Empower, Inform, Enlighten, or Engage?

[coach81]

Sounds good Gray.... love that 73.8!!!

[l40knocker]

I think the climate control is a big factor in the MPG. I got my car last week of December and got really good mileage increases when there was a warm spell and I did not turn on the heat. Now that it is down in single digit temps the mileage drops off. I am interested in seeing what I get when it warms up a bit.

[B25Nut]

Okay, I'll have to admit that that using Empower is the best way to stay in EV mode longer. The changing size of the EV box is very useful. I liked Engage since it gives a better indication of what the hybrid system is doing by clearly showing the amount of the ICE and EV power contribution when both are being used, but this doesn't help get more MPG. Engage does always show the upper limit of EV power, which I found useful many times, but gives no indication of what the limit is when other factors lower the threshold.

[acdii]

I stopped using them since it really makes no difference, so stuck the Tach and temp on my view and left it there. It gets what it gets no matter how I drive it. Best it did today, and in warmer temps than the rest of the week was 33.9.

[Klstaack]

I switch between empower and my view. On my view I have the thermometer so I know when I can use EV and the time increment showing my mpg...I have it set up for 6 minute intervals. I just like looking at it and seeing how I'm doing along my drive. I am consistently aging trips at 47mpg or above....the other day I had my best at 75mpg.

[coach81]

Klstaack - :drop:

[acdii]

Yeah, what Coach said. Are you sure aren't driving a Prius?

[B25Nut]

Friday night, we took an eight mile trip for dinner. Heavy traffic kept freeway speeds below 65mph and my FFH went into and stayed in EV much more frequently than usual. It got 57.3 mpg. The ride home at higher speeds (and probably slightly uphill) got 36mpg. Not a bad average. I was a bad boy yesterday and went 70+mph up a long, steep grade. That put my lifetime back to where it was.

[coach81]

thanks for the updates...

[B25Nut]

For new FFH owners, I would still recommend starting with Engage. This will give you a real feel of what's going on with the power distribution in the Ford Hybrid system and give you more feedback on how different driving styles affect it. Then you can switch to Empower to more easily maximize your EV time.

[ace8726872]

While I was looking around different views on my dash, I came across this and had to chuckle. Is my car trying to tell me something?

Edited February 20, 2013 by ace8726872

[TX NRG]

While I was looking around different views on my dash, I came across this and had to chuckle. Is my car trying to tell me something?

 

I think acdii's Lifetime Summary screen kept showing him a similar image before he traded it in. ;)

[acdii]

Yep. and my other one gives me two fisted ones. bigger screen so it does 10 bars instead of five.

[hybridbear]

I tried Empower on my drive home last night. I don't see why it would be prefered over Engage, which for me gives a clearer indication of the ICE and EV power distribution. I'm usually in the minority when it comes to what people like, so maybe it's just me.

I am driving my Fusion now just the way I like to drive (maybe 10% differently). I'm not that worried about the MPG (which is still double what I've ever had). I'm just enjoying driving my car.

 

Engage gives the clear distribution of power, but not the threshhold, I frequently flip back and forth while driving depending on circumstances

 

Switched to empower today. Definitely the way to go, for me. I guess i was confused at delivery because empower's "EV power threshold" only shows while moving (same in the old car, it has been a while so I forgot about it). And so the "split power" in engage mode seemed more informative.

 

I'm still missing a couple of things I had readily available in my 11 FFH dash. Distance to empty and accessory power (hey, sometimes every little watt counts). I am sure I will get those with some extra tinkering...

 

I have the accessory power on MyView along with the coolant temp. Although I can very easily switch MyView to show the tachometer and coolant temp with just a few buttons since the tach is just one level up when changing the left side of MyView from Accessory Power

 

I am currently using the MYView with the gauge from the Engage screen along with the C/H temp gauge. The reason I have the Engage screen is that to me it shows the best way to determine how close you are to going in and out of EV mode. I use the temp gauge to see when the ICE is warmed up, which helps determine if the electric motor will function or not. if the temp graphic (the "boat looking" thing lol) is blue I know it wll not go into EV mode even at a stop. Also, if the temp gauge is at or above the lower line in the middle of the gauge, usually it is warm enough to run in EV mode. I have found that when the climate control is on, it will prevent the car from warming up quickly to run in EV mode, and sometimes when the climate is on, the temp graphic will be blue but as soon as I turn off climate, the graphic switches to white, and EV mode can be accessed. I definitely use the Engage gauge to help me determine how much I can press the gas pedal. I have gotten better and better each day and my mileage reflects that. Optimistic i will get around 42 mpg like I hoped for when I was deciding on the Hybrid.

