Art of War FFH Edition - Collective tips on how to get the most MPG out of your new FFH

[GrySql]

It also appears that above 62 MPH where the ICE must run, when on a downhill where the ICE isn't needed it doesn't burn any fuel. In a regular car you burn fuel when idling or when going down a hill even if you don't need to burn fuel. When our cars use engine braking they don't burn any gas, but just create a vacuum with the engine to slow the car down. I believe when going down a hill above 65 MPH the engine also doesn't burn any fuel, even though it keeps running

Pretty neat technology...

[hybridbear]

It also appears that above 62 MPH where the ICE must run, when on a downhill where the ICE isn't needed it doesn't burn any fuel. In a regular car you burn fuel when idling or when going down a hill even if you don't need to burn fuel. When our cars use engine braking they don't burn any gas, but just create a vacuum with the engine to slow the car down. I believe when going down a hill above 65 MPH the engine also doesn't burn any fuel, even though it keeps running

 

I was able to confirm this today using ET Mode. Cruising at 65 MPH on the freeway going down a long hill the Fuel Counts screen showed that even though the ICE was running the car was not using any fuel. The RPM showed 900 according to that screen in ET Mode. This is the same thing the car does when using Engine Braking in the mountains when using Grade Assist

[acdii]

It does what the big trucks do, turns it into a big air compressor, just like Jake Brakes, but without the BRRRRRRRR.

[hybridbear]

It's called DFSO I learned from a discussion with some experienced hypermilers on the C-Max Energi forum. Decel Fuel Shut Off. Ford first introduced it on the Escape Hybrid back a number of years ago

[rico567]

This is what I asked the CSR form Ford. Teach me how to drive this car! She said, we dont have anyone who can do that. Makes me wonder then who did the actual testing.

Maybe somebody like this Taylor couple did in the VW Passat TDI:

 

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/hypermiling-taylors-set-fuel-economy-record-in-volkswagen-passat-tdi/

 

 

Whatever the reason, they'd probably be willing to do the same thing for Ford (and maybe they have, for all I know).

[acdii]

When the 2010 FFH first came out, they did a one tank how far can it go test and got 74 MPG. I haven't seen that happen yet with the 13.

[Guardian_Bob]

Actually I believe they did 81.5 MPG in the 2010: http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=30289

[acdii]

OK, I knew there were 4's involved! LOL 1445 miles on a tank.

[hybridbear]

These comments were posted in another topic but are useful tips here

Up front (and setting aside the question of break-in), I will say I have no direct knowledge of these things because we don't yet own a FFH, but I've done a lot of reading about hybrid driving techniques on this and other hybrid car forums (and I DID stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night!). I can only reiterate what some people have already said in this thread: driving a hybrid is going to require a great sea-change in driving habits for most people to realize optimum mileage.

 

Numbers 1,2,3,4, & 5: Slow down; make friends with the right lane on Interstates and expressways, and use it. As someone mentioned, it's at speeds over 40 mph that air resistance starts to become a bigger factor in reduced mileage. For starters, I learned a number of years ago to just ask myself: "Am I traveling under the speed limit?" At lot of people don't. As highway speeds increase, the resistance from air friction decreases mileage exponentially, per this graph:

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://sheldonbrown.com/rinard/aero/grafik2.gif&imgrefurl=http://sheldonbrown.com/rinard/aero/formulas.htm&h=345&w=530&sz=38&tbnid=E6eDbaiHqNORnM:&tbnh=78&tbnw=120&zoom=1&usg=__oWQmIHc5ZfTMEPn-Mvra7a0HTfw=&docid=i3-jD4RKMdKc6M&sa=X&ei=lxWvUfDnL5PUyQH15oDQBA&ved=0CIgBEPUBMAk&dur=701

 

If you're not at one with reading graphs, notice that toward the right hand side, the curve showing power requirements tends to become vertical. This is the "exponential" part, a word that, to quote Lewis Black, "I finally got to use exponential in a sentence. It means crappier and crappier and crappier."

 

6. When on the open road, use the technique described of gaining speed on the downhills and then using that speed to crest the next uphill. This is an example when Mr. Gravity can be your friend, in contradistinction to jumping out of a plane without a parachute.

