriousGary]

What you said can happen but it's not the only time.

The battery can be 30% to 70%.

The blue bar is really small 30% to 35%.
The blue bar is more or less "normal" size 35% to 65%.
The blue bar is really large 65% to 70%.

Guess where the battery charge usually is? Above 35% and below 65%.

This is really interesting, but what do the length of the bars mean, in terms of how long you can drive in electric without the gas engine coming on. So, the higher the SOC — the closer to 70% — the longer you can drive in electric and the higher your mpg’s?

Also, what is the source of your knowledge? It is certainly not in the users manual.

 

[GPSMan]

This is really interesting, but what do the length of the bars mean, in terms of how long you can drive in electric without the gas engine coming on. So, the higher the SOC — the closer to 70% — the longer you can drive in electric and the higher your mpg’s?

Also, what is the source of your knowledge? It is certainly not in the users manual.

Well on the lower end they give you a good idea of how much charge is left in the battery. But turns out, it's more of an early warning system of hey, you're about to run out of charge.

40% to 30% the bars shrink in a linear manner. Above 40% it appears they don't, so not much help except you know you are above 40%.

Kinda like the yellow lamp for low fuel.

Higher SOC (state of charge expressed as a percentage) means more power, just like more fuel in the tank, so yes, you can drive further on electricity.

Higher MPG comes from intelligent management of when to use electricity and when to use gas. The Ford programming, hardware and software combined have automatically come together to about double the MPG of the EcoBoost. This is with the sort of "average jack of all trades master of none" approach. I mean, in fairness; they had to make a mass produced vehicle that would be "good" in half a million scenarios.

By you and me having additional data and knowledge we can fine tune, optimize the management of electricity and gasoline use for our exact condition and our exact driving style, boosting MPG 5, 10, 15 or more.

But theres WAY more ability to "optimize" at slower speeds and stop
N go than high, steady, freeway speeds in which you pretty much have to "go with the flow".

Does that help?

 

[CuriousGary]

Well on the lower end they give you a good idea of how much charge is left in the battery. But turns out, it's more of an early warning system of hey, you're about to run out of charge.

40% to 30% the bars shrink in a linear manner. Above 40% it appears they don't, so not much help except you know you are above 40%.

Kinda like the yellow lamp for low fuel.

Higher SOC (state of charge expressed as a percentage) means more power, just like more fuel in the tank, so yes, you can drive further on electricity.

Higher MPG comes from intelligent management of when to use electricity and when to use gas. The Ford programming, hardware and software combined have automatically come together to about double the MPG of the EcoBoost. This is with the sort of "average jack of all trades master of none" approach. I mean, in fairness; they had to make a mass produced vehicle that would be "good" in half a million scenarios.

By you and me having additional data and knowledge we can fine tune, optimize the management of electricity and gasoline use for our exact condition and our exact driving style, boosting MPG 5, 10, 15 or more.

But theres WAY more ability to "optimize" at slower speeds and stop
N go than high, steady, freeway speeds in which you pretty much have to "go with the flow".

Does that help?

Yes. Thank you. Could you tell me a bit about your background — how you acquired your knowledge of Ford or other hybrids? You are certainly a good writer.

I have managed about 41.5 mpg over 800 miles with maybe 1/3 suburban interstate on which I experience quite a bit of slowdown. My approach has been to stay close to the speed limit and to often take my foot briefly off the accelerator to see if I can get into electric driving and then staying there as long as possible. I am a retired accountant so I don’t usually need to push the vehicle too much. TMI?

A writer at this or another site wondered whether it was good for the Mav battery and engines to push the Mav into electric so often as opposed to letting the software do the job. What’s your take?

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