THE EV ADVANTAGE
Created December 1, 2005, at 11:23 am by Anonymous
Its been about a year ago that I ordered my FWD Ford Escape Hybrid. The first thing I did was get on the web and try to find all the information I could about the FEH. Hybridcars.com was a great place to talk to people that slowly started to receive theirs units. Got mine Feb. 14, 05 and right from the start, I was driving in Electric Vehicle. Top speed in EV was about 31mph then and I could go about 1.3 miles before the engine would start and recharge the battery. Driving in EV and a light foot got me 40mpg, far better than I expected from this new vehicle.
With a little over 15,000 miles, I'm getting much better mileage with a lot less work. There is no question in my mine that the Ford Escape Hybrid has "THE EV ADVANTAGE" over other Hybrids. Not to take anything from the other great Hybrids, but if you want to drive electric, buy a FEH.
Top speed after break in is about 38mph. The cruise control can be set on flat roads at 35mph in EV now. Range at that speed in cruise is between 1.3 to 1.6 miles till the engine (ICE) starts. Range can increase at slower speeds and no cruise.
The ICE can recharge the battery in about 1.8 to 2.0 miles at 35mph. However, recently (the last few months), many FEH owners have discovered ways to greatly shorten that distance to recharge the battery. Thats right, the FEH can recharge itself with the regenerative system without the brakes. This shortens the time and distance that the ICE has to run. More important, as the ICE begins to recharge a drained battery, it consumes gas at a faster rate (21mpg @ 31mph). Near the end of recharging the battery, the ICE is getting about 36mpg @ 31mph. Granted Ford designed the system to burn a smaller amount of fuel at a slower rate near a full battery as most drivers would only use EV for short take offs and parking lots. When you drain the battery and the ICE starts, it still has a big percentage of charge left but the FEH computer system will not let you tap it.
There are three ways to use the regenerative system without the brakes to recharge the battery. The regenerative system uses the moving tires and axles to turn the generator which charges the battery. I've given them names for ease of explaining them each time.
1. "THE LOW GEAR ADVANTAGE" (LGA)
2. "THE FAKE SHIFT" (FS)
3. "THE FAKE SPEED SHIFT" (FSS)
When using these methods, refer to:
4. "THE EV ADVANTAGE" (EVA)
The LGA is a method of shutting down the ICE below 40mph, setting the cruise between 30-35mph and using the tires and axles energy to charge the battery at any speed below 100mph. Placing the gear shifter in "L" and letting off the gas pedal will allow this. The cruise should be preset between 30-35mph (depending on your FEH EV top speed) with the ICE running on flat roads. Increase speed to 43mph, shift to "L" as you let off the gas. ICE will shut off at 40mph. Coast to preset cruise. If the ICE starts, try a lower setting and repeat. If you need to charge the battery, use "L" when slowing or stopping.
The FS and FSS is a way to charge the battery and lower the RPM's. As you let off the gas, the tires and the axles will also shoot a charge into the battery. This can be seen by the charge/asist gauge. The reason I call this a fake shift is because you simulate letting off the gas long enough to drop RPM's and change a gear in a manual tranny. In the FEH, I use this to keep the RPM's from running away as you try to increase speed. I try to stay under 2,000 RPM as much as posible. The FSS is a way to keep the same speed but pump fast charges into a drained battery. Example, the ICE kicks on to recharge to battery at 35mph, let off the gas like you do with a fake shift but just maintain 35mph repeating fake shifts one after another till the battery is full or a point you want to go back to EV. You don't have to increase the RPM above where you were at 35mph. Always apply gas slowly to conserve fuel.
This method can cut recharge time and reduce recharge distance from 1.8 miles to 1.3 miles.
GaryG
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6 years ago
I would be interested if anyone can reproduce this. This looks like an ad.
6 years ago
I thought I'd share this info on Hybridcars.com to help FEH owners boost mpg Doc. Its all true, check out Greenhybrids.com. This is what you can pick up from a great bunch on that forum. Not everyone will drive EV like me, but very few can get over 44mpg in a FEH either.
GaryG
6 years ago
Didn't mean to offend, but this is the first I have seen for the milage in the FEH. I am looking at the prius, but at that milage the FEH is much more appealing.
6 years ago
Doc, this is without the A/C or defrost. You can get 28-34mpg without serious EV driving. I make it a point to drive roads with low speed limits and traffic when I can.
