Understanding better your FFH with Hybrid Assistant & Hybrid Reporter

[Mister MMT]

I wish to bring to the attention of the FFH drivers here, Hybrid Assistant, a free Android app which allows one to get much more information on the screen of a well positioned smartphone. I use it all the time and it helps me a lot understanding what happens under the hood and improving my driving style and hence, mileage.

 

The app needs a fast BT OBDII emitter like the OBDLink LX (about 50 $), recommended by their site after extensive testing.

 

In addition to providing real-time information, Hybrid Reporter, another app available on their site, allows for creating detailed reports with tables and graphs, much like the ones produced by LarryH. It were his graphs which convinced me the FFH is a very economic hybrid.

 

Driving in Germany, everything is in metrics, but HA and HR also work with miles and gallons.

 

If you're interested, please visit my message showing some video examples of my use, and have a look at the attached pictures.

 

Jan

Report_2017-03-26_11-38-39 Kempten Stuttgart.html

Edited August 19, 2017 by Mister MMT

[Mister MMT]

Murphy is trying on his FFE. He gets connexion, but no data shown. I'll keep you posted if any progress is made.

[Mister MMT]

murphy got assistance from priusfan and they are making progress.

 

http://www.fordfusionenergiforum.com/topic/4981-understanding-your-ffe-better-with-hybrid-assistant-hybrid-reporter/?p=29451

 

Still a few fixes needed, but there is now reasonable hope that HA will become available for US models of the HF35 hybrid system, both H and E models.

 

Jan

[Mister MMT]

While waiting for further news from murphy, I've made a video in Miles and Gallons in order to better show you the kind of information HA and HR would give you if the HA team decided to make it available for the FFE & FFH.

It is possible to play it at speed x2.

Following the recommendations of Recumpence on the C-Max Hybrid forum and the videos of ptJones

I'm trying out Pulse & Glide or EV-Coasting while maintaining a SOC higher then 50%.

The preciseness of the EV-kW bar in the upper right corner of the HA screen is very helpful: keeping it as close to zero (below 1.0 EV- kW + or -) as possible nearly corresponds to driving in N.

It takes some exercise because the gas pedal is quite sensitive (one would need an ECO mode).

I managed gliding over nice stretches without rapidly losing speed, but can certainly still get better at it. The tyres are at 39 psi. I'll try 42. It was hot (84 °F) and no AC...

Even so, 65 mpg US (probably 5 % less in reality) on this drive is far better then EPA-US and one of the best I had on this trip, which I run frequently!

Nevertheless, driving mainly using the ACC gets me 62 mpg under the same conditions and is requiring less attention.

I'll keep testing, but doubt P & G will become my main driving style.

Jan

Report_2017-08-22_11-33-11.pdf

Edited August 23, 2017 by Mister MMT

[Mister MMT]

murphy posted a new report, showing the HA team is very close to include the FFE in the list of compatible hybrids. priusfan in fact announced this is upcoming on a French forum.

 

If the FFH community wished HA to also become available for the FFH, a volunteer owner would first have to test the current test version of the program.

 

He would have to contact priusfan on HybridAssistant@gmail.com and report here about his/her progress.

 

Preferably someone who uses an OBDLibk LX or MX BT dongle and that knows how to move files into and out of an Android phone and install an app that doesn't come from the approved source: Settings > Security > Admin of peripherals > Authorize the installation of applications from other sources then the Play Store.

Good to know, HA will not become available for iPhone or iPad users. Some acquired an older Android phone or tablet, from Android 4.0 on. Mine for example is a S Note 2.

Jan

Edited August 24, 2017 by Mister MMT

[Mister MMT]

priusfan provided djc on the C-Max Hybrid forum with a test apk and text file.

 

No luck with his Automatic adaptor and as expected, also not with a cheap ELM that works with Torque Pro.

 

He is going to try HA as soon as he gets his OBDLink LX.

 

Anybody here wishing to contact priusfan and give HA a try?

 

Jan

Edited August 28, 2017 by Mister MMT

[Mister MMT]

jdc just reported that HA works for his C-Max Hybrid, with the few known restrictions.

 

So, if you wish to test it on your Fusion Hybrid, just contact priusfan and ask him to send you a test apk and a guideline for setting it up.

 

Jan

[Mister MMT]

The Hybrid Assistant App and the companian Hybrid Reporter Apps for Android Systems is now fully functional for all Ford Hybrid and Energi models.

And recently, there have been a few additions which make its use in my eyes even more rewarding.

The "High Precision Fuel Chart" ​is one of them and there is also the inclusion in HA Reports of a series of Graphs. I appreciate most those showing the BSFC Values​ in colors and in combination with instantaneous fuel consumption. It is now possible to adapt its driving style in such a way that the ICE burns fuel in the most efficient way during driving!

