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Ford struggles with their implementation of the_PHEV but fixes are on the way. (http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/onto-each-hybrid-some-rain-must-fall/)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2009_Ford_Flex-Fuel_PHEV-30_shipped_to_DOE.jpgJim Motavalli – NY Times – Oct. 8, 2008

2009 OEM Ford Flex-Fuel FEH PHEV-30.

When the all-electric A/C compressor is installed in 2010, the PHEV should perform like a ... well, like a PHEV. -- Ed.

If it’s going to be a car of the future, it’s going to have to cope with a little rain. That was the obvious takeaway last month when Consumer Reports gathered a fleet of future cars to its test track in East Haddam, Conn...

I took a ride around the wet track with a Ford engineer, Greg Frenette, in the company’s prototype Escape PHEV, which features technology that might make it to market around 2013. Ford claims it can achieve 120 miles to the gallon around town, and 70 to 80 on the highway...

The prototype features a Johnson Controls-Saft lithium-ion battery pack that stores 10 kilowatt-hours of electricity and will provide approximately 30 miles of all-electric range… On my trip around the track the 2.3-liter gasoline engine never shut off.

… When Mr. Frenette turned off the defroster (instantly fogging the windows) I was finally driving an electric car. But, c’mon, guys, it rains a lot… http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/onto-each-hybrid-some-rain-must-fall/

Let me test this mule for the next 5 years. PLEASE?

I'd take her warts and all. Will Ford be around in 2013? These lead times are killers.

If the new Ford Fusion Hybrid has electric A/C, I may drop my plans for the new 2010 Prius. My '09 FWD FEH is very, very impressive and if it had electric A/C it would be even better. The only reason I have to go Prius for my wife is the A/C and the 62mph EV mode. Now that my '09 FEHL has fuel-cut or DFSO, I'm not that concerned over the 62mph EV mode. My wife will use the 20 HP increase in the new 2.5L engine even in the Fusion Hybrid, so she might be better off with MPG in the Ford.

GaryG

Where do they get these writers?

It's called a prototype. Agreed on the idiotic writer.

My old Prius ('04) and my New HCHII ('09) both tend to run the engine when the defroster is selected, other than Ford not having an electrical path on their HVAC system, what am I missing?

The article mentioned that Toyota added an electric driven AC in 2005. Is that correct? And does that mean that the 2004 was belt-driven and not electric? I always thought that all gen-2 Prii had electric AC drives.

Hi Justin:

___Your 04 includes an all-electric A/C compressor too.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

A 5 year prototype has a glitch? That's BIG news. Anything else to mention about a SUV that gets 80-120mpg? We did learn about gratuitous Ford bashing.

I'd be more concerned about the project manager that let a writer from the Gardening section drive my vehicle.

My old Prius ('04) and my New HCHII ('09) both tend to run the engine when the defroster is selected, other than Ford not having an electrical path on their HVAC system, what am I missing?

With my '07 Prius, I notice that when I request heat on a cold morning, the engine will keep running at stop lights, especially on short trips. I usually toggle the heat off at stoplights to let the ICE turn off. I suspect that is what is going on with your cars. The defroster uses the air conditioner, but also requires heat, and your cars tend to keep running to supply that heat.

Harry

The big News this reporter brought to the table was he was able to get that Ford Engineer to spill what was in the future for Ford going electric A/C in hybrids. If it takes a reporter to claim what is true about the prototype to get Ford to talk, GREAT! It's true about the rain and I have to use Rain-X Anti-Fog in order to keep the compressor off in my FEH's.

GaryG

With my '07 Prius, I notice that when I request heat on a cold morning, the engine will keep running at stop lights, especially on short trips. I usually toggle the heat off at stoplights to let the ICE turn off. I suspect that is what is going on with your cars. The defroster uses the air conditioner, but also requires heat, and your cars tend to keep running to supply that heat.

Harry

With my Prius it'd do it with 90 degree outside temps, I've only had the Civic about two weeks so I can't say for sure if it needed heat or not.

In my FEH, I tilt the left and right side cabin vents "up" and use the heat+fan to defrost in the mornings or in the rain without needing the compressor. Sometimes I have to crack my window to get it to defrost all the way, but usually the vent fan does the job.