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Did a short (25 mile) trip today and worked the gas pedal like PTJones showed and at the end I averaged more than half the miles on electric and got 50mpg!

Not true.? There are 3 ANC microphones, located in the left front , right front and rear in the cabin headliner, which are inputs to the digital audio control module via a connector under the glove box. There is one SYNC microphone (voice) located in the overhead console which runs through a different connector under the glove box and is an input to the APIM.

The INL statistics are on the INL website. Both hybrid and Energi have a mechanical transmission oil pump which is driven only when ICE is running. The Energi also has an electric aux. transmission oil pump. The taxi transmission issue is TSB 14-0024. The 0024 specifically applies to hybrids in Taxi service. Later in 2014 Ford issued TSB 14-0176 which superseded 0024 to include all hybrids and Energis. My guess is that the issue causing the transmission issue is exacerbated by the type of service the INL test vehicles and taxis operated under. Ford has always stated failure may occur if operated under certain conditions yet fails to describe such conditions. I still believe it is related to changes in axial load (trust) on the output shaft due to regeneration EV operation. The direction of axial load (trust) on the output shaft will shift from EV operation to regeneration. If one looks at pics of the shaft one can see the helical gears on the output shaft. The bearing retainers have to hold the gears in place and not allow the shaft to move as it does when the transmission fails. Perhaps this constant change in direction of axial load eventually overcomes the hold force of the bearings and the shaft starts to move. Perhaps its related to number of cycles of this shifting / of axial load and the magnitude of the axial load. In addition, the lack of cooling / sufficient lubrication inside the transmission when in EV and regeneration (ICE off) might contribute to the issue. But Energis have also had failed transmissions. I guess the bottom line is if one does not know how vehicle was operated, I'd only buy a newer model of a model with a replaced transmission ( both after the build date in 2016 which we believe may have a transmission which mitigates the issue) or heavily discount the offer price otherwise.