Yo find everything in the "Blog Spot"​ of 2017/12/13.

I upload a few screenshots

And the Link to the corresponding HA Report.

And also one HA Report​ from a longer trip.

Everything is in metrics, but I hope you see the benefit.

Download first these html files from the Dropbox folder before opening them in your browser.

I recently saw similar reports from a Lexus IS 300h, and they displayed much more yellow and orange.

Jan

[Mister MMT]

I have been reporting in another discussion the results of finding out a good solution, allowing me to use the Hybrid Assistant app displayed on a smartphone screen as my principal instrumentation for communicating with the Hybrid system.

That's what I finally retained. Thanks to the HA blog, I found and bought the "Stealth" smartphone cradle from Spigen,

after trying another, from Pearl,

which turned out not stable enough. This cradle is very nice, but the phone moved and vibrated too much, the material being very flexible.

With a black battery cover to hide its white cover,

my Note 2 is now very discrete seen from the outside.

It is now the dedicated HA display, and the LG G6 64 Gb I just bought serves as my mobile phone and my camera for taking simple pictures. The wide-angle lens used for the first picture is very useful. Pretty much, it shows what I see, although the camera is in fact sitting a bit lower relative to my sight than shown here .

With this cradle, the display of the Note 2 is placed more vertically, and the reflections in the windshield are lower in intensity and placed higher up. The phone is very secure, and the risk that it becomes a dangerous object in an accident is smaller. It does not vibrate and move at all. It's perfect for me.

Having adjusted the driving position correctly as shown in this diagram, (in fact it was), the display does not hamper the vision on the road. Those who prefer a lower seat position may not be happy with this cradle.

Those tempted to trying out will also need to check if the phone can be placed correctly in their particular model. With the Mondeo, the relative flatness of the lid of the instrumentation is a plus.

HA now replaces, so to speak, the rather small instrument panels visible only through the steering wheel, requiring the eyes to leave the road for relatively long time. If wanted, one could also use the smartphone as a browser.

See here the benefits for the driver. Directly in the line of sight, HA displays in the blink of an eye:

• The actual digital speed. > It's nice to know it without having to correct for the optimism of the analogous speedometer.
• Cooling water temperature > Used during the warm-up phase, it is very useful. As long as the tp is <40 °C I go very slowly, and I do not put the heating.
• Side by side are the rpm and the in and out power of the traction battery. > It is useful to see the powers delivered in kW. As long as the out power does not exceed 19 kW, the thermal remains at a standstill.
• The Battery power display also helps to get better glides when one practices the pulse & glide. > the cyan bars up = discharge; green down = load should be as short as possible.
• The SOC in %. > One can decide from which value, one starts the fuel engine.
  
  In addition, clicking on "EV" gives the detailed consumption graph. Not indispensable but good to take.
  
  
  
  One can, but must not, use this combined information. I feel it helps with making the most of the hybrid system. This is my personal choice, and I do not want to convince anyone to do the same.
  
  Jan

Edited January 14, 2018 by Mister MMT

[Mister MMT]

I'veconinued experimenting with having a smartphone dedicated to displaying Hybrid Assistant, positioned on the dashboard in my line of sight, in order for me to use HA as may main interface with the hybrid system when driving;

 

I describe the final solution HERE.

 

 

 

the second picture was taken using the wide angle lens of my LG G6 64Gb

 

Jan

Edited January 24, 2018 by Mister MMT

[Mister MMT]

It's been a while since I last contributed here. I'm not sure whether there has been anybody using Hybrid Assistant and Hybrid Report on its Ford Hybrid or Energi, since nobody reported.

 

Today, I wish to bring to your attention recent additions which make this entirely free apps even more interesting.

 

The first is the HyBall gauge.

 

 

 

 

This gauge is made of a colored ball and a white circle.
You can control the position of the floating ball using the accelerator pedal: pushing the pedal will cause the ball to float upward, while easing the pressure will bring the ball lower.

The HyBall will help you getting the most from your car in different scenarios:

• During the S1 phase, the HyBall allows to calibrate power to move the car without draining the HV battery.
  Keep the ball green and in the lower half.
  If the ball goes over the white circle, HV battery will be used for moving.
• While in EV mode, the HyBall guides the driver to achieve a perfect glide.
  Keep the ball in the center.
  If the ball is green, you'll have a good glide score, that will be displayed in the glide chart panel.
• When the engine is running, the HyBall helps reaching heretical mode.
  When the ball is in the center, you're in heretical mode.
  Green color will turn lighter as the condition will get more stable.
• When an idle check is pending, the HyBall will advice the driver to release the accelerator pedal, to allow the car to perform the check.
• During a brake, the ball position will be linked to the brake pedal.
  Pushing the pedal will push ball up, as with the accelerator pedal.
  Ball color is green when regenerative braking is in effect and position is relative to energy recovery.
  Try to keep the ball in the center for maximum energy harvesting.

