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Hybrid Vehicles Ford Escape Hybrid Ford Escape Hybrid MPG-Real World Numbers
201 messages, Last post on Jun 24, 2009 at 11:16 AM
You are in the Ford Escape Hybrid Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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Replying to: cchurch (Aug 29, 2006 8:04 am) You won't ever get the EPA sticker numbers over the long term. You can get varying numbers over repeated trips on the same roads based on changing: Driving Habits - Accelerating, Braking, Cruising Speed,etc. Weather - Extreme temps, use of A/C Traffic - congestion, speeding Consider the following tricks to improve mpg: No jack-rabbit starts. You don't have to strain your leg to keep the truck in EV mode...as long as you limit the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) under or close to 2000 rpm as much as possible. Switch between L and D on the stick shift when it is advantageous - this will take some practice to discern when it is helpful to use the two different computer algorithms (there is no high or low gear range in an ECVT) You can feel the regenerative brake motor/generator drag the vehicle in L range but L will also let you engage EV mode up to 40 mph or so. In D mode, start braking as early as possible to engage the regen brakes. Think of the brake pedal as a switch that turns on the regen brake as soon as you put the lightest touch on the pedal and then increase pressure only as needed to be safe. Some folks report inflating their tires to 45psi or greater (sounds too harsh to me). Lots of other ideas in some of these hybrid forums. Remember to reset your mpg calculator frequently to monitor what types of roads and driving give you the best average. I have seen fluctuations of 5-6 mpg over the same roads. It may take a few weeks to learn what works best. I have had mine for only 6 months and I am saving a minimum of 10 mpg over my old 4-cylinder Isuzu Trooper. Enjoy.
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Replying to: mecheng1 (Aug 29, 2006 9:10 am)
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Replying to: dehart (Aug 05, 2006 7:32 am) I have a 2006 FWD Escape HEV with 7349 on the odometer... I consistently get better than 33 mpg, and just got back from the long weekend trip from Detroit to West Virginia... had the air conditioner on during the trip down and got stuck in one traffic jam that was bad enough that I ran out of battery power and the engine came back on... didn't go to any extremes like turning the engine off, still got over 32 on that part of the trip. My last 3-tank average of gas station receipts is 33.9 mpg, and I was frequently reading over 35 mpg on the 15 minute running average on the GPS console. I wasn't going that slow, either, I was doing the speed limit, which ranged from 55-70 mph, mostly using cruise control. I just read a good article on hybridcars.com about maximizing mileage which has some advanced techniques I'm looking forward to trying... google for "An SUV that gets 45 mpg" to find it. |
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Replying to: ekiehn (Sep 02, 2006 7:21 pm)
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Replying to: mecheng1 (Aug 29, 2006 9:10 am) I do have a couple of complaints: 1) I never know when I'm in 2 or 4 wheel mode, nothing on dash tells me (though I can feel the difference by the 'seat of my pants'); 2) my wife complains the passenger side mirror has no light in it! (she uses it more than me the driver) another Ford 'better idea'? 
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Replying to: cchurch (Sep 05, 2006 10:35 am)
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Replying to: escapehev (Sep 06, 2006 1:19 pm)
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I have a 2006 hybrid, purchased on January 3rd, of 2006. It took till mid summer (about 6 months) to really see an improvement from my 27mpg ave. Then I learned a couple of things. If you keep the tach just around 2000 for all of your driving, you will see about 34-35 mpg ave. If you go down to between 1500-1800 rpm, you will see the epa 36mpg, even with the i.c.e. running. As for the starts, and keeping it from going into i.c.e., once you get going, release the pedal for a quick moment and then put the pressure on again. The tach will 'reset' so to speak. For some reason, the continuously variable transmission works by giving more power than is needed. Once you get to the speed that you want to drive at, do the quick release of the pedal, and you will see the rpms drop but your speed will remain up there. I can get 70mpg on the interstate and still be around the 2000 rpm! 
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Replying to: ekiehn (Sep 07, 2006 4:06 am) As for "premature" ICE cut-in, the 90 electric motor probably just isn't enough to propel the FEH from many dead stops (incline, etc.) From my experience, the computer is primed to cut-in the ICE at even the slightest suggestion that significant power will be needed. I am sure Ford engineers had to program the FEH software for the 80% of the market that doesn't want to think about how the truck operates. Perhaps in the future there may be more than two algorithms to choose from (D and L), maybe a "Sport" and "Economy". But you'd hate to be Econ mode when you are at a stop sign and need immediate engine response to dart across an intersection ahead of oncoming cars, etc. I'm hoping that enough hybrids will be sold to support a healthy aftermarket in devices for these early models. (Like the plug-in kits that are already being developed for the Prius) happy trails
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Replying to: warlok2 (Sep 14, 2006 5:34 am) I've been trying this out, and sure'nough if I keep the tac low my mpg goes up. So far been milking it to keep tac between 1100-2000, and noticed added a couple of miles on the readout. Great if you're not racing with traffic, but the 'quick release' after go does seem to reset the transmission into higher mpg. Feels good.
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