Stupid ICE: Stay Off!

i hate when that happens! be thankful you don't have senior moments like me, hitting the hv button by accident.

 

This scenario is a good example of a benefit of my CMax's EV+ feature. Via its GPS chip, it learns your home or work or any highly frequented location and will keep the car in EV mode a little longer to avoid ICE spin up. It will dig a little deeper into the battery pack than usual.

 

Interesting. Was this an extra package?

 

No, it's standard on both the hybrid and the NRG (energi). You can turn it on in the settings menu along with other options like tachometer or ICE temp. gauge.

 

how long will it keep the ice off in the standard hybrid?

 

Sorry Bisco I don't recall the actual kWh's it will use. I think I've seen that figured posted before..... somewhere....

Basically it activates a few blocks from your destination. I find it very useful in the OP's scenario of needing to move the car around at home (out of garage to wash it) or work (moving to a better spot with shade in the summer) without the ICE firing up for a useless burn. It has its limits too.

 

yes, that would be a nice feature for non pip liftback. i imagine there must be some point in battery charge where it wouldn't be allowed.

 

Again don't quote me on this but I think on my NRG I can get about 3/4's to one mile extra range once it hits EV+.

 

What's your EV range like? And what kind of MPG do you get after it runs out?

 

I get 26-28 mile estimates with 24 on colder days; 30f is the coldest I've seen this winter (slight jab). My commute is 18 miles so I don't typically run out. I got it in Nov. and I'm still on the dealer's gas. I have an L2 charger so I don't typically run out of EV locally and can do upwards of 50-60 miles per day EV (last trip is in the evenings). When I do venture out of town, I get 36-42mpg depending on temperature and wind (big factor around here).

We also have the CMax hybrid (bought it last March) and it all ready has 22,000 miles (yikes!) with an overall 42mpg lifetime. I did a forum hyper mile challenge in it and won with a 64mpg avg. over an entire tank (900 miles on 13.7gal). Yes, I'm quite proud of that. I typically got 48-52 mpg on my daily route in it before giving it to my wife and getting the NRG .

 

Without putting it in "EV now" mode, how likely is it for the engine to start up when going up an onramp and merging into freeway traffic? Passing on the freeway? Driving up steep hills?

 

i don't mean on the nrg, you mention it's standard on the hybrid?

 

Sorry Jeff, I can't really answer to those specific scenarios as I live in a rural, flat area with uncongested highways. I've only had it come on once in 2,200 miles when an a$$%#@* cut me off and I floored it in frustration. Having owned a Volt, I certainly wouldn't challenge one at a stop light (nor a Tesla LOL). Here's a very unscientific video of me accelerating from a rolling start to 60+.

Yes EV+ is on the hybrid too and I'd guess it's about 1/3 of a mile or so (a few city blocks). I know exactly where it activates on the way home so I know I can pulse short of that mark and just when it looks like my glide is about to end...... EV+ kicks in and I make it all the way to the garage.

 

Cool! The video was obviously in EV now mode.

I've heard that if you switch to EV now mode it will stay there if you turn the car off and back on again. Is that true?

I recently found a link to Car and Driver magazine's test result summary that I found useful (although the MSRP pricing and EPA estimates are obsolete):

http://media.caranddriver.com/files/2013-ford-c-max-energi-plug-in-hybrid-test-review-car-and-driver2013-ford-c-max-energi-plug-in-hybrid.pdf


By checking zeroto60times.com, the best comparable times were:

2013 Ford C-MAX Energi (EV now) 0-60 mph 16.1 Quarter mile 20.1 (@65 mph)

1980 Ford Pinto (4spd) 0-60 mph 15.7 Quarter mile 20.5

1974 Toyota Corolla 1200 0-60 mph 16.0 Quarter mile 19.7

 

That IS definitely a cool feature. But of course, the trade off is the lower EPA MGP's


.

 

No, my video was in EV auto mode. EV now mode will throw up a large "Press OK to enable engine" message on the left screen when you floor it to allow combined power acceleration if you want it. Choices are good.

Yes, it will remain in EV now or EV auto mode after powering down. I can't speak for EV later as I've only used that one on out of town trips but I think it will stay in that mode too.

 

But you really only used about 1/1,000th of a gallon or less.