So, for the first couple of tanks, I could tap the brakes at the top of a grade and force electric mode for some free regen. Now it’s just about impossible to get the motor to drop out. I’ve tried every way I can think of to apply the brakes. I also tried with the radio and HVAC off for the entire trip. And no difference in changing drive modes either. It’s really unfortunate because I have a 20 mile commute in a hilly area. It’s also really annoying and confusing to those behind me who can’t figure out what the psycho in front of them is doing! I used to net 8 electric miles on my commute, but am lucky to get 5 now.

So…Ford, what I want is a button I can press to force electric mode when I’m cresting the top of a hill. Until then, you’re sleeping on the couch!

 

If it's not going into electric, there's a reason. If you're just cresting a hill, it's possible that the hybrid battery charge is considered too low to support electric only operation. From what I've seen in my brief tracking of the hybrid state of charge, getting the truck into full electric when it's below 45% charge is nearly impossible.

 

Where are you seeing battery info? I see an EV coach screen, it gives you an indication on how much throttle you can modulate and still remain in EV, but nothing regarding a SOC.

 

Did you recently get an update? Many of us had issues last month I believe it was after an update that electric was available at beginning of a drive until you tipped into the throttle and triggered ICE, then it simply wouldn't go back to electric. After several days it final relearned and got back to normal behavior. Just a thought.

 

I’m not aware of any updates. I haven’t received any messages saying so, at least.

The truck will go into electric mode, but it takes several attempts to get it to do so, rather than the single tap previously. I’m not convinced it’s a SOC issue because it acts this way even after several minutes under ICE power with all accessories turned off. I believe the YouTubers testing the ProPower said that it only took the ICE three minutes to recharge the battery pack when powering their RVs. Regardless of SOC, ideally the truck should always allow electric only regen when coasting down a grade, restarting the ICE only when throttle load demands it. Just one man’s lay opinion.

 

If I understand correctly, the PB will always regen down a grade - it doesn't need to be in electric mode specifically.

Next time down the grade look at the EV Coach screen. Does the truck regen?

Also look at the instantaneous MPG screen. Is the bar graph all the way to the right? If so, the fuel injectors have been turned off and the truck is using zero fuel.

Last weekend we were towing in the mountains of central Idaho. In tow/haul mode the truck would use a lower gear (sometimes as low as 3rd) for higher engine RPM to help control the descent. It was also giving regen and the MPG graph was all the way to the right. It worked really well!

Maybe other drive modes do this as well, but to a lesser extent?

I don't see a downside to this as long as it is both giving regen and not using fuel.

-Eric

 

Yeah worrying about engaging electric only mode when going down a hill isn't worth the effort. The truck is always using regen when coasting or braking, it doesn't matter if the engine is on or not. Regen is a function of turning the electric motor and letting it generate energy and storing it in the battery. Virtually any time the motor isn't supplying power to move the truck it is regenerating (unless stationary of course).

So the button would just be an unnecessary complication to a system that works automatically. If the truck won't go to pure EV mode when you hit the brake, there is a reason. State of charge isn't high enough, load is too high, engine temperature isn't at the right level to shut it down, etc. There are a pile of reasons the truck won't go into pure electric mode. But even when the engine is running, the electric motor is still helping and that helps fuel mileage also.

People need to relax and just drive the truck and not worry about all this. Makes the PB sound more complicated than it actually is when it comes to ownership. I get 22-26 MPG on nearly every city drive, and consistently get mid 24 MPG on highway trips, all without trying to trick the truck into electric mode with braking, or changing driving modes, or anything. I just get in and drive the truck and it does the rest.

 

People have said to accelerate harder on a PB and then ease up on the acceleration to make sure it's still drawing from the battery, not ICE. The less the foot is on the gas pedal, the more likely it'll regen.

 

Completely agree. The post wasn’t to complain, just sharing some observations playing with a new toy! I absolutely love this thing, it’s the coolest rig I’ve ever owned. FWIW, ironically, todays commute demonstrated the best behavior and fuel economy (30.4) I’ve seen to date. I can’t even get my wife’s 2019 Highlander hybrid to do that on my commute route!

 

Oh yeah, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind the button you mentioned. I think what I would rather have if I am honest on this truck and any EV, is the regen braking button that GM PHEVs and EVs have. On some it's a lever on the steering wheel column, but the point is you pull it or push the button, depending on vehicle, and it activates max regen for braking. I test drove a Volt years ago before we ended up with our C-Max Energi and that thing was fantastic.

You can fake it in other PHEVs and early EVs by putting the shift lever in "L", so it activates max regen if you let off the gas. Newer EVs call it one pedal mode. But in the PHEVs I love being in control of it so easily by a button/lever on the steering wheel. One area aside from maybe the heads up display where I think GM has a great idea that they executed well that I wish Ford and others would grab onto. I would love a max regen button I could easily active on the PB.