Motor on for system performance?

[wazer]

I'm not able to charge at work, but I only have a five mile trip home. It'll be parked at my office in the hot summer sun all day. It could easily reach 150ºF inside.

 

Are there any options other than leaving the windows open? I don't like to do this as rain showers like to pop up around here. I'd want to make it back without the engine coming on.

[murphy]

If you have a moon roof you could leave it in the vent position.

 

There is a product, that has been discussed either on here or the hybrid forum, that installs at the top of the window frame that allows the window to vent but keeps the rain out.

[larryh]

I park by a tree for shade at work. 

Edited May 29, 2014 at 09:35 AM by larryh

[wazer]

If you have a moon roof you could leave it in the vent position.

 

There is a product, that has been discussed either on here or the hybrid forum, that installs at the top of the window frame that allows the window to vent but keeps the rain out.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the moonroof. I have considered those side window deflectors but I'm not a fan of the look and I'm sure they increase drag a bit.

[Russael]

Don't forget - you have remote window closing with your keyfob.  Press and hold the lock button for about 6 seconds and it'll close all of your windows.  Of course, assuming you're in range of your ride.  I've gotten caught with rain before.  Was awesome going up to the door and rolling up the windows and closing the moonroof with a button push.

 

I know the Titaniums have it for sure... not too sure about the SE models.

[dnorris78]

I have an SE and you can control the windows (up and down) with the key FOB. 

 

I live in the south and it gets quit warm during the day.  I park at work in the sun.  I am worried about the ambient temperature heating up the battery.  I think that what happened to me.  This morning I was able to stay in EV now mode.  I accelerated very easy (like grandpa) and kept the speed at 55 and below.

 

I also charge at work (120v) ...

[larryh]

It has only been in the low 80’s here.  Generally, after my commute home from work, the HVB temperature has been in the low 90’s.   When I start out in the morning, it is still in the mid 80’s.  It takes a long time for the HVB to cool down.  I don’t know if this would help, but you could try starting the car in the morning when it is plugged into a 240 Volt charger with the A/C running (but don’t do this in an enclosed garage).  The car should draw in the cool air from the cabin to cool the battery—hopefully faster than running the car warms up the HVB.  I will have to try that some time to see if it works.  Using a 120 V charger will deplete the HVB. 

 

At work, you can precondition the car to cool it down before you leave. However, the 120 V charger will not provide enough electricity to fully power the A/C.

 

[dnorris78]

It has only been in the low 80’s here.  Generally, after my commute home from work, the HVB temperature has been in the low 90’s.   When I start out in the morning, it is still in the mid 80’s.  It takes a long time for the HVB to cool down.  I don’t know if this would help, but you could try starting the car in the morning when it is plugged into a 240 Volt charger with the A/C running (but don’t do this in an enclosed garage).  The car should draw in the cool air from the cabin to cool the battery—hopefully faster than running the car warms up the HVB.  I will have to try that some time to see if it works.  Using a 120 V charger will deplete the HVB. 

 

At work, you can precondition the car to cool it down before you leave. However, the 120 V charger will not provide enough electricity to fully power the A/C.

 

 

 

Are you saying that the A/C cool air from the cabin cools the HVB when the A/C is running?

[larryh]

Yes. When the car is running, the HVB draws in cool air from the cabin via the vents on the rear deck. When charging, it draws in outside air.

[dnorris78]

That might explain why I was going into "Engine Enabled for System Performance" mode ... I was driving home 99 degrees outside and all windows down and not running the A/C ... plus I was driving and accelerating in an aggressive way ... 'taking work frustrations out on the car I suppose' :)

 

I'll cool the cabin prior to leaving and use the A/C on the way home with windows up and see if that makes a difference.

[jza80]

I have had this same issue occur with my wife's C-Max Energi (one time), and with my Fusion Energi (also, one time).  What happened to me in both instances was that we were driving along normally in Auto mode with plenty of battery range remaining, and while staying within the range of power request for EV the vehicle suddenly derated the EV power limit showing on the Empower screen from the full amount to about 2 bars - all the while showing that EV battery driving range was available.  In the case of the C-Max, it was a fairly cool day and I was driving very moderately with just the 2 of us in the car.  When this happened, I received repeated "engine enabled for system performance" messages as we drove along with the engine running and the car in EV mode.  

 

The incident with the Fusion occurred last weekend, it was a warm (88-90 degF) day, and the car was fully loaded with 4 adults and one child.  I was driving fairly briskly up a slight grade but staying under the EV max limit, and then suddenly the power limit changed to 2 bars, and the engine started.  I did not get any warning message this time, the vehicle just shut off EV and gave me IC.  In the drive back later that day, everything was normal again.

 

I imagine that there is some battery temperature protection scheme in place that is doing this, but I can't imagine why it happened for the C-Max case.  I mentioned it to the dealer when the C-Max was in for CD player replacement, and I even had photos of the screen and messages that I provided, but they and Ford tech support basically said "it's normal" with no explanation as to why it may have occurred.  

Edited June 5, 2014 at 08:03 PM by jza80