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Ford Escape Hybrid - Driving Tips & Tricks

46 messages,  Last post on Apr 13, 2011 at 8:32 PM

You are in the Ford Escape Hybrid Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Escape Hybrid, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), SUV

Messages Page 4 of 5

#27 of 46 A few beginning notes by stevedebi

Apr 22, 2008 (12:07 pm)

I just got my FEH last week, 2008 AWD, no nav, no sunroof, most of the other options.
 
IMPORTANT NOTE: I always consider traffic behind me when I am doing my "tricks". I do not advocate holding up the normal drivers because I'm trying to squeeze out an extra 1 MPG. I think that we as hybrid owners should consider NOT impeding traffic as part of the "parameters" within which we try to maximize MPG.
 
I have noticed a couple of things about how the FEH uses the electric motor.
 
1. Upon starting up in the morning, the FEH will run the engine until it is warm. However, if you notice, the vehicle is actually running ONLY on electric propulsion initially. You can tell because while the vehicle is moving, the RPM is steady at around 1400. When the gas engine is propelling the FEH, the RPM guage goes up and down based on useage. The other clue is that the power guage moves over to "assist". The third indication is that I can hear the electric motor whine (very faintly).
 
In practice I have found that I can go up to about a mile and 35 MPH without the RPMs increasing. I have found that if I subsequently stop (at a light or anything), the gas engine will then kick in to supply propulsion when I start back up.
 
If you stomp on the accelerator (perhaps thinking that the gas engine is running anyway), the RPMs will go up and the vehicle will not be propelled by electric motors.
 
2. The FEH is programmed to turn off the engine when the system goes to "Charge" under a set speed (I think around 40 MPH). You can use this knowledge to enhance MPG by lightly tapping on the brake for about 1 second when you are approaching a red light and below 40 MPH. The RPM guage will hover for 1/2 second at 1000, then the motor will quit and the RPM guage will go to "EV". So long as you don't accelerate too hard, the FEH will stay in EV mode. This technique is useful when you would be slowing down anyway, so as to avoid "rushing to a red light".
 
The same thing will happen if you simply let off of the accelerator when approaching a red light, but it takes longer for the computer to figure out that you are not going to use the gas pedal again. Basically, it appears to be tied to the "charge" setting - once the computer decides to charge the batteries (because there is no load on the gas engine), it will shut down the gas engine.
 
3. On my daily commute, I choose a route that goes down an almost deserted residential street for about a mile, rather than the busy main road (the distances are the same, though the main road is 40 MPH and the residential street is 30). Then I take it easy on the accelerator and can get up to the speed limit of 30 MPH on all electric mode - no engine at all.
 
4. I always try and keep my instant MPG meter at 6 bars. I have found that the FEH goes to 2 bars under gas acceleration initially (ZERO bars if you really hit the pedal), but I can get that back to 4 bars above 25 MPH by easing off of the accelerator briefly, and then lightly applying pressure. From that point I can accelerate on up to 40 MPH at 5 or 6 bars. Once at speed I am almost always at 6 bars.
 
So far I am getting around 31 City and 30 highway, per the guages. I'm still on my initial "dealer supplied" tank of gas.

#28 of 46 Re: A few beginning notes [stevedebi] by dhuang2

Apr 23, 2008 (1:18 pm)

Replying to: stevedebi (Apr 22, 2008 12:07 pm)
The other EASY and QUICK way to improve mpg is use "L" (low gear) instead of "D" as often as possible. I gained 1MPG by using of "L". The drawback of this trick is you have to accommodate the feeling of "dragging" when the gas paddle is released, which is OK with me. And, I found it is easier to stop FEH, too. I personally feel the FEH has weaker braking.

#29 of 46 Re: A few beginning notes [dhuang2] by stevedebi

Apr 23, 2008 (1:37 pm)

Replying to: dhuang2 (Apr 23, 2008 1:18 pm)
"The other EASY and QUICK way to improve mpg is use "L" (low gear) instead of "D" as often as possible. "
 
Yes, I've read similar comments. I may give it a shot for one tank. However for the moment I'm in the "break-in" period, so I'm just keeping it on D.
 