 

7. In urban driving in particular, make effective use of regenerative braking. A hybrid driveline actually breaks down to two things that enable greater fuel efficiency. One is the efficient but rather anæmic Atkinson-cycle ICE (internal combustion engine) operating in conjunction with electric MGs (motor-generator sets). The second is a byproduct of that "G" in MG...that the electric motor that helps out the ICE when accelerating can turn into a generator when you ease on the brake pedal, recharging the HV (high voltage) battery pack. But- the driver must do their part in making this possible. Anticipating slowdowns and stops and making them gradual is the key= a light foot on the brake. This is going to give that regenerative part of the system more time to recharge the battery, thus enabling more EV driving.

[jmellen]

Please help me improve my MPG. I have a 2013 FFH with 16,200 miles and 43 fill ups. My MPG has ranged from 28.3 to 47.6 with my average at 39.3. I was practicing 'hybrid mode' with my 2004 KIA as much as I could while waiting last winter for my new FFH to come in. With over 200 K miles on the KIA I was averaging 25.5 MPG. In 'hybrid mode' I got three tankfuls in a row of 29-30 MPG. I achieved this mainly by watching my acceleration, cruising and braking. I thought that was pretty amazing. EPA sticker was 23/26 for that make and model KIA.

Now along came my FFH. I followed the same driving habits that I had been practicing for weeks just watching as to not annoy other drivers. My scores are close to 100 for acceleration and braking and about 95 for cruising. I do try to start out in EV mode because I thought the motor was efficient at most any condition and that the ICE was more efficient over 40 MPH being an Atkinson engine. I understand that is the main reason they do not use the Atkinson engine in non hybrids - because at the low MPH it performs unacceptably. Now I am reading in some posts that perhaps I should not use the EV where I do but should start out in ICE mode more and run in ICE mode more on the freeway at say 60-65 (knowing slower freeway speeds are unsafe, annoying to other drivers and impractical). I live in Michigan so, yes, my MPG takes a hit in winter. I try to leave the HVAC off as much as possible and use the heated seat at the lowest setting and then off (it retains heat well). I do always drive with my headlights on but I understand the watts draw for them is not that high. For over 40 years I have always been able to obtain the EPA numbers for my vehicles. I love my FFH despite the lower than expected gas miage but I still feel i can learn more and improve it. Any thoughts that you have for me would be greatly appreciated. I have found this site to be very useful with courteous, thoughtful people and I am very thankful for that.

[hybridbear]

Please help me improve my MPG. I have a 2013 FFH with 16,200 miles and 43 fill ups. My MPG has ranged from 28.3 to 47.6 with my average at 39.3. I was practicing 'hybrid mode' with my 2004 KIA as much as I could while waiting last winter for my new FFH to come in. With over 200 K miles on the KIA I was averaging 25.5 MPG. In 'hybrid mode' I got three tankfuls in a row of 29-30 MPG. I achieved this mainly by watching my acceleration, cruising and braking. I thought that was pretty amazing. EPA sticker was 23/26 for that make and model KIA.

Now along came my FFH. I followed the same driving habits that I had been practicing for weeks just watching as to not annoy other drivers. My scores are close to 100 for acceleration and braking and about 95 for cruising. I do try to start out in EV mode because I thought the motor was efficient at most any condition and that the ICE was more efficient over 40 MPH being an Atkinson engine. I understand that is the main reason they do not use the Atkinson engine in non hybrids - because at the low MPH it performs unacceptably. Now I am reading in some posts that perhaps I should not use the EV where I do but should start out in ICE mode more and run in ICE mode more on the freeway at say 60-65 (knowing slower freeway speeds are unsafe, annoying to other drivers and impractical). I live in Michigan so, yes, my MPG takes a hit in winter. I try to leave the HVAC off as much as possible and use the heated seat at the lowest setting and then off (it retains heat well). I do always drive with my headlights on but I understand the watts draw for them is not that high. For over 40 years I have always been able to obtain the EPA numbers for my vehicles. I love my FFH despite the lower than expected gas miage but I still feel i can learn more and improve it. Any thoughts that you have for me would be greatly appreciated. I have found this site to be very useful with courteous, thoughtful people and I am very thankful for that.

