ECO Mode

[SimAndy]

How many people use ECO mode?

 

If so do you use it highway, local driving or both?

 

I've just done back to back tanks with the same driving for each, 40 mile round trip 50% local highway, and got 1mpg worse in ECO mode.

 

The driveability seems worse in ECO mode as well. I particularly don't like the delay in starting the ICE when pulling away from lights. It makes for an unsmooth start.

 

Just looking for other opinions.

 

 

[md13ffhguy]

How many people use ECO mode?

 

If so do you use it highway, local driving or both?

 

I've just done back to back tanks with the same driving for each, 40 mile round trip 50% local highway, and got 1mpg worse in ECO mode.

 

The driveability seems worse in ECO mode as well. I particularly don't like the delay in starting the ICE when pulling away from lights. It makes for an unsmooth start.

 

Just looking for other opinions.

 

 

I use it 100% of the time. There are too many other variables over the course of any tank to attribute a 1 mpg difference to just one factor, but I may try turning it off for my next tank, just for kicks.

[Texasota]

 

The driveability seems worse in ECO mode as well. I particularly don't like the delay in starting the ICE when pulling away from lights. It makes for an unsmooth start.

 

 

I may have this wrong, but I think ECO mode only affects the behavior of the cruise control. With ECO mode off the FFH will be more aggressive in maintaining the speed set for the cruise control. With ECO mode on the FFH will be less aggressive in maintaining the selected speed.

[mwr]

On 6/23/2018 at 12:51 PM, Texasota said:

I may have this wrong, but I think ECO mode only affects the behavior of the cruise control. With ECO mode off the FFH will be more aggressive in maintaining the speed set for the cruise control. With ECO mode on the FFH will be less aggressive in maintaining the selected speed.

That's what I've always thought, that "ECO" was simply a type of cruise control (I don't use or like ECO cruise control).

Edited January 18, 2022 by mwr

[md13ffhguy]

That's what I've always thought, that "ECO" was simply a type of cruise control (which I don't use).

That's what it was in my previous 2013 and my wife's 2014, a setting for cruise control. In my 2018, it's different. There's an actual button on the center console to engage/disengage Eco mode. When engaged, it seems to lower the threshold for regenerative braking, which can make the car seem sluggish at times. That doesn't really bother me, as I bought this car for economy, not performance. It'll still go when I push harder on the accelerator pedal. I've left Eco mode engaged, with seemingly good results.

[Texasota]

That's what it was in my previous 2013 and my wife's 2014, a setting for cruise control. In my 2018, it's different. There's an actual button on the center console to engage/disengage Eco mode. When engaged, it seems to lower the threshold for regenerative braking, which can make the car seem sluggish at times. That doesn't really bother me, as I bought this car for economy, not performance. It'll still go when I push harder on the accelerator pedal. I've left Eco mode engaged, with seemingly good results.

I was not aware of that, interesting. Does it still have the ECO mode setting for the cruise control that my 2015 has?

[md13ffhguy]

I was not aware of that, interesting. Does it still have the ECO mode setting for the cruise control that my 2015 has?

No. It does seem to operate the same way when using cruise control, though. Unlike with the older setting, I guess the idea is that it also provides a benefit when not using cruise control. At this point, I can only assume it does. I'll have to do some experimenting.

[Cobra348]

I was not aware of that, interesting. Does it still have the ECO mode setting for the cruise control that my 2015 has?

No it does not. Where the '15 ECO mode was set via the left screen settings, '17 has a button on the console as has been noted. Effects are still the same, tho. That includes on/off and all the stuff.

 

 

No. It does seem to operate the same way when using cruise control, though. Unlike with the older setting, I guess the idea is that it also provides a benefit when not using cruise control. At this point, I can only assume it does. I'll have to do some experimenting.

Somewhere in here is a little study by me in non-Eco mode, Eco mode and a mix ... about 1600 miles each setting. Overall I came up with better MPG in non-Eco mode but only by a very small margin. I found that using Eco, I needed to coax the acceleration more often than was worth the savings ... so I don't use it now. I do use cruise when I can however.

Edited June 24, 2018 by Cobra348

[dtownslinger]

yeah when i first got my car i always had it on eco-mode. then for kicks i tried non-eco mode and never will go back. i feel like im getting way better MPG because the car becomes much easier to drive. eco mode is not worth it.

[Texasota]

yeah when i first got my car i always had it on eco-mode. then for kicks i tried non-eco mode and never will go back. i feel like im getting way better MPG because the car becomes much easier to drive. eco mode is not worth it.

I'm curious how it becomes easier to drive when it is in non-eco mode?

[Cobra348]

I'm curious how it becomes easier to drive when it is in non-eco mode?

Engine response is better non-eco and you end up getting a better response on the gas. I think ECO mode alters the manner of ICE operation. I want to say it puts ICE back into a near-Otto cycle configuration versus Atkinson (Eco mode). I'm sure someone will tell me I'm full of it, but it's the best I can do! <shrug>

[murphy]

The only effect I have noticed is that acceleration is much slower when adaptive cruise control is active. In other words it takes longer to get up to the set speed.

[dogo88]

According to the 2019 manual, Eco mode:

EcoSelect is a drive mode for non plug-in vehicles designed to offer the best possible fuel economy with tradeoffs in vehicle performance and comfort.