One of my tricks is to release the pedal to cause the instant MPG to go to 6 bars. I'm not sure how well that would work with "L".

#30 of 46 Re: A few beginning notes [stevedebi] by mecheng1

Apr 24, 2008 (7:27 am)

Replying to: stevedebi (Apr 22, 2008 12:07 pm)
A lot of what you have posted was documented by the "early adopters" that bought the FEH in late 2004 early 2005 when it first came out. It is most thoroughly documented on cleanmpg.com. [lots and lots of reference material to read posted there]
 
It will be interesting to see what changes are observed later this summer as the 2009's hit the street.

#31 of 46 Re: A few beginning notes [mecheng1] by stevedebi

Apr 24, 2008 (3:13 pm)

Replying to: mecheng1 (Apr 24, 2008 7:27 am)
"A lot of what you have posted was documented by the "early adopters" that bought the FEH in late 2004 early 2005 when it first came out."
 
Well, a lot of new people don't read that far back, and I think that a validation that the 2008 still works the same has some value...
 
I have gone to several other "green" sites, and seen some of these techniques (after I found them myself), but I don't write about anything I haven't tried myself. So far I have not been tempted to try the extreme "tricks".

#32 of 46 Re: A few beginning notes [stevedebi] by mecheng1

Apr 28, 2008 (7:26 am)

Replying to: stevedebi (Apr 24, 2008 3:13 pm)
Yeah, some of those tricks are rather extreme. The one that has an almost immediate impact is keeping the tires inflated to approx 40 psi. (but not in the winter when it is not safe).

#33 of 46 EV Mode Questions & Concerns by avvocatoastuto

Apr 28, 2008 (9:11 am)

I have a 2008 FEH with about 8900 miles.
Over the last several fillups my RPM indicator never show EV Mode.
My mileage ranges from 26 (local)-29(highway).
My concern is I do not appear to be in EV Mode ever. I think my Mileage seems to reflect this.
Why do I appear to be running on IC engine 100% of the time (even when stopped at lights).
On only several fillups when my mileage was about 5000 did I get the confidence from the RPM indicator that I was in total EV mode.
Any thoughts? I haven'y discussed this yet with the dealer & maintenance people.

#34 of 46 Re: EV Mode Questions & Concerns [avvocatoastuto] by smiley317

Apr 28, 2008 (9:40 am)

Replying to: avvocatoastuto (Apr 28, 2008 9:11 am)
Is your airconditioner or defrost on? The electric engine will not kick in if either of these are on. Do you have the econ button pushed? What is the temperature outside? Have you tried running in town in the low gear? Have you tried giving the break a tap, then coasting? Does your display say that electric energy is ok?There are several things that could be happening, but we need more information.

#35 of 46 Re: EV Mode Questions & Concerns [smiley317] by avvocatoastuto

Apr 28, 2008 (11:23 am)

Replying to: smiley317 (Apr 28, 2008 9:40 am)
AC was NOT on. ECON was not on. Defrost was NOT on, but heat is/was operating when cold outside. Outside Temp is 40-75 (F) varies (lately). Fan is ON most of the time (whether in heat or AC mode).
Are you implying that I can not set a comfort environment and be in EV Mode? Woe, that's crazy.
 
PS to moderator: I checked the prior messages but listing this under "Driving Tips" seemed to bury the issue. That seemed more concerned with "technique" instead of some overall systemic isssue with EV Mode. Sorry!

#36 of 46 Re: EV Mode Questions & Concerns [avvocatoastuto] by mecheng1

Apr 28, 2008 (1:18 pm)

Replying to: avvocatoastuto (Apr 28, 2008 11:23 am)
The modes that prevent full EV are discussed in the owners manual.

Messages Page 4 of 5

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