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A Smarter SmartGauge
This is my first post here but I have been reading on and off for a few weeks. I got my FFH in late December and I am enjoying the better MPG that spring is bringing to Chicago. I really enjoy the car but it did not take me long to replace the leaves with bar charts and wish for more information in the "Empower" mode.
It may be just me but I was disappointed that 1000 mile challenge needed to use a ScanGauge, that level of information really should be in the Empower mode. I send Ford some feedback after my first few weeks about the regenerative braking indicator - why can't it change color when the hydraulic brakes engage so we can optimize our braking pressure. I got back a thank you for your comment but I don't think it went anywhere.
I saw another post (maybe here) where someone suggested that the MPG bar graph should be based on miles instead of minutes (average MPG over past 1,2,5,or 10 miles) because that would be more representative of driving style/conditions, especially at the more granular intervals.
I am looking at dash computers (ScanGauge - the default unit, DashDyno SPD - logging, graphing & PC interface, among others) but I came back to why doesn't the "Empower" mode give us what we need. So, this thread is to discuss what the "Empower" mode should show. or maybe this should be a new level called "Enthusiast" or "Expert" mode. I figure the SmartGauge must be flashable for updates and maybe with Wayne's contacts we can get Ford to give us a real enhancement.
Here are my initial ideas, I am sure you guys can add more. I like symmetry and a combination of analog for a fast glance and digital for real numbers (who knows what the real number are on the current bar graphs?)
EV - battery temp & State of Charge
GV - engine temp & fuel gauge with miles to empty
ICE - load
Traction Motor - load/charge
Generator Motor - charge
FE
Instantaneous on graph axis
1 mile, 5 mile, 50 mile averages in 3 colors
Message area should not cover this information but should use a line at the bottom. My read radar has reported "blocked" a few times which overlays the temperature gauge which bugs me when I am trying to keep the ICE from starting at a stop light in the winter.
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Linear Mode
