The Double tap, don't seem to have it, tips, help?
Created June 18, 2008, at 6:35 pm by ranger1
Simply, the much talked about double tap to go to EV mode just doesn't seem to work for me.
Perhaps I'm missing some refinement? I've tried light taps, medium, heavy, none seem to cause my FEH to go to EV. It does go to EV thus: If SOC is high enough and I'm going very soft on the gas at under 30 mph; at a complete stop of course, and, finally, if (enough SOC of course) I simply take foot of gas and drop speed until engine gas engine stops. This last method seems the most ineffective as it seems to me the speed drops way down before the gas engine stops.
As, I'm rarely in a rush, I now plan routes such that I can mostly be a slow mover and not bother anyone. Thus the main way I'm getting EV is simply to light foot it off a stop and go at a speed that EV stays on until SOC drops such that gas engine starts. I understand this is not really the best way to get best econ. I'd sure like to have the double tap in my tool box of economy!
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If you drop your SoC down enough so that charging the battery heats the charging system to its limits, any kind of regen including the double tap in "D" or using "L" to go EV will not work till the system cools down enough. This happens to me everyday I drive my FEH. The solution is to eliminate regen when trying to go EV when this happens. Shifting to "N" eliminates all regen so the light double tap will signal engine shutdown below 40mph.
I know when the the charging system will get to hot for the FS in "L" to go EV because of all my experience hypermiling. Sometimes I just have to let the small generator continue to charge because or road or traffic conditions. When I'm ready to go EV, I just shift to "N" and do a light tap (not to lose speed) to go EV. Every once in awhile, the battery wants to go into a reconditioning mode and it's hard to get it in EV. After a few tries, I convince the computer who is the boss and the engine shuts down. I think "N" and brake taping confuses the computer and it gives up on battery reconditioning.
Thanks for the good info there. I'm pretty much driving all the time in L, therefore I see that as soon as I lift my foot of the gas, I'm more than likely inducing regen. I'll try the neutral thing.
I look forward to you getting your 09'er and the interesting reviews to follow! How long now for your wait?
Hi Ranger
Driving in "L" was your problem with the double tap not working. If you can't go EV by letting off the gas pedal below 40mph in "L", the double tap will not work in "D" either. Shifting to "N" with 2 light taps will solve your problem.
My recommendation is to stop driving in "L" right away. Use "L" as a brake and to go EV only. I also use it as one of my best techniques to pack a fast charge in the battery while the engine is running to return to EV ASAP. Read about this technique and why you should not drive in "L" at the end of my Steady State Speed test. The article I wrote was "Hypermiling The Ford Escape Hybrid" at:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350
Hopefully I'll have my new '09 FEH within 6 weeks.
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