An example of my driving this pass week which I filled up yesterday and got 41.49mpg on the tank. I drove the coast line here in South Florida on my commute of 40miles a day. I drive EV till the battery drains and start a recharge with the ICE and LGA for charging. I just discoverd and tested the Fake Speed Shift and found the great results a few days ago so I would not count that in this tank.I've been using the Fake Shift since it was new.
During this tank, I drove with some A/C and some freeway because my wife and kid like to get where their going and get back in a hurry. Most of the driving was my commute which I can get close to 60mpg average. The other driving brings my average tank down but 41.49 is much better than most.
The point of my post is to let people know you can get from point A to point B and back if you choose using EV, charge, EV charge over and over. I do it every day. If I didn't have to mix up my driving, I could get 55-60mpg in my FEH driving EV like this only.
GaryG
6 years ago
Note to all readers. Gary is clearly doing what I would call "Extreme driving". This is in no way "Normal Driving" and few people on this list are in a position where they can hope to get anywhere near this kind of mileage.
The slow speeds he's travelling at reduce affect of the 'barn-door' aerodynamics of the FEG so I'm not surprised at this performance. Doing the same kind of Extreme driving, you'll probably get about 80 mpg with a Prius or HCH.
6 years ago
Ex-ev1 driver, that's not true. It seems you have a problem with the truth. If I owned a Prius or a Honda, I would drive it to the max when I could in the area it would get its best mpg. There are those areas in all Hybrids where they can't shine and the mileage drops. For the Honda, its in the city. For the prius, its on the highway. For the Escape Hybrid, you get the biggest choice. This BS that you pull of 80mpg come from where? Your an idiot with a problem.
Now tell us how a prius or a Honda will get 80mpg you fool!
GaryG
6 years ago
Chill, GaryG. There's folks reporting here who have gotten 100 MPG with Priuses by driving 35 MPH on the freeway...and got flamed for it.
My HCH gets 40 MPG at 80 MPH for hours on end, and 80 MPG at 40 MPH for short runs (but I'm not patient enough to do 40 MPH for very long....).
Honda Civic Hybrids don't have an EV mode, so I can't do what you're doing with your FEH - but it sounds like fun.
6 years ago
Paul, don't the 06 HCHs have an EV mode?
6 years ago
Doc, yes they do, according to what I've read. The electric motor/generator is still hard-splined on the engine's output shaft - the engine "freewheels" by opening valves, which has got to be a drag.
But my 2003 HCH definitely doesn't have an EV mode.
6 years ago
Paul, I was to hard on the exdriver, I thought he was another poster who gets on a hybrid forum and just bad mouths all hybrids. The kind who doesn't own one and doesn't want anyone else to. Maybe I was wrong about him.
I'm aware of what the Prius and Honda can do and I drive in the real world in real traffic like everyone else. I've learned something about the FEH that can save others alot of money on gas. Getting over 40mpg on a tank of gas in every day driving is not that hard. The key is EV and cruise control. Can anyone tell me why hauling around a full 300lb battery and not using it much is a good idea? Everyone must mixed their speeds, drive roads that are hard on FE, run the A/C at times and drive highway speeds. Their is no reason not to help your mpg average whenever you can by using EV.
Driving even 35mph in a 45mph limit with heavy traffic is crazy, let alone a freeway. There are roads all over the place in this Country that people can choose from if the want to save gas and not bother anyone.
The important thing in my post that I want to make clear is the FEH give all drivers a big choice of how to drive to get the mileage they want with having "THE EV Advantage".
GaryG
6 years ago
Paul...on your comment...you drive 80 all day long in a same non-hybrid version and you'll get the mpg too...the hev does nothing at those speeds...check the tech out first.
6 years ago
Gary,
You did misinterpret me - but that's ok, I have tough hide. I am a supporter of hybrids. My wife has an HCH and I've gotten over 60 mpg using it on the highway.
I fully believe you and agree with your assessments, its just that the average driver will not be able to realize the performance you get since they are probably not able to do the kind of driving that you do.
I don't want them to be disappointed or feed the ICE industry's misinformation campaign that "hybrids don't deliver their advertised mileaged".
Your statement that "there are roads all over the place in this country that people can choose from is not completely correct. In most urban areas, one is faced with 2 bad choices: Stop-and-go with a lot of lights, or freeway. You won't get the extreme performance you state under either of these conditions. Since most people in this country live in urban areas, most will be disappointed if they try to get the performance you do.
Another point that you might be interested in regarding hybrids or pure EV's is that the extra mass from a battery does not impact mpg as much as mass in a pure ICE since regen recovers a lot of the momentum.
