stevedebi

A bit off topic, so for those who don't care about the Energi - just skip this! From what I can tell, the Energi uses the same (fairly small) range of battery that the conventional C-Max uses, when it is in what I call "highway mode", which means the larger part of the battery is depeleted, or the owner has set EV Later (which reserves the larger battery for later off highway use). I think Ford just copied the algorithms between the two. It makes sense, as you note, because there is no point in charging the HVB past a certain point - it is just burning gas. The only difference I can tell is that the Energi will often not spin up the engine in L, because it has more capacity to store energy, and that it can recover extra energy on large downhill slopes, which it then burns off in either EV or just assisting the engine. After any excess is used, it reverts to that same highway mode. I follow this forum because there is a lot of stuff the same between the two models. I try to think twice before posting, to make sure my Energi doesn't operate differently than the C-Max. I don't want to waste people's time reading stuff that doesn't apply.

I had an Escape Hybrid, and on a trip to New Mexico, on secondary roads with a lot of uphill / downhill (about 200 foot hills), I saw the RPM go up past 6000 on the uphills. I didn't sweat it, since Ford designed the computer parameters to protect the engine as needed. I don't really worry about it myself. On my Energi, I don't usually even have the RPM guage up on the left hand MyView. I also hope to have mine well past 100K.

I own the Energi. For what he describes as his needs, I think the FFE works out best. He has the C-Max for any extended driving. Provided electricity costs are not to extreme, that vehicle is going to work out great for his commute. The Energi maxes out at about 22 miles EV on most commutes.

Are you sure about the Energi? The Feds have a 4K or so rebate on them, and most states have a couple thousand. That makes it about as affordable as a C-Max SEL. But if it isn't in the price range, that is completely understandable. I went in looking at the SE, and came out with an Energi. But I'm also leasing, which worked out better for my needs this time.

I may check it out later, after I've had a tank or so on this PSI. Thanks for the input!

I need to clarify my last post - the Energi C-Max does not always spin the engine in "L". But it has a larger battery, and would have more capacity. For all I know, the C-Max Hybrid, with it's smaller battery may very well always end up in the condition where "L" will spin the battery. I try and make sure my posts apply to both vehicles, but in this case I thought I'd clarify a bit.

Plus 3, I hope you didn't take offense at my other post; none was intended! The engine does not always spin in L. I thought that too, at first, but someone pointed out I was wrong, and subsequently I discovered them to be right.

I run my tires at 44 (many folks run them at 50 or higher). But in any case, check them immediately. The dealers tend to underfill them. Mine were at 34 when I checked (one was at 32). They need to be at least the door sill recommended 38 PSI. I'd check them every fill up.

I don't know what the BBB does here either, and I hope I don't ever need to find out! I was just providing information for those of us here in LA LA land.

Mine is an Energi, but at those distances the the two vehicles are pretty much the same - except you have more cargo room in the C-Max.

Well, at least the engine is not straining when it does that - there is a fuel cutoff and it is simply spinning rather than the hard work that an uphill 4K RPM would indicate.

The room is not as usable due to the streamlining of the rear of the vehicle. The Escape was boxy back there. But if you can move your stuff in smaller sizes it won't matter as much. The SEL has nice features, but obviously you need to go with whatever fits the budget.

Well then, you certainly don't want the Energi! Was your Escape a 2013? I had a 2008 FEH, and I think it had a lot more room than the normal C-Max. But I haven't measured them...

Sorry, I didn't mean it to be. We both got warned in another thread to get back on topic, and I didn't want this discussion to wander off again. EDIT: I don't think it would be beneificial to the average reader...

In California, it is three repair attempts for a serious problem in the first year, or 30 days total out of service at the dealer, again in the first year.

Interesting post! I go to Solvang occasionally. Those uphills can be a bear.

Plus 3, Let's not get another thread off topic again. The car is causing the engine to spin because it has to slow down the vehicle, and the generator cannot store any more energy in the battery due to high SOC. It is a high level description, not an in depth discussion of the internal workings of the hybrid system. I read your former posts, and watched the video. I prefer to think of it the way I do, and I don't think most folks care that much about the semantics.

If you don't need the extra cargo room, I would suggest pricing out the Energi as well. With Federal and (often) state rebates, the price is almost the same (or lower) than a C-Max SEL, and it has about 18 miles of pure electric range. It is worth doing the numbers, anyway. IF you don't need the cargo space - look at both models and you will see what I mean. Also, look at the 2014 as well as the 2015. That 2014 will have been built in the last couple of months, and is basically just as good. There are a couple of new features, but the basic car is the same.

Put air in the tire yourself. If the light comes on again, take it to a tire repair shop. You don't need the dealer for this; they are expensive, and a tire is a tire.

Encouraging, I suppose. Note that the Escape hybrid has a different battery (I had one). However, the HV battery warranty is for either 8 yrs/100K or 10 yrs / 150K. Most folks don't own their cars that long.

Gosh, I wonder where my Ice Storm fits in there...

This is the first car I've ever had in which the owner manual specifically said not to tow with the car. Even my Escape hybrid could tow, if only up to 1500 lbs.

I'm not sure I understand some of the questions about "L" mode. The generator is spinning the engine to bleed off the excess energy once the battery is full. That is where the "extra" energy is going.

I'm still not getting it. The generator kicks in to slow engine RPM? That is what the negative split mode is about? I don't see how that helps, as opposed to lowering the RPM by kicking in electric assist, since the SOC is full anyway. As you said, since the new hybrids will go EV up to 85 MPH, maybe it isn't that big a deal any more...

Once you go into EV Later mode, the reserve % doesn't change. The Energi will max out at 1.6KW. If you want to add to the main battery, you have to manually switch back to Auto or EV Now, at the appropriate time for charging conditions. I've heard folks say that the main battery can "come back" from depletion on an extremely long downhill, but I've not seen that, and it must be some quirk of the system if that happens.