KW Gauge Level

[JavaOops]

New to me 2014 Fusion Hybrid SE with 10K miles.

When driving, with the empower display up, I noticed that the highest the blue box will go is to the second line on the display no matter how full the battery is.

1. Am I missing a setting
2. Is the Battery pack having issues

3. Normal operation.

It just seems that a display that has 5 ticks is a waste when on EV mode.

Anyway, learning the 'new fangled' technology and seeing if this is expected behavior, user knowledge, or a defect in the pack

 

I do average about 39.0 MPG mostly commuting back and forth to work. Better downhill going than uphill returning. 0 to 60 and back.

Attached a picture indicating where the battery never exceeds.

 

PaulE

Edited December 8, 2015 by JavaOops

[FernMTL]

I use the third screen display, don't know the name in English.

It show the ICE engine and the electric motor at the same time and on the same line. For me, It's the best setting.

[md13ffhguy]

Yep, seems normal. EV is not meant to provide "full power." It provides low speed operation and cruising at higher speeds - basically lower power demand situations.

[lolder]

Go to a big vacant parking lot and floor it for a few seconds in reverse. The ICE may start but it can't drive the wheels in reverse so you may see a much higher KW reading.

[md13ffhguy]

Go to a big vacant parking lot and floor it for a few seconds in reverse. The ICE may start but it can't drive the wheels in reverse so you may see a much higher KW reading.

Disclaimer: Trained stunt driver on a closed course. Do not attempt.

[JavaOops]

Seems normal then.

[hybridbear]

Go to a big vacant parking lot and floor it for a few seconds in reverse. The ICE may start but it can't drive the wheels in reverse so you may see a much higher KW reading.

Or just floor it when accelerating on a freeway entrance ramp. The display goes up as high as it does because that's the maximum power than can be provided by the HVB. But, in normal driving it is more efficient to limit the power available from the HVB. Limiting the power draw in normal operation also protects the HVB from stress.

[Flávio Fraga]

It is normal. The Full Gauge refers to all power available (Electric + ICE). The Blue window means the maximum power you can obtain in EV mode. If you accelerate hard, the power will need to come from the ICE. That´s why you will see the gauge coming blue, while inside the window, and turning into white when ICE turns on (and probably the battery icon will start recharging). If you floor the pedal, it comes amber (yellow) telling you that the car will be using both engines (ICE + electric).

[Vlad Soare]

Does anybody know what the actual scale of the Empower gauge is? I mean, how many killowatts does each line stand for?

The gauge is marked simply 'kW', which seems to imply that one interval means one killowatt. But that surely can't be right, can it?

Edited November 30, 2019 by Vlad Soare