Is the Hybrid worth the upgrade?

[Brandon8]

I bought my PB for the hybrid, better gas mileage, and the other added bonuses of the PB. I will likely never tow anything, although I am looking at a camper now just because I can lol I will haul things every once in a while, but I’m a very casual truck owner if that makes sense.

I’m getting at least five more miles per gallon than my previous explorer ST and I have similar power numbers. Plus the F150 is overall more capable vehicle than my explorer. Loving it so far. Somehow the hybrid game is just fun to me as well.

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[Spiffy]

There are other advantages to a hybrid that may add to your decision.
I wanted the 7k watt generator. Its awesome to connect to my house when the power is out. Beats the pants off a regular generator. I can run everything including my AC on 2 gallons of gas 24 hours. And it cycles on and off as needed. It never runs faster than 900 rpm so its virtually silent.
Im a contractor and having 240v 30 amps available is good.
Hybrid motor teams up with the 3.5 ecoboost so pulling power is awesome.

If you go hybrid don't cheap out on the 3k generator. It doesn't power much and your resale value will suffer.

 

[tsigwing]

I have yet to buy any vehicle worried about resale value.

 

[Gros Ventre]

There are other advantages to a hybrid that may add to your decision.
I wanted the 7k watt generator. Its awesome to connect to my house when the power is out. Beats the pants off a regular generator. I can run everything including my AC on 2 gallons of gas 24 hours. And it cycles on and off as needed. It never runs faster than 900 rpm so its virtually silent.
Im a contractor and having 240v 30 amps available is good.
Hybrid motor teams up with the 3.5 ecoboost so pulling power is awesome.

If you go hybrid don't cheap out on the 3k generator. It doesn't power much and your resale value will suffer.

Note that the 7K generator is a true 7k. I live at 7500 feet and any generator will be derated by about 30% due to altitude. But... This one has an engine much larger than the generator... so regardless of altitude you get all 7K!

 

[Spiffy]

Note that the 7K generator is a true 7k. I live at 7500 feet and any generator will be derated by about 30% due to altitude. But... This one has an engine much larger than the generator... so regardless of altitude you get all 7K!

Ya and it gets it full 7k output at only 900 rpm.

 

[HammaMan]

Note that the 7K generator is a true 7k. I live at 7500 feet and any generator will be derated by about 30% due to altitude. But... This one has an engine much larger than the generator... so regardless of altitude you get all 7K!

It'll do nearly 7.6kW sustained, but also has pretty much zero additional peaking capability. Even $5k+ honda inverter generators lose ~3% of rated power per 1kft.

Ya and it gets it full 7k output at only 900 rpm.

In hybrid mode it's recharging the battery around 20kW at that low RPM. 7kW generators typically have a .42 liter motor, the 3.5 is well oversized for the task

 

[Snakebitten]

Ya and it gets it full 7k output at only 900 rpm.

Actually, at ZERO rpms
The real magic!

It's basically one of those new fangled "Solar Generator", only the solar charging has been substituted with wind charging. (forgive me, I can't resist)
Wind the crankshaft is winding, it winds the traction motor winding into charging the solar generator's energy storage.

And yes, altitude means nothing.
Weather even doesn't matter.
Works in the dark.
Works in a storm.
Works in the middle of nowhere.

Still can't understand why it's the only one.

Edit: been having some fun combining the Powerboost generator with one of these. (PECRON E3600LFP/3.6KW)

Pictured is 2 of them combined to replicate pretty much exactly what ProPower 7.2KW is. (240V 30Amp).

 

[HammaMan]

Still can't understand why it's the only one.

I mean credit to Toyota, their new mid size truck/SUV hybrid platform comes with a 2.4kW system native. Still more than the Tundra has. The 7.2 allows more luxury but even a full 20a 120v outlet is clutch when it's everywhere the vehicle is. That's a refer / hot plate / microwave / and even a small AC unit, granted just not all at the same time.

 

[Spiffy]

Shhh. Don't say anything positive about the generator. Ford will retaliate and delete it like they do with everything else that's convenient.

