Hypermiling the Ford Escape Hybrid ...

tbaleno · #21 04-19-2006, 04:46 PM

Quote:

3. Use EV as much as possible. This means drain the battery when ever you can. If you don’t have a Nav sys energy screen with the battery level, don’t let that stop you. Your job is to get every bit of energy from that battery as possible. This is a hybrid, don’t let the battery sit there, use it! Drive slower roads, city and behind trucks. Using EV can increase your MPG average over 60mpg on a trip and increase your tank average over 40mpg.

I always thought using the battery was not optimal for two reasons. 1) what you drain out of the battery has to go back in which drains fe while charging it, 2) mechanical to electrical to mechanical conversion is not as efficient as using just mechanical energy.

Your mileage is far greater than what I get so I know you know much more than me about this stuff, but I'm confused as to why I'm wrong in my thinking.

GaryG · #22 04-19-2006, 08:49 PM

Hi Tom

Your not alone in your thinking about replacing the energy with burning more fuel. It maybe the case with the Honda, but not the FEH. At 30-35mph, the FEH may average ~36mpg for the the two miles to recharge the battery. Now add the EV distance of 1.2 miles at 9,999 MPG (scangauge reading) to come up with an overall average for 3.2 miles.

The icing on the cake is the fake shift in "L" which packs a big charge from regen when the battery is low or high. So much energy is packed in the battery so fast, three shifts will overheat the system and safety features will not allow any more regen. Hoping to hit Wayne's estimate for the FEH of 72-75mpg RT real soon. Just had to much wind here lately.

GaryG

philmcneal · #23 04-20-2006, 05:28 AM

crazy you should have map with details on your 70 mpg segment.

GaryG · #24 04-20-2006, 04:50 PM

Hi Phil

Got my FEH to just over 70mpg for 25 miles today with 10-15mph winds. Was hoping to bring it home and takes some pictures but ran into traffic and the MPG started dropping off. In the beginning of the trip I didn't have it all together but found a good pattern and started hitting 71.8mpg on the low side of the battery at ICE start, and 68.5mpg good to go for another EV run of P&G. At this point, I know if I get my act together from the start and run a clean trip, I'll hit 72mpg for sure. The windows were all down to max because it was about 90F outside. Wayne will be right on with 72-75mpg with me driving, I just need a good day now. We also know Wayne would be able to push the FEH another 15-20mpg over any other human on this earth. BTW, this was with no FAS with the key.

GaryG

tbaleno · #25 04-20-2006, 05:08 PM

I say we put up money to put xcel and krousdb on the same stretch of road at the same time for an FE race. It could be a fun competion as both are VERY good.

brick · #26 04-20-2006, 06:20 PM

It would almost be worth showing up just to see that. Let's see how high their mileage is with the rest of us piled into the car watching their technique.

tbaleno · #27 04-20-2006, 06:40 PM

Oh, I just remembered. They will probably both be at hybrid fest. We may need to have an "invitational" class where the elite are in their own class.

philmcneal · #28 04-21-2006, 01:02 AM

wow hm..... i thought windows down is such a FE killer, even in the city. It makes me feel my coasts are dragged down so I rather take the heat

No ac air is good enough most of the time anyway.

VonoreTn · #29 04-21-2006, 04:38 PM

With regard to charging Escape Hybrid batteries in our homes, there is something missing here. These are just batteries we are charging. With the correct, available AC to DC voltage converter, and maybe a voltage step device, anyone can charge any battery off of either 110 or 220 volts AC that we have in our houses.

I assume the Escape Hybrid battery pack ends up joining several batteries in series to operate at a higher than 220 volt DC level. It still can be done. We only need to know how the engine charges the same battery to figure out how to make a cheap battery charger.

The EDrive and Hymotion kits are fine, professional packages for fleet operators, but there has to be a huge aftermarket low budget option for current HEV owners.

Get back to me by email if you have any insights, suggestions, recommendations.

GaryG · #30 04-21-2006, 06:25 PM

If someone needs to charge the battery quick, the fake shift in "L" will do the trick real fast. The present system really doesn't another charger from an AC house plug IMHO.

Well, today marks another day of a 70+ RT and its starting to get easier to improve. Total distance was about 20 miles with 10 miles with a tailwind at 10-15mph and a strong dead on headwind of the same coming back. Kept the start better for the first 10 miles and the scangauge read ~78mpg low start battery and a ~73mpg with the battery ready for the glide again. Things turned around with the headwind and caused my average to drop to end up with 70.3mpg. The windows were fully down again but I may raise them next time going against the wind. Had alot of gust inside the FEH but was tring to hold my average and wasn't thinking about the real problem. On a calm day, I think the FEH is good for 75mpg just as Wayne predicted.

The trip was from my house north to Hope Sound National Refuge on Jupiter Island. Perfect beach road with the most expensive estate's in our Country. The police watch the speed limit of 30mph just great and golfcarts have the right of way. It is a two lane road with no passing along about 50% of the road. Except for the wind and traffic, I had ideal conditions for the FEH.

GaryG