F150 Hybrid Towing Range?

[Mosey]

My ‘21 PB towing a tall 14 ft v-nose cargo trailer gets around 12 mpg empty and between 9 and 10 when loaded. I would not count on any real assistance from the electric motor. In fact regenerative braking is reduced when in tow-haul mode based on the eco-coach readings.

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[dochawk]

In fact regenerative braking is reduced when in tow-haul mode based on the eco-coach readings.

the application of the trailer brakes, which don't regenerate?

 

[Mosey]

the application of the trailer brakes, which don't regenerate?

Not sure what you mean. The trailer brakes have nothing to do with the PB regen braking.

 

[jcaspar]

I did my first RV trip in January towing a 32' trailer. Got about 9 mpg average. Much worse with Tow mode (8 ish) than with normal (about 10) as it blocked the hybrid mode. Worked well with Tow mode for hilly areas and normal of the flats.

 

[dochawk]

Not sure what you mean. The trailer brakes have nothing to do with the PB regen braking.

Oh, but they do: every erg they dissipate doesn't go into regen!

I'm assuming that if you apply the brakes with battery less than full, that the trailer brakes get engaged even though the truck uses region.

Then again, maybe they anticipated this, and don't use trailer brakes until the truck uses actual brakes rather than region. Others will know better than I.

 

[Snakebitten]

I don't know if I would consider a Powerboost as being much different than just a 3.5 Ecoboost, when towing anything significant.
At least not enough difference to justify the "Hybrid" title.

 

[dafish]

I'm looking at replacing my 2018 limited with a 2021 Hybrid Limited and am wondering if anyone has any input/knowledge on what to expect for range when towing? I

Having owned nearly identical trucks, an '18 ecoboost and a '22 Powerboost, I can say this about towing: This is no improvement at all while towing. In fact, there are times I think the '18 does a bit better. But then the '18 has IWE's and Ford removed them in '22 Powerboosts for at least the King Ranch and the Platinum, so there went some mpg... Thanks Ford!

BTW, I've never seen the hybrid do anything, contribute anything, over 40mph as regards passing, pulling a hill, or etc. It's certainly of no value towing. Heck, it's just more weight to drag around. PB is of value around town at low speed. Well, any below 40-43 mph condition I suppose, although it's much more usefull around 35mph. And again, of no use when towing.

 

[SonarChief]

Having owned nearly identical trucks, an '18 ecoboost and a '22 Powerboost, I can say this about towing: This is no improvement at all while towing. In fact, there are times I think the '18 does a bit better. But then the '18 has IWE's and Ford removed them in '22 Powerboosts for at least the King Ranch and the Platinum, so there went some mpg... Thanks Ford!

BTW, I've never seen the hybrid do anything, contribute anything, over 40mph as regards passing, pulling a hill, or etc. It's certainly of no value towing. Heck, it's just more weight to drag around. PB is of value around town at low speed. Well, any below 40-43 mph condition I suppose, although it's much more usefull around 35mph. And again, of no use when towing.

Yes to the fact that you will almost never see “electric” mode while towing. Yes to the fact that the hybrid does add about 300 lbs of weight (around 2 young teenagers), which means if your ONLY metric is mpg, then you will see a slight LOSS vs the non hybrid when towing. And as far as engine braking, the 3.5 (like any small turbo) does less then a 5.0 or larger. And yes to those that if you are a dedicated heavy tower, you should be in a 250 plus anyway! All that being said, there are numerous videos (JB Reviews and Truck King come to mind) and showing how that extra 30 HP and 70 lb ft of torque makes for a much better towing experience up any grade. And let’s now forget how the pro power onboard adds to the utility when you reach the remote campsite! I took a screenshot from Truck King showing a merging traffic 0-60 time while towing a 7k trailer, the PB was only topped by the Ram TRX( the other trucks weren’t even close!)

 

[dafish]

OK, I"ll bite, and perhaps learn something:

Are you trying to tell us they hybrid batt is called/used pulling hills? That alone I'd not beleived. When you reference the extra 30hp while towing I'm assuming you're telling is it harness the drive motor while towing. I'm pretty certain it does not do that.

Still, I'm prepared to learn I'm wrong. can you elaborate?

 

[Snakebitten]

OK, I"ll bite, and perhaps learn something:

Are you trying to tell us they hybrid batt is called/used pulling hills? That alone I'd not beleived. When you reference the extra 30hp while towing I'm assuming you're telling is it harness the drive motor while towing. I'm pretty certain it does not do that.

Still, I'm prepared to learn I'm wrong. can you elaborate?

It absolutely does use the electric motor even while ICE is running.
If you monitor the amps being consumed from the ~300V battery during certain torque requests, you clearly witness the electric torque being blended with the Ecoboost torque.

It's not just when towing or climbing a grade. It's anytime that the engine management logic finds electric torque available for blending.

By the way, in Tow/Haul, the HVB SOC management is a very different than Normal mode. At steady state high speed cruise, instead of keeping the SOC down near the bottom of the usable range (~42%), the SOC is kept at the top. Often even higher than the normal ceiling of 63%. It'll hover up in the 67-68% area. So it's "primed" for being called on with an increased torque request.

 

[dafish]

Well I'll be darned. Seemed like I got the "it's not used for towing" from this forum. Meh. Glad to know more! Thanks! Is there any convenient way to tell when it's adding electric torque?

Tia,

-d

 

[Snakebitten]

Just monitor the PID called

 

[Davexxxx]

Well I'll be darned. Seemed like I got the "it's not used for towing" from this forum. Meh. Glad to know more! Thanks! Is there any convenient way to tell when it's adding electric torque?

Tia,

-d

The powerflow display in the center screen.

 

[SonarChief]

The powerflow display in the center screen.

Exactly, if it says “hybrid “ or “electric “ then the electric motor is being used…and by the way, it will ALWAYS say one or the other unless there is a significant problem with your hybrid system.

 

[Samson16]

I'm looking at replacing my 2018 limited with a 2021 Hybrid Limited and am wondering if anyone has any input/knowledge on what to expect for range when towing? I understand Ford is marketing a range of "at least 700 miles" for the Hybrid, which is greater than the advertised range for my 2018 but I wonder if that increased range will be similar when towing as I would suspect the Hybrid's impact is less noticeable with a 6500lb trailer behind it. With the fuel tank on the hybrid being 15% smaller than on the current limited (30.6 vs 36 gallons) , my concern would be that the range I'll get towing my travel trailer may be less than I'm getting now or do you think the Hybrid will still aid in range even under heavy load?


Some math:

The current non hybrid F150 limited is EPA rated at 19mpg combined, with my travel trailer I get about 9.8mpg average, so out of a 36 gallon tank I can theoretically get 352.8 miles of range. If the new Hybrid limited gets 700 miles on it’s 30.6 gallon tank, that would be a rating of 22.9mpg. To get the same 352.8 miles of range with the Hybrid’s smaller tank, I would need to get 11.5mpg when towing.

What are you planning to tow with a Limited PB? The payload sticker is so gimped a pair of Jetskis will put you at the limit. I think when towing the mpg will be very similar to what you get now you’ll just have more power. Don’t purchase it for better towing fuel economy.

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