 

[Snakebitten]

I mean credit to Toyota, their new mid size truck/SUV hybrid platform comes with a 2.4kW system native. Still more than the Tundra has. The 7.2 allows more luxury but even a full 20a 120v outlet is clutch when it's everywhere the vehicle is. That's a refer / hot plate / microwave / and even a small AC unit, granted just not all at the same time.

True.
And ironic, since Toyota publicly stated their customers were polled and weren't interested in such a utility included in their Hybrid truck. ?? Suuuuure they aren't.

No doubt in my mind that the Tacoma overlander cult is ecstatic with the feature. I know I would be if I was a member. (I would be, a member that is, if I lived in Colorado, for example)

 

[Davexxxx]

Actually, at ZERO rpms
The real magic!

It's basically one of those new fangled "Solar Generator", only the solar charging has been substituted with wind charging. (forgive me, I can't resist)
Wind the crankshaft is winding, it winds the traction motor winding into charging the solar generator's energy storage.

And yes, altitude means nothing.
Weather even doesn't matter.
Works in the dark.
Works in a storm.
Works in the middle of nowhere.

Still can't understand why it's the only one.

To wind up our recent trip out west, we stayed a week at our favorite home state lake.

One of the reasons it is our favorite, is because you can camp at the water's edge.

The electric sites, are all up higher in the interior, with no direct campsite access to the water. So, people generally walk down and play at the water's edge, fish etc. No biggie.

Being higher they have a pretty good vantage point of our set up and we weren't there 5 minutes, before a lady came down asking about our solar system. She mentioned we had the best campsite but felt they needed the electricity, asking how much we could run, did we install it ourselves etc.

That afternoon, ran the AC for several hrs but the next day was hotter, for longer, so plugged into the truck.

I saw several guys eyeballing that with curious looks on their faces. It was comical. Especially when the ICE would cycle on and off. We talked a little while. They'd never heard of it. "It really does that?" "For how little fuel?"

The Powerboost is a major sleeper. Still.

 

[Spiffy]

I bet the poll asked if customers were interested in a 5000.00 up charge for it.
That would skew the acceptance factor.

For what its worth getting the 7.3k generator only cost me 1800.00. Try to buy a standalone generator that is silent, 1/4 gal per hour and doesn't run when there is not a load. Man that would be expensive.

 

[Snakebitten]

Ford surely collects the field data on my Powerboost and thus has the hour meter vs miles driven. I'm not saying anyone is actually focusing on it, but if they did? ???

ESP for 8/100,000 isn't unordinary.
So that wouldn't raise a flag.

But run the math on how many hours the truck will be in "Ready mode" before it reaches either 8 years or 100,000??

That would be an interesting conversation to overhear.
Admittedly I'm an outlier regarding. I'm never not in an RV of one kind or another.

 

[Spiffy]

Ford surely collects the field data on my Powerboost and thus has the hour meter vs miles driven. I'm not saying anyone is actually focusing on it, but if they did? ???

ESP for 8/100,000 isn't unordinary.
So that wouldn't raise a flag.

But run the math on how many hours the truck will be in "Ready mode" before it reaches either 8 years or 100,000??

That would be an interesting conversation to overhear.
Admittedly I'm an outlier regarding. I'm never not in an RV of one kind or another.

The data on my screen shows miles driven under electric. I wonder if there are other data points stored. I do work in my truck with the ready light on and off course the ice cycles while parked. I often push the generator button to keep the power on to my outlets when I leave the truck for extended time. I have found idle time data
What is idle time?

 

[Gros Ventre]

The data on my screen shows miles driven under electric. I wonder if there are other data points stored. I do work in my truck with the ready light on and off course the ice cycles while parked. I often push the generator button to keep the power on to my outlets when I leave the truck for extended time. I have found idle time data
What is idle time?

Engine running but not powering the wheels. Generating would come on as Idle Time if not on the road. You can run the generator while driving down the road... A coffee maker likely takes 1,000 or more watts. I've done that, my coffee maker takes ~1,400 watts.

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