Regenerative braking question / mpg

[dirtwinston4prez]

Still on my first tank of gas with a spanking new powerboost, and have a few observations that I hope some folks can help explain.

The displayed mpg is so far poor/bad compared to sticker. 19.4 mpg with about 40% highway and 60% very short trips around town for a total of about 347 miles so far. The display says about 254 miles on gas power and 93 miles on electric. I have also run the truck in idle quite a bit while reading the manual and tinkering with all the set up stuff. Maybe even 60 minutes in total.

Maybe worrisome, I can hear the regen brakes when I start coasting from a low speed (15-20 mph), and when I coast into speed bumps going up a local hill when at 15 -25 mph.

The manual says the regen brakes are supposed to slow the vehicle when coasting. Such programming surprises me, but I am just learning this drivetrain and maybe that's a smart thing. I suspect though (and very much hope) this only occurs when coasting is started at low speeds. However the manual isn't clear on that point and I wonder if one can hear the regen brakes if coasting is started at 35 - 60 mph.

But what I do know is that the displayed mpg is about 15% less than sticker, and I wonder if the regen braking is causing this.

Did persons get crappy mpg for the first few tanks with the powerboost ? Are short 10-15 minute city trips very bad for powerboost mpg despite that being the supposed advantage with hybrids ? Could the regen braking while in coast also cause low mpg ?

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[astrand1]

So a few things. First you would never “hear” regen brakes. All that is, is the electric motor inside the trans. What think you might be hearing based on speeds you stated is what some of us call the weird “alien” sound when in electric only. It’s a little speaker in the front that makes a noise at low speeds to let people know you are there like in parking lots. It also makes a sound when you are backing up. It can be turned off with forscan or megaohm sells a little plug in resister that defeats the sound. You can google those to read more about them. As for mpg numbers. Your truck is new so it will tend to get better. But short trips can sometimes not be as good for mpg as the engine needs time to warm up along with the trans. They tend to do better once fully warm. Sitting with it on while reading is perfectly ok. That’s one of the nice things about this truck is being able to “idle” without engine running very much.

 

[Scoobtay]

Astrand pretty much summed it up - you’re likely just hearing the electric motor sounder so pedestrians hear you coming, and your gas milage isn’t great yet because short trips = cold motor = bad mileage. 10-15 mile trips around town seem like a very sweet spot for these trucks, I often get >30mpg in scenarios like this.

But also, there’s some inconsistencies with mileage on these trucks that I’m also still trying to figure out. I did a 100 mile drive Friday (up hill), and got 28mpg total in 2.5 hours driving. Sunday, I did the same drive, downhill, and only got 21mpg. No idea what caused the big difference.

 

[PBXL]

Turn on the braking coach and if you are getting 100% regen but still averaging 19 mpg, then you probably accelerate like a maniac. However, I would guess that a majority of the population will not hit the listed MPG numbers because 430 HP/570 lb ft Torque is too much fun.

 

[Lee85]

I average 23.5 city/highway. It’s gonna take awhile to get higher MPG. Need to use the Ev Coach to get the most out of your MPG. Shows when you go into Ev and also the RMP‘s drop to zero is another way to tell when your running on battery alone.

 

[Jekyll]

Idling for 60 minutes over 245 miles will really tamp down mileage. It will get the listed mileage if you do your part. If you just drive it while ignoring economic starting and stopping techniques, you won't see good mileage.

 

[bdginmo]

Another consideration....it is not uncommon for MPG to increase throughout the break-in period. Put 1000 miles on it with a good mix of city and highway driving and see what happens after that. This will also serve as your training period using the EV coach to help you, as the drive, understand what behaviors help and hurt your MPGs.

 

[Snakebitten]

First tank?

Breath.
You have a long ways to go before you are one with the truck. I don't mean that as an insult, I assure you.

There are so many parameters at play and right now you are a rider, rather than a driver. That too will sound different a few tanks from now.

Commute to the office a couple of days ago

Long wheelbase fully dolled up KingRanch Powerboost. Far easier to achieve today than when it was brand spanking new.

 

[Samson16]

Don’t worry about your mileage just yet. Follow the manual regarding the first 1000 miles and enjoy getting to know your truck. It’s amazing. ?

 

[madams144]

I average 23.5 city/highway. It’s gonna take awhile to get higher MPG. Need to use the Ev Coach to get the most out of your MPG. Shows when you go into Ev and also the RMP‘s drop to zero is another way to tell when your running on battery alone.

Ditto on my mileage in suburban driving conditions with 75% city at 45mph and below, and 25% highway speeds. That was on the first tank, using the coach and driving like I had one of those “safe driving discount” dongles plugged in.