Are most of your trips short distance? Short trips are killer for the hybrid since a hybrid gets good MPGs by turning the ICE off. On short trips with a cold ICE it ends up idling and thus you get low MPGs. Also, have you done the PCM update yet?

[jmellen]

Yes, to both questions. Some tank fulls have more city than highway miles and short 2-4 mile trips. I did get the PCM update.

[hybridbear]

Yes, to both questions. Some tank fulls have more city than highway miles and short 2-4 mile trips. I did get the PCM update.

Have you noticed a correlation between less 2-4 mile trips and higher MPGs?

[jmellen]

I have to clarify the above answer. Lately, my trips have been short city trips in cold Michigan weather. Overall, I would say I am 60% highway (two lane state roads at 55 MPH and freeway going 65 MPH). If anything, I think I get better city mileage once my FFH is warmed up. That, of course, was never true of my ICE only engines in the past. Maybe I don't use my ICE/EV modes the right way on the highway. Cruise (with ECO) does not seem to really help over my manually controlling the throttle.

[hybridbear]

I have to clarify the above answer. Lately, my trips have been short city trips in cold Michigan weather. Overall, I would say I am 60% highway (two lane state roads at 55 MPH and freeway going 65 MPH). If anything, I think I get better city mileage once my FFH is warmed up. That, of course, was never true of my ICE only engines in the past. Maybe I don't use my ICE/EV modes the right way on the highway. Cruise (with ECO) does not seem to really help over my manually controlling the throttle.

You will get better MPG in the city with a hybrid.

[acdii]

These cars are finicky, they like to be driven more than 10 miles in a stretch before they start getting better MPG. My trips are @55 right from the end of my driveway, so the ICE warms up fast, but since they are @55 MPH, I also use more gas since it will use less EV. This held true for all the hybrids(4) that I have had. The only exception to highway was the 2010 FFH, it liked highway cruises at 68 MPH, and got far better MPG than the new FFH does at that speed.

 

On short trips under 5 miles, I will see maybe 30, and on the return trip 30 minutes later will see double that as the ICE is already warmed up.

[Scott Carlton Windell]

I have been driving hybrids since 2003 with my first Honda Civic. Sold it with 180,00 miles. I replaced it with a 2006 Civic and just sold it with 277,000. I am very excited to receive my Titanium Hybrid in May, if all goes well. May I share some experience as I drive 200 miles daily to and from work and have done this since 2001. The key to getting the mileage is lower speeds, the use of cruise control as often as is safe, and just as importantly finding your car's sweet spot. I started by selecting a course (greater than 30 miles seems to work best) and drive your route using cruise control to hold your speed and accelerate to your cruise speed in the event it has to be disengaged. Start at the fastest legal speed. Or that plus 5, if you are my brother, and document your result. Repeat dropping your speed in increments of your choosing until you reach the slowest reasonable speed and the best acceptable MPG. I found that my 2003 Honda dropped precipitously at cruising speeds greater than 56. The 2006 Honda was still averaging 57mpg at 53mph with 277,000 miles and the original battery, however turn on the air and drive 65 you would average 35 to 39. Repeat this with different routes and you will quickly learn to compensate for your car's configuration, weather, and your driving preferences. I test drove the fusion and averaged 58MPG and 100% on all coaches during our 20 minute outing, I can't wait to learn this car! Sammy Hagar will never drive this slow but my 46,000 miles per year driven would cost me an extra $957.00 to keep up.

[Ted Swing]

Sounds like you're a pretty experienced hypermiler. I'll be curious to see what you can do with a FFH in the long run. You may want to track your MPG through fuelly if you don't already.

 

I think you'll appreciate the comfort of the car on those long commutes, too. I know I do, and I only drive ~15,000 miles a year.

[Scott Carlton Windell]

Started my fuelly account. Now I just need to get the car! My sticker was available on the 27th and the due date to my dealership is the 14th of April..

[TomCinMI]

Still new here, although I've driven hybrids for 2-1/2 years, & am appreciative of everyone else's sharing. This is one of two threads linked, from the "Read This First" Welcome topic, as primary forum resources on MPG's, the other having been locked; I've fully read both threads & am unsold as to why the one is locked. While there are several common-sense recommendations on fuel economy, & others that are evidence-based, inc. from Ford (the ol' "When all else fails, read the ..."), I feel that there's quite a bit which has been tossed around that's debatable, such that I wouldn't regard the entire contents of any thread as "Gospel" or especially worthy.