The pure efficiency of the battery-electric drive train (~85%) compared with the poor efficiency of the ICE drive train (~25%) means that the more electric use, the better - this is born out by your results.
6 years ago
ex-EV1 driver, sorry for the misunderstanding but I took the time to post information for FEH owners and those thinking about buying a Ford hybrid that may help them. I took your response as damage to my intent.
If I knew the FEH could perform or had the posibility to perform like the Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid, there would be no question in many peoples mind to stick to the larger SUV.
Many people may think I'm a hypermiler or what ever because I can get over EPA estimates, that's not going to help others feel they can get the same mileage. There is to much BS and people need to be given the facts. The theory you give about false hope just pisses me off. If anyone has a question to me, please ask. I get up in the morning and put my pants on like everyone else. If God gave me a gift, I'm sure he would want me to share it. I'm trying!
Now this urban crap, I think I drive urban also like most hybrid owners or those considering a hybrid. Your Honda can't perform in Stop N Go driving, my FEH CAN! It may be something you don't understand because you don't have one. The things I put in my post to charge the battery, you just don't get because you don't have a FEH.
The fact is, I don't have all the answers in life but I can give my opinion to help others to get result that I get. I'm not testing my FEH like groups in ideal situations! I drive like everyone else that can make a choice.
The best thing the FEH offers is a big choice. EV can save big bucks, others can't or will not admit to it. Any question? Please ask
GaryG
6 years ago
I thought the prius was only in EV mode when first starting or stopping. Will it stay electric only while slowly moving?
6 years ago
docToss,
Let me jump in here, partially so that GaryG realizes we're basically on the same side here.
Both the FEH and Prius are what I term "weak, full" hybrids in that they can operate in EV only mode at low speeds (ie generally when starting up). GaryG, explains that by careful driving, one can able to keep his FEG in EV-only mode for long periods of time and thus take advantage of the efficiencies of electric propulsion.
As Gary points out, if you want the best efficiency known today, you need to maximize the amount of electric use since the battery-electric drive is about 85% efficient in energy conversion while the gasoline (ICE) is only about 20%.
For completeness, I term the current Honda Civics as "weak, partial hybrids" since their Electric assist power is less than their ICE power and they cannot move without their ICE running. Of course, some will likely disagree with my terminology.
6 years ago
Thanks for the reply. Are there any "strong.full hybrids"? Also does the mph when the gas engine kicks in vary with car?
6 years ago
Unfortunately, there are no "strong, full" hybrids on the market - for various reasons that I won't touch right now. Today, we can only be thankful that there are any "full" hybrids. The good news is that today's hybrids are good but there is a lot of room for future improvement so the future looks even brighter!
I don't know that anyone has broken down the mileage of the gas engine (ICE) alone - I'm sure the manufacturers know it but they probably won't tell. ICE-only gas mileage with Hybrids is just like pure ICE. The bigger the engine, the worse the gas mileage but more power.
6 years ago
Thanks, I meant how fast could you go before the gas engine turns on. Someone has said around 40mph in the escape with slow acceleration, but maybe only around 15 mph with the prius.
6 years ago
My understanding is that with the Prius, there are 2 real criteria and one fictitious (software controlled) one for starting the ICE:
1. battery charge gets below some amount (~50%)
2. speed exceeds some level (~45 mph) due to limitations with the ICE/EV power converter.
The fictitious reason is software that turns on the ICE at ~15 mph. The EV-only mode button found in non-US versions overrides this and enables the physical limit not the fictitious one.
Perhaps the FEH has a higher software threshold than the Prius.
6 years ago
ex-EVI-driver, I'm starting to agree with you but here are some more facts.
The Prius has been around for years now. While I would consider a prius for fuel economy, I wouldn't consider it for the family car like I could the Escape Hybrid. BTW the FEH is my family car. The FEH has been used by the public for only one year. After break in (reduced drag on a 4,000 pound vehicle) EV speeds increases from 32mph to 38mph in the FWD model. The computer max is 40mph in EV.
The FEH's has tricks the Ford Engineers never thought the public would come up with that make it a EV with a built in charge system that uses very little gas. Of course cold weather, EV speed roads and traffic play big a roll in all vehicles, hybrid or not.
GaryG
6 years ago
GaryG,
I agree fully with you for your situation. Everyone's needs are different and fortunately, there are a few hybrids out there with differing capabilities to meet more people's needs. The FEH meets your needs, the Prius meets others' needs and the HCH meets even other needs (like my wife's 'need' for a manual transmission). Personally, there are no hybrids out there that meet my needs, that's why I'm still driving around a '91 Buick so I have extra $$$ around to buy the right car when it's available.