Best results would likely require a change in driving habits. Slow acceleration, coast as much as reasonable for braking. But as mentioned above .. that’s hard to do with how fast these eco boosts are. 23 in the city is great mileage.

 

[STM]

Your electric to gas miles ratio is about average at 26%.. In my experience, very short trips don't get the best gas mileage.. Until the engine is warmed up..
During regen braking, which is any time you take your foot off the gas, the electric motor becomes a generator and charges the battery, so it can in turn power the motor when you step back on the gas..
Highway driving at speeds over 70 mph typically brings down the mileage quite a bit.. To around 18 mpg for me.. So the combination of very short city trips and highway driving might be contributing to the mileage you are seeing..

It's an amazing truck that is insanely powerful and comfortable.. I am sure you will enjoy it and keep discovering new things..

 

[Davexxxx]

I can hear the brake system and could from new.

Sitting in park, there is definite sound, when pressing the brake.

In motion as well and I have the Megaohm remote delete.

When in full electric, the drive system makes a typical electric vehicle sound (golf cart).

When in regen braking, there is a typical whine of a dynamo type generator working.

Since its done all of these from new and are consistent with what is going on, I consider it normal.

Mileage should get better with break in but there seems to be a fairly wide variance between trucks and drivers. I usually get low to mid 20s on short trips of mixed hwy / town driving. I use the coaches but with the "fuel economy" screen.

Once you get the hang of it, it will become normal. For the most part, I use the adaptive cruise and let this marvel of a truck do it's job.

 

[Jerome10]

I agree with giving it a bit more time, some break-in.

I believe I'm over 24 MPG lifetime (I reset it when I bought it and haven't touched it in the 15 months since I got it). I'd say most of my driving is suburban style. I don't live in a suburb per-se but there are plenty of lights and 35-50mph 4 lane roads etc around me. I also live in a cold and snowy area where I have to imagine my engine runs more and my battery is less efficient during the winter. During warm weather I can drive around town and often hit 30+ on 5-6 mile trips. Even seen high 30s at times if I get lucky with the stop lights and such.

Highway has actually often surprised me for the better. I often can pull 23-24 even at 70-75mph. Seeing 26 isn't terribly uncommon on a 40 mile trip. Headwinds will drop that down though. Yet I almost always see 20+.

For me, the biggest helper is the option in the display.... there are a few of them to choose from but the one that looks like below I have found is the best. It shows me exactly how much throttle I can give the truck without it switching on the gas motor. It also shows me how much braking I can use to keep it in re-gen without engaging the friction brakes. The truck is only capable of all-electric acceleration at an extremely slow pace. I've just allowed it to kick on the gas to get me up to speed then it shuts the engine off. Trying to keep it in electric is too slow for me and I feel would be extremely rude to drivers behind me as well.

I'd suggest you find this display (MyView) in your gauge cluster and start paying attention while you drive.

 

[dirtwinston4prez]

Many, many thanks all. Yep, lots to learn and thats a big part of the fun. Plus, should have mentioned I have been running AC near full time, and drive in normal mode much of the time.

But there is a very distinct sound when I brake or when coasting below about 20 mph. Its different than the backing up tones,, and hard to describe. Like two things rubbing together, but not a squeaking, screaching, or metallic scraping sound.

A low pitch sound thats not annoying other than the mystery of what is going on and whether things are working properly.

When I brake and come to a complete stop, the noise stops and the brake coach tells me the percent energy recovered. I think I hit 100% once, but typically 75 - 90's%. But in any case, it sure seems like the sound is related to the regen braking process.

All great ideas, - take a breath like Snakebitten says ! Use the fuel economy screen as a coach for better mpg, and can't wait to taste that juicy torque a tank or two from now

And at this early stage in the learning process I'm still getting about 1 mpg better than with the 2.7L ecoboost I traded in. No knock to the 2.7, not at all. I really liked it. Very reliable, its torque started to kick in just below 2000 rpm so felt next to nothing in turbo lag, and in my opinion its a fantastic engine if you are not towing big things.

 

[Snakebitten]

The rather strange sound you here at slow speeds or at a stop, when you put your foot on the brake pedal is the electric brake booster for vacuum.
Remember that you have only ONE belt on your ICE 3.5 Ecoboost engine. It's for the water pump.
EVERYTHING else on the truck is electric!
Your air conditioner compressor is a 240V compressor, for example. Your transmission fluid pump is electric if the ICE is off. The power steering is electric. So naturally the vacuum pump is electric and you can definitely hear it spool up when you press the brake pedal.

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