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Hello I’m Isaac and I have a 2013 Ford C-Max and I love it! I have noticed recently though that when accelerating the computers are choosing the electric drive to run the acceleration while the gas engine takes a while. I keep my driver view on the engage page so I can see the engine and electric and even while the engine is running its choosing the electric engine to do acceleration. Anyone else dealt with something like this?? thank you!

There are two things going on. Cold start mode For emission reasons, the ICE runs at low RPM producing little power for ~20-30 sec after ICE first starts. This is sometimes engaged after long downhill runs with ICE off. This is a very different, but short-lived, warm-up mode. Hybrid mode Once cold start's over, the car balances EV and ICE output, based on HVB charge and your throttle foot. I wonder if you're describing normal hybrid-mode operation. As I recall, there are four hybrid modes. Add in the effect of HVB SOC to change the ICE/EV balance and it covers pretty much everything. - ICE only - EV only - EV + ICE - EV - ICE (negative split mode) This last one is a unique case of high MPG with ICE running - negative split mode. It only occurs when HVB SOC is very high, and your throttle foot very light. The "charging" motor acts to slow the ICE RPM, so fuel use falls as mileage soars, but the ICE keeps running. Not common, but neat when it happens. As to which accelerates faster, EV or ICE, it's a bit of a red herring. In a power-split based hybrid, ICE speed is mostly constant. It operates as a "stationary engine" running any RPM required to generate the requested power. When I start from stop, the engine speed levels off as the car begins to roll, and stays constant until I back off at cruising speed. To anyone accustomed to shifting a manual, constant engine speed is a big change.

One thing to keep in mind is if the ICE -JUST- started and is cold, the car is going to prefer to let it idle and warm up without a load before it has it contributing to propulsion of the vehicle. Cases that will override this are heavier acceleration or low HVB level as examples. But under mild to moderate accelerator application it will have the electric motor do the lions share of acceleration until the ICE is ready to go (read: All the normal cold start emissions checks are done, O2 sensors are happy, etc..)