Note:
A good adapter and a fast phone are essential for good results: an OBDLink adapter is mandatory for 4th generation HSD cars.
It's strongly advised to use a HUD or HUD-like placement for the phone, so you can keep your eyes on the road at all time.

Disclaimer:
Suggestions provided by Hybrid Assistant, during the usage of the HyBall feature, can not account for road conditions: the driver is the only responsible for evaluating and applying them only if they do not pose any danger to driver, passengers and surrounding cars and people.

 

Make sure to also have a look at the following pages:

 

HyBall Tutorial

Using HyBall during S1

 

and especially

 

Using HyBall during glide

 

After an acceleration, you can turn off the petrol engine and use HyBall to perform a perfect glide.

When the piston icon is off, keep the HyBall inside the white circle to glide with little or no battery usage.
Once a minute, a glide score histogram will appear on the screen, evaluating your performance.

 

 

with in Hybrid Report

 

Glide Map

 

Hybrid Reporter now shows glide performance on maps

 

 

 

Gliding wherever possible is what helps you getting the best mileage, and the HyBall during glide, voids the need of putting the eCVT in N, which is not the best thing to do for safety.

 

Jan

Edited November 19, 2018 by Mister MMT

[Mister MMT]

Those of you familiar with the Toyota THS system based on two electric motor/generators, an Atkinson gasoline engine and a planetary gearbox called Power Split Device may also have seen the PSD nomograph around since the times of the 1st generation Prius.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSOHJPNHFfg

 

A second very nice novelty added to Hybrid Assistant is the real time PSD (Power Split Device) Nomograph gauge.

 

Did you know your car has actually 3 different engines?

And how do they interact with each other while the car is running?
The new PSD Nomograph panel will show you exactly what the 3 engines are doing in real time.
You can activate the PSD Nomograph by tapping twice the power bars on the main screen.

 

 

Shown here is a screenshot of HA on an Auris Hybrid cruising in the heretical mode, resulting in low engine rpms.

 

While RPM value is plotted on the vertical scale, color of each element will provide additional information:

Orange - positive power
Yellow - negative power
White - null power
In addition to the motors and engine, power applied to the wheels is also displayed, along with battery power.
Note that HV power is accounted only for the part coming from the PSD, accessories and AC consumption are not displayed.

You can activate the PSD Nomograph by tapping twice the power bars on the main screen.

 

The PSD nomograph functions very well on Ford Hybrid and Energi models.

 

EV mode at 79 mph on the "Autobahn":

 

 

normal cruising same speed

 

cruising heretical mode nearly same speed

 

Accelerating with battery support through the MG2

 

I recommend to not look at it while driving, since that may be dangerous, but instead recording it using an app like Mobizen or the like while using it, and later look at the movie on your phone or PC screen.

 

Jan

Edited November 19, 2018 by Mister MMT

[Mister MMT]

Does anyone here reading this thread has had the opportunity to use Hybrid Assistant/Hybrid Reporter?

 

Jan

[murphy]

I have used it in the past but not recently.

I used an OBDLink MX Bluetooth adapter with a Samsung Galaxy android phone.

[demagan]

Does anyone here reading this thread has had the opportunity to use Hybrid Assistant/Hybrid Reporter?

 

Jan

hello

I´m demagan from spain and I have the new Ford Mondeo Sportbreak Hybrid(2019) for TAXI

I have read your posts and i would like to know how you have got HA recognize your" mondeo H" as a valid model at the HA App because in mine it appears as unknown

Please I can not get the same properties that you in HA App

[Mister MMT]

hello demegan,

 

The new Mondeo Sportsback Hybrid is a very nice car, our US and Canadian friends here cannot buy. I wish you a satisfactory ownership!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijosm1yk6rU

 

May I ask you which OBD dongle you use? The developers of HA recommend using a fast dongle such as the Bluetooth OBDLink LX or Carista.

 

I sometimes have the same problem with HA indicating it does not recognize my Mondeo Hybrid, but after resetting my OBDLink LX by pushing on the small button, it usually ( > 90 %) recognizes it. The connexion is stable.

 

Or are you maybe using an Android Head Unit different from a mobile phone ? Then there seems to be a solution proposed on the August 2019 HA blog.

 

If your problems persist, just contact de developer team at HybridAssistant@gmail.com

 

Please let us know whether this was helpful, and also, if possible, your experience with the use of a Mondeo (Fusion) Hybrid as taxi.

 

Jan

 

PS: I learned from your other post you use an OBDLink LX, so that is OK.

Edited August 17, 2019 by Mister MMT