 

I like this too. If the temp is above the lower line then I know I can turn on the heat without making the engine run, I'm trying to teach my wife to do the same thing instead of just turning on the heat immediately when starting the car.

 

I think the climate control is a big factor in the MPG. I got my car last week of December and got really good mileage increases when there was a warm spell and I did not turn on the heat. Now that it is down in single digit temps the mileage drops off. I am interested in seeing what I get when it warms up a bit.

 

It seems that above 25 degrees is a tipping point for fuel economy. Below 25 degrees the engine cools off very quickly in city driving and we cannot leave the climate control on Auto without the engine running to make heat. At 25 degrees or above the engine runs enough in normal city driving to get heat and MPGs above 45. The problem is that we've had an unseasonably cold February here in MN so instead of the temps being in the low 30s we've been struggling to hit 20 the past few weeks.

 

Okay, I'll have to admit that that using Empower is the best way to stay in EV mode longer. The changing size of the EV box is very useful. I liked Engage since it gives a better indication of what the hybrid system is doing by clearly showing the amount of the ICE and EV power contribution when both are being used, but this doesn't help get more MPG. Engage does always show the upper limit of EV power, which I found useful many times, but gives no indication of what the limit is when other factors lower the threshold.

 

Agreed, especially when first starting out. Coming out of our apartment we have to wait to turn left onto the main road to take us to the freeway. I try to always accelerate gently enough that the ICE doesn't fire up until I get onto the main road. Otherwise the ICE runs while I sit at the red light waiting to turn left. Since I also know that once we get our green light to turn left we'll ALWAYS get the first light on the main road red I can often even wait to engage the ICE until I get past that light too. Another trick I'm trying to get my wife to do as well.

 

She also accelerates more agressively than I do early on and then moderates. Her acceleration style means that the ICE is more likely to fire up right away instead of accelerating in EV mode up to 15-20 MPH like I do before the ICE kicks on. When the ICE is cold this leads to lower fuel economy. We'll see come summer which of our styles results in superior fuel economy.

 

I switch between empower and my view. On my view I have the thermometer so I know when I can use EV and the time increment showing my mpg...I have it set up for 6 minute intervals. I just like looking at it and seeing how I'm doing along my drive. I am consistently aging trips at 47mpg or above....the other day I had my best at 75mpg.

 

I also frequently flip over to Fuel Economy to see the graph. I usually keep in on 6 minute intervals but will also sometimes look at the 1 and 2 minute intervals. This helps to see the impact of the extra ICE time when first starting out in cold weather. Right now the first 6 minute interval is usually around 20 MPG only, and it's hard to make that up when our longest normal trip around the city is less than 10 miles.

 

Kistaack - that's awesome that you're seeing such high mileage in FL, this shows what the rest of us can look forward to when the weather warms up

[storksb]

I tend to use mainly empower but do flick back and forward to MyView which has temp and power distribution. I like how quick easy it is to jump between options.

 

Simon

[Nick P]

I really like the Engage view. I like to see the level of the electric motor. I'm quickly learning where the cutover point is to engage the ICE.

[lolder]

Empower tells you more.

[neod192]

Empower tells you more.

And distracts you from driving safely :)

[acdii]

So does that hot chick in the convertible with the Teddy bear

 

 

 

 

Oh wait, wrong Forum!

[expresspotato]

And distracts you from driving safely :)

LOL totally agree. At least in Prius all those fun to watch guages are mounted high close to the windshield.. I find my self looking down a little too often :s

Edited March 18, 2013 by expresspotato

[GrayStrider]

While I was looking around different views on my dash, I came across this and had to chuckle. Is my car trying to tell me something?

LOL ace, too funny! I haven't seen that graph option - will have to look for it next time I get to drive!

[ace8726872]

LOL ace, too funny! I haven't seen that graph option - will have to look for it next time I get to drive!

By the way, is you car either Ingot Silver or Sterling Gray? Especially if it's Ingot Silver, would you mind voting for your exterior color of your FFH here?

 

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/6192-what-color-is-your-2013-ffh/

 

I am trying to rally for Ingot Silver!

 

Thanks.

Edited March 28, 2013 by ace8726872

[acdii]

NOOOO DIB DIB DIB

[neod192]

NOOOO DIB DIB DIB

Hey, we want DIB to be rare! It makes our cars unique :)

[acdii]

Ahh yes, good point! Ruby Ruby Ruby!