ptjones

I agree with your Post, but using EV on level ground and especially downhill it will be hard to maintain best operating WT. Also downhill if you can use Neutral/coasting is more efficient. I wonder if there is a way to use EV assist going uphill so the ICE wouldn't heat up as much. I have seen this happen when I have a high SOC like above 50%. Paul

I was trying to figure out a strategy to use the HVB/EV 30+ mile range of the 2020 FEHP effectively. Anytime you use the EV Mode the ICE WT is going to go down so it makes no sense to use it at the beginning of a trip when you want to get up to operating temps as quickly as possible. That leaves using it during or end of trip. During the trip you would only use it to bring temps down from high end of operating temp range, you wouldn't want to get below operating temp range. Using it at the end of trip would work as long as you didn't to turn the ICE back on. Another consideration would be how much charging can you do when stopped. Paul

I was thinking that using the heater to cool the WT down is a waist of heat energy/fan electricity that wouldn't be made if EV is used for a short time like a minute at a time to cool down ICE. In that way all the heat energy the ICE makes is used to turn the wheels and charge the HVB. Running EV for a minute will cool down the ICE 5-10*F and then you could run the ICE for 5 minutes and repeat. This would only be necessary when going up hills. If you could combine ICE and EV together for an extended period of time going uphill you could keep the ICE from getting hot but the HVB temps would go up so you would need to monitor that too. Paul

I have been thinking about what strategy I will use to improve My 2020 FEH Plugin gas mileage on Hwy trips, when I finally get it. I looked at Energi Posts and it seemed like they drive them like Hybrids and only drive EV at slower speeds . I have an Idea to improve MPG's using HVB EV to control ICE WT. Here are the important info for improving MPG's for an Energi: 1. ICE runs too cold for maximum efficiency, I found running between 215 to 226*F WT is the best temp range and you need to use Grill Covers to get that high. 2. You gain about 4 mpg using Grill Covers, 2 mpg for reduced Drag and 2 mpg for improving ICE efficiency with higher WT's. 3. Most of the time the ICE WT will be just fine with Grill Covers on, but with significant uphill climb ICE WT will go up, at 225*F I would go to EV Mode for a minute allowing the ICE to cool down. With my Hybrid I use heater/defrost to lower WT which is a waist of energy. 4. BYW using Neutral to coast down hill improves MPG's and cools the HVB and ICE down. 5. I would guess that a 4 to 5 mpg improvement could be realized doing this. Let me know what you think. Paul

It's been awhile and I haven't been traveling like I usually do for obvious reasons. (Corona virus) Filled up the other day at BJ's for less than $20, 12.5 gal./$1.55/ gal. for Premium, the lowest price for a tankful of Premium in 7.5 yrs that I have had MADMAX. That works out to 55.3 mpg, not bad considering lower temps and some rain. For those New to this Forum you can go to Post #1 to see my 3 videos on how to do it.? It will give you something to do with all your spare time.? Paul

I would think the aero drag coefficient would be the big part of the difference between the two. I believe I gain 6 mpg from having Grill Covers and wheel covers to close the gap in mpg's. Paul

I did your steps and it seems to work.? Paul

You Should be able to connect too posts up front in ICE compartment. Paul

I wonder if that would improve MPG's.? Paul

Thanks for posting.? Paul

I wonder how much the delivery time is going to slip with plant closures going on.☹️ And yet MADMAX keeps going on 248K miles and counting.? Paul

I need to down load as much info as I can, but work gets in the way.? Paul

I'm assuming you bought it used and the car is 8 yrs old, to me it looks like the car had issues and the previous owner got rid of it. Most CMAX Energi owners don't have problems and with out good tech help it is hard to solve difficult problems. I have 247k miles on my CMAX Hybrid and love the car like most owners. Paul

Trade it in for a newer one that doesn't have problems, car over seven years old. Paul

That is weird, I have 247k miles on my Hybrid with no problems. Sounds to me like something was make out of spec causing a problem. Paul

How far did you drive? That seems like a big improvement. You know I like the better MPG's of 50 psi, I think at most the improvement is 1.5 mpg, I get most of my improvement from Grill Covers(4mpg), wheel covers(2 mpg) and Premium Gas (1-2 mpg). I didn't know the tire pressure was different on the 2014. wonder if newer ones are also 40 psi. Paul

I filled up yesterday at Sam's for $2.18/gal Premium for 12 gal./ $26.18 getting 53.2 fuelly.com MPG. Smart gauge said 53.4 mpg and 638.2 miles actual miles. I could have made it to 700 easily, but couldn't pass up the Great Gas Prices. Warmer temps 65-75*F have bought mpg's back up even with the rain. Paul

This is also true. Paul

Only the small percentage owners that had problems complained while most of us never had any problems with our 2013 CMAX other than trans and FORD fixed at no cost and with 247k miles things are still working good.? Paul

I think that might sense. Paul

I also have this problem and slowly getting worse over the years since new. I took it out(big job) and it is a sealed unit so it can only be replaced to fix it. I didn't want to spend the money so I live with it. Paul

Not easy to make it up on all the long distance driving I do. I will have to get use to looking for places that have charging stations on my trips. Around town driving I could go a month or two without filling up.? Frank how's your mpg's? Paul

The FEH has coolant lines going around the HVB and the HVB is outside the vehicle. Something I just noticed about the FEH is the gas capacity of Hybrid 14.2 gal. and plugin 11.2, I'm a little disappointed in that.☹️ I guess I'm going to have to do a lot of charging to make up the difference. Paul

What if you don't use the A/C? Paul

Just test drove a 2020 Escape Titanium Hybrid and only went 3.3 miles, but got 56 mpg. Hard to get use to the brakes being to touchy. The EV acceleration is very good and regen charges quickly. Needed to do a test drive to get a $50 gift card from FORD that I registered to get at the Atlanta Car Show. Frank are you getting use to monitoring the gauges yet? It's going to take some time to get use to the shifter. What kind of MPG's are you getting? Paul