New 2006 FEH: so far not too impressed
Created January 5, 2007, at 5:18 pm by MandT_FEH
Hi,
we've just had our FEH a little over a week. I know there is a "break-in" period for the engine but just the same, I'm a bit envious of mileage reports on new FEHs in the region of 35+ mpg. The "average fuel economy" display has never fallen below 10.1lt/100k and is now sitting at 10.3lt/100k. This would be around 20-23mpg in the city (90% of our 300km). The "miles to empty" display, which showed almost 700km when we drove off the lot now shows 295 after half a tank (ie. from 700 down to 595km on a tank of gas). We are driving slow, not using the defrost and we live in a pretty flat town.
At this point I'd say the full electric mode kicks in only about 10% of the time.
Our car is a new 2006 that had about 200km on it at time of purchase, so it was likely sitting in fleet storage for much of the last year or so. Would this affect the high voltage battery? The readout shows battery level at normal.
So far I have to say that I am not too impressed. Hopefully this is one vehicle that just needs the "break-in" period.
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5 years ago
Hi ManT
There are many factors that determine MPG, and cold weather is one of them. That being said, the biggest factor is the driver. There is the driver who exspects the vehicle just to put out great MPG without trying, and there is the driver that makes the vehicle get the best MPG it can in any weather.
Some drivers will never see EPA ratings, some drivers can more than double EPA ratings. My best 20 mile round trip is 70.3mpg in my '05 FWD FEH, not double of 36mpg EPA, but close. I don't use all the tricks that says Wayne Gerdes uses, but getting less than 42mpg on a tank is a disapointment to me these days.
Read this article about Wayne Gerdes (the best) and determine which things are acceptable in changing your driving habits.
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/01/king_of_the_hypermilers.html
If you want to see what I do to push the FEH, see a aritcle I wrote.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/articles/t-hypermiling-the-ford-escape-hybrid--350.html
Good Luck
GaryG
5 years ago
Your response did nothing to address my concern that, with average use by an average driver, I was so far getting mpgs far lower than what drivers have been reporting under actual driving conditions. Never mind what has been advertised by Ford.
I'm not hoping to get "hypermiling" mpgs, just something near to what is being advertised. The mileage reports on this site and other hybrid sites are not all done by "hypermiling" enthusiatsts. If they are then obviously the reported mpgs for FEHs and other hybrids are highly skewed (and flawed).
I have driven other SUVs without hybrid technology and getting 20-23mpg would be considered below average.
Obviously you aren't interested in giving useful advise, just stroking your ego.
5 years ago
If you choose to drive drive an under powered ICE (FEH) like a standard powered ICE, you will not get the same mileage in the same vehicle. You would have been better off buying a standard I-4 Escape for mileage, or a V6 Escape if you wanted near the same power with less mileage.
After giving you links with the most useful advise, you tell me I'm stroking my ego. You obviously want to complain about your FEH and not listen how to get out of the driving habits that puts you in the low 20's MPG.
First you state "Never mind what is advertised by Ford" and then state "just something near to what is being advertised". It appears you are mad at Ford because you don't know how to operate a hybrid. You can take advantage of the FEH as myself and many other owners have, or not. If you choose to take just a few of the suggestions in those articles, you could get "near" what other drivers are reporting. All I was pointing out was, much better mileage could be had in the FEH than 20-23mph.
Maybe you should hope to get "hypermiling MPG" and perhapes you will get something "NEAR" to what is advertised. Most of us hope to get the best mileage possible, but end up with something acceptable.
GaryG
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