 

On this thread, the consensus seems to be that, when driving rolling terrain, staying on ICE should be emphasized on the downgrades, to gain momentum w/ minimal demand on the engine & to charge the HVB, leaving EV to presumably kick in fairly high on the next upgrade ... lest the lithium batt overcharge beyond its optimal midrange SOC... However, on the mentioned locked thread (I'm quite sure memory serves), the assertion is quite the opposite: that since EV is least efficient on upgrades, it should be reserved as much as possible for the downgrades...

 

The latest generation of FFH's are so sophisticated, integrated & well conceived, I'm concerned, not so much that we can overanalyze & take significant pleasure out of driving, as I am that the lion's share of the analyzing & re-analyzing isn't necessary, or is counterproductive. My impression is that the computers, inc. those that make up the control modules, are pretty gosh dang good. Also, I definitely respect a poster who said that he doesn't engage in certain hypermiling techniques because they distract too much from safety & courtesy; OTOH, from what the same forum member has said about the driving practices which he does employ, he can't help but be distracted by constantly peering down at bars on Empower/Engage. Ya know, "SYNC: hands on the wheel & eyes on the road".

 

Gotta observe that the "ECO" in ECO Cruise is there for a couple of reasons, in particular to efficiently address hill-climbing, & on a related note, the use of Grade Assist is argued against by those who emphasize gaining momentum on downgrades ... yet the engine braking from Grade Assist contributes to charging. Long story short, I suspect that we should tend more toward letting the comprehensive, synergistic aspects of the vehicle to do their thing(s). Yep, we might enjoy the ride more, too. Please don't get me wrong, though; I'm very open to tips which in fact complement "what's already there" (i.e., the car). Feedback would be much valued. Other recommended threads? Thanks.

[acdii]

I have observed recently, and it is showing in my latest tank fills, that maintaining ICE and not using EV at highway speeds is more efficient. The trick to that is to maintain the charge on the battery to its max, which is about 80% on the dash. I have hills I drive over during my daily drive and going up with a full HVB the instant is right about 40 MPG, when cruising on flat ground, its about 50 or better, then when cresting, I coast, using as little from the pack as possible. When under 45 MPH, then using EV as much as possible is the key. 45 is the cut off point for EV for me. Following this trick I got 50 MPG on my way in. Prior to this, 44 was about it when doing the P&G EV techniques. I found that the Highway averages is about 44 or better, prior to that using EV Mixed in was about 38-40. So I gained about 4 MPG by staying on ICE with a full(as much as the car allows it to be) battery when driving at highway speeds.

[mwr]

Doesn't the ICE keep the HVB at about 80% when you let the system do it's thing automatically?

Edited June 21, 2014 by mwr

[corncobs]

Doesn't the ICE keep the HVB at about 80% when you let the system do it's think automatically?

No it's kinda designed to use EV whenever the parameters allow. If you can keep the EV mode from kicking in after the computer stops charging the HVB the ICE only propels the car and is very efficient. That's the reason acdii can now keep his instant MPG high (and the trip MPG). He keeps the EV from kicking in while the HVB is "fully" charged.

[Hybrider]

No it's kinda designed to use EV whenever the parameters allow. If you can keep the EV mode from kicking in after the computer stops charging the HVB the ICE only propels the car and is very efficient. That's the reason acdii can now keep his instant MPG high (and the trip MPG). He keeps the EV from kicking in while the HVB is "fully" charged.

How does acdii do this? By continuing to accelerate, until going faster than 70mph?

[corncobs]

How does acdii do this? By continuing to accelerate, until going faster than 70mph?

He can answer this better than I can but where he drives it's kinda hilly so I would assume a lot of well placed pulse and glide actions gets him there.

 

I can tell you that if you don't apply those kinda methods and you let the FFH do it's thing at 55 MPH on ECC and don't worry about it results in about 43 MPG. I "drove thru his backyard" twice last week and that was my result not playing games just set ECC and enjoy the Illinois country side. ;)