What I like most about your original post is that you focus on the "The EV advantage". Clearly (as you've documented), the best way to get better fuel economy is to maximize the electric portion of the hybrid. This is completely unacceptable to the gasoline-(ICE)-centric thinking and structure of existing car companies so this change is going to take a long time. This is similiar to the way steamships were required to still have masts and sails long after steam engines had proven their reliability and coaling infrastructure was in place.
The optimal hybrid is not a hybrid but a PURE EV. Hybrids are a positive step in that direction.
6 years ago
Just test drove the 06 FEH. My son has a 01 regular escape. This FEH is very nice, but I still like the audio steering wheel controls, which it does not have, and I may go with the prius for economy. However the FEH drives really well, and is roomy.
6 years ago
Doc, good luck with what ever you choose. I would consider a Prius also, its a hybrid. The price maybe better but I just got a MPG reading of 48.879 combo and the FWD FEH may end up with a better economy than the Prius.
GaryG
6 years ago
ex-EV1 driver,
We agree that a pure EV is the way to drive. This is the vary reason I choose to drive my FEH slower and use EV to the max. The FEH is the best car on the market at this point to do that. Please, if there is any vehicle that can go EV near the FEH, help us out here.
Doc, has ask about the Prius! no answer! The Honda can now go EV but it has to drag the ICE engine along.
Keep waiting and buy more gas x-driver. I'm saving everyday with my FEH. Those joker's pushing the cost difference can eat my shorts at 44mpg in the FEH.
GaryG
6 years ago
Gary, I am planning on test driving the FEH now. I am looking to buy after Jan 1. I like the size of the FEH, but the better milage of the prius. Also, is ford giving good financing?
6 years ago
Doc, I don't know what Ford is doing for financing. I prefer my credit union rates and take any cash off instead. The financing at the dealerships are rip offs most of the time so its better to take their offer and use it at the banks or credit unions to negotiate an even better rate. I got 4.25 for 6yrs with ($500 down) free GAP insurance when I bought mine in Feb. It's gone up some now, but the price has gone down. I paid $500 over sticker and it was my only cash put on a loan of sticker, tax and tag. Payment is $530 on a fully loaded '05 FWD. If you tring to get the best FE, Get a FWD.
GaryG
5 years ago
There are a number of FEH owners who drive in low gear (there is really no low gear in the eCVT) all the time or below 40mph. They have reported improved MPG, but I seen no useful gain in my mileage of ~46mpg tanks up until now.
Having used the "fake shift" ( letting off the gas pedal and sending a nice charge to the battery) in "D" to pump up my battery SoC (state of charge) for about 6 months now, I find doing the fake shift in "L", speeds up battery charge even faster. This technique is for EV driving under 43mph and can also improve the P&G (pulse and Glide) for better FE.
When the HV battery SoC is at its lowest operating level (40%), it can take a faster charge. As it fills to the top (60%), its taking a charge much slower. This is why the ICE's mpg or FE gets better while the battery is full or near full.
Driving in EV till the HV battery SoC is low enough to cause a restart, I found to be a great way to improve your mpg averages. In the last week, I found a way to improve EV mode time and get even better mpg averages. Here is how it works for me:
Take the FEH up to 43mph, shift to "L" and wait for the tach signal for EV at 40mph, shift to "N". Coast to a speed you can hold in EV in "L" and maintain till the battery causes a restart. Slowly increase speed back to 43mpg doing slow fake shifts in "L". Repeat over and over for a great pulse and Glide for the FEH. The best roads to do this is with 30-40mph speed limits. With a low battery, the slow fake shifts in "L" will recharge the battery enough to carry you the longest distance with the ICE off the longest posible time I've found yet. Use this method of "L" fake shifts anytime, but it really works with a low battery SoC.
5 years ago
You green-headed people need to get a life. I drive a 300 HP vehicle that'll kick you arsses. It gets 22MPG and so I pay twice as much for fuel..But I get twice the fun and will, in the long run pay less or about the same. My vehicle is good for 250,000 miles with routine oil changes. You POSs get great milage but are worn out or require new batteries at 100K. My car also cost thousands less that Priussy. I've done the math and even at $3/gallon--I win!@
5 years ago
P.S. In a crash test, I squash you like a bug in my 4000 lb beast and i have a 5 star rating. I can carry more people and junk too...by a long shot.
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