To switch EcoSelect on, press the ECO button.

A graphic displays on your information display when EcoSelect is on.

Your vehicle will remember the last selected mode whenever you start your vehicle.

EcoSelect allows your vehicle to operate more efficiently. You will notice:

• Less aggressive cooling.
• Softer acceleration.
• Increased deceleration when coasting.
• Changes in engine behavior.
• ECO cruise control activation.

I have used both. When it's off I notice the car is more responsive in acceleration but overall mileage suffers. I've found keeping Eco on boosts my mileage by 5-7 mpg and all I've lost is a bit of pickup. So instead of my getting 37-38 mpg, I'll get 42-45 mpg. Plus it's easy enough to turn off if I need to go quicker.

[Texasota]

Plus it's easy enough to turn off if I need to go quicker.

Or just give the gas pedal a little extra push if traffic warrants. I frequently do that if I have impatient traffic behind me. If no traffic behind me, I let the car do what it wants.

[Cobra348]

 

According to the 2019 manual, Eco mode:

EcoSelect is a drive mode for non plug-in vehicles designed to offer the best possible fuel economy with tradeoffs in vehicle performance and comfort.

To switch EcoSelect on, press the ECO button.

A graphic displays on your information display when EcoSelect is on.

Your vehicle will remember the last selected mode whenever you start your vehicle.

EcoSelect allows your vehicle to operate more efficiently. You will notice:

• Less aggressive cooling.
• Softer acceleration.
• Increased deceleration when coasting.
• Changes in engine behavior.
• ECO cruise control activation.

I have used both. When it's off I notice the car is more responsive in acceleration but overall mileage suffers. I've found keeping Eco on boosts my mileage by 5-7 mpg and all I've lost is a bit of pickup. So instead of my getting 37-38 mpg, I'll get 42-45 mpg. Plus it's easy enough to turn off if I need to go quicker.

 

Slightly different wording but this is the same as the '17 manual. I've tried both and although there are some drivers I love to p*ss off with Eco, the non-Eco mode is what I use. Eco simply gets me into too much trouble ... and exercising the gas pedal sort of defeats the purpose of the Eco mode setting.

[J2j]

In addition to what's stated. Non eco provides more electric assist under ice powered acceleration. This drains the hybrid battery more therefore creating more charge/discharge cycles and shortening battery life

[Staves]

I'm always in eco mode.

[VILSIS]

I'm always in eco mode with my 2018 FFU Titanium in South Arizona.

[fritz269]

So yay or Nay?

 

[MeeLee]

I start in normal mode, and cruise in eco mode.
So basically eco mode, except at starting the vehicle, or when trying to turn on the engine (say when driving between 30-50MPH on electric, and just need to jolt the engine on, I'll press the eco button to disengage it).

 

Normal (non-eco) mode, also runs the engine at slightly higher RPM, resulting in lower MPG. (in my case, 40MPG instead of 42 in eco).

Eco mode also occasionally hits that 50MPG sweet spot, which I never get in normal mode.
This seems to happen more when using high-octane gas, and when drafting a truck, or going downhill, or having a back wind.

[flydutch]

Just a suggestion on EcoMode... I always have it on. If I need more acceleration,  just plant the throttle harder. Eco makes for much smoother driving. The only exception I make is on hilly terrain: I turn it off for a hill climb while using cruise control - it maintains speed much better - less lag, so no slowdown & catchup. Mine is a 2017 FFH Titanium - love the car, had since new; 66K and lifetime eco is 43mpg.

Edited October 11, 2023 by flydutch
spelling

[mwr]

In my fairly new-to-me 2017 FFH, I accidentally pressed the ECO button on the center console without even realizing it was there.  I noticed the car (1) was more sluggish in acceleration and (2) wouldn't hold the set speed when cruise control was on (lots of hills here). I saw "ECO" displayed and finally figured out that there was the ECO button to press to turn it off. I dislike it a lot and will never use it.

[MeeLee]

Eco mode is good for cruising under 70mph.

It also forces you to drive on the electric motor for longer, before kicking in the gas engine, which may be good in very slow pace traffic.

 

Eco mode falls on its face during heavy acceleration, faster than 70mph driving, and regen. During regen, eco mode won't store 100% of the captured energy to the battery, but has 2 motors work against one another, causing better braking, but less energy captured.

Then again, if you're braking using the brake pedal in normal mode, you also trigger the 2 motors to brake for you.

 

Normal mode is best for normal driving, breaking, coasting on ev.

 

Eco mode is only good for coasting using the engine (eg: at 50mph), or highway speeds below 70mph.

 

Additionally, eco mode will lower climate control output (like, reduce AC output) when enabled 

[Ruslan]

how to enable this mode, I have a button and when I press it nothing happens, the icon on the panel does not light up

[2014FordFusionSE]

On 1/5/2024 at 7:15 AM, Ruslan said:

how to enable this mode, I have a button and when I press it nothing happens, the icon on the panel does not light up

 

The button should enable Eco mode.

If it doesn't work, either the button needs to be replaced or your car was a part of a fleet and it was disabled.

See if your dealership can figure out why it doesn't work.