The "Battery Game" - getting the most Energy for your Engeri

[DAVE]

For the record, I agree 100% that you need to be aware of your driving route, patterns, and speeds as discussed in some of the other topic in the forum .

 

I too use the EV Later option for when I know I'll be stuck in slow traffic and for nearly 7,000 miles I've average over 75 MPG which includes a lot of highway driving.

 

Another tip is to let the car manage your highway speeds using the intelligent Cruise Control system. I watch it closely and does a decent job.

 

NOW FOR MY ISSUE:

 

I'm not sure if it's by design or a flaw but I can't seem to use my fans in the cabin to keep air moving without the AC compressor coming on. While the AC light is not on , the AC compressor is clearly on.

 

Steps to repeat:

1. Press the Fan buttons (up/down) to turn on fan to lowest speed 

2. Make sure that Auto is not on (press Fan buttons should turn off Auto)

3. Make sure that the AC light is off

 

In my car, while the AC light is clearly out, you can tell it's still on as the temp outside is warmer and air flowing in the car is still cooled  - even after long periods.

 

Why does this matter? if you turn off all power (use the Power button) to the cabin temp, your mileage range will usually increase by 5 or more miles. I've actually gotten a range of 25-28 miles a few times by riding with the windows open and the Power button "off".  The extra few miles for me would make a huge difference in many of my commutes as being about to run on 100% plug-in. 

 

Can anyone else confirm that they see the same behavior with their cabin temp and not being able to just have air flowing in the cabin?

 

RECAP:  it appears to make no difference whether the AC light is on or off - The AC/Compressor is always on if the ventilation fan is running.

 

[rtshinn]

I noticed the same, and usually drive with the windows down. Pretty low-tech. lol

[Russael]

I'm someone who avoids the air conditioner since it does use a lot of energy, and that includes my Expedition too.  I'm more of a windows down guy, even on the highway.  Everybody else I personally know are A/C junkies and only roll their windows down when they're accepting drive-thru. :)

 

Growing up in the 80's, my dad was a cheapskate anyway and never bought a new car and the used cars he got never had A/C, so I'm still kind of used to that.

 

As far as Michigan temperatures go at present moment, it's in the mid 40's in the morning and is floating between high 50's to low 60's presently.  In the morning, I allow my go time to precondition the car and then once I pull the plug, I just drive to work on the residual heat.  Works decently enough for the moment until it finally reaches freezing temperatures.  The A/C compressor does not come on at all now.  I have driven to work twice with the heat on the whole way and again, no compressor.

 

Some others on here have found a way to make the system blow just vent air.  I don't think you can do it from the console touch buttons but you'd need to do it from within the touchscreen.  My Expedition ETAC system, while in auto, doesn't have an indicator if the A/C compressor is on or not and the Fusion behaves the same way.  However, my expo does have a 'vent' button which overrides everything.

[murphy]

Using the console buttons:

Push the MAX A/C button.

Push the A/C button.

Push the recirculate button.

Adjust fan speed to your liking.

[meyersnole]

No AC might work up north, but in the south the heat and humidity is not tolerable. During the Summertime I spend the 5 miles on AC.  I am with Murphy here... be cool!

[SD Diver]

I usually just drive with the fans venting in air.  Steps:

 

1:  turn AC off (physical button)

2:  Touch screen/climate.  Notice that the vent position has a white box around it (as does the fan speed).  Touch a vent position (white box goes away - no longer auto).

2.5: For maximum energy savings, set the temperature to the outside temp.  This way you are not heating or cooling the incoming air.

3:  Set the fan speed (via touch screen).  The white box goes away (no longer auto).

4: switch back to the power display.  The climate should now show no draw.

 

I have a Titanium, so the display may be a little different with the non-titanium.  I showed a CMax Energi user how to do this.  The display was different, but it still worked.

 

In coastal San Diego, I rarely need AC unless traveling inland.

Edited October 21, 2013 at 02:00 AM by SD Diver

[DAVE]

Ok - I've been experimenting with this over the weekend using some of the comments in the thread.

 

These steps as posted by SD Driver are a good start:

 

1:  turn AC off (physical button)

2:  Touch screen/climate.  Notice that the vent position has a white box around it (as does the fan speed).  Touch a vent position (white box goes away - no longer auto).

3:  Set the fan speed (via touch screen).  The white box goes away (no longer auto).

4: switch back to the power display.  The climate should now show no draw.

 

 

5:  If it does show a draw , it might be the heat as in my case today . The temp was set to 72 and it was 68 outside. I simply set the temp to 65 and since Auto is now off, it will not turn on the heater. If the heater comes on , you will notice the circle on the Power Display that shows the Climate System fill in to a solid. This only draws a small amount. If the circle has a giant "Halo" around it , then the compressor is on and you loose about 5 miles plug-in miles. 

 

I find the system a more tricky than it needs to be as it's always fighting you to keep the compressor on. It must have a series of moisture sensors making sure the windows stay clear.

 

Hope this helps you guys safe a few E-miles...

[shaggy314]

Go you one better:

Back tilt the sunroof, crack the rear passenger window 1/2" gives a clockwise swirl that you can adjust for noise and/or temp. Below 65ish, just crack the window, much below that instead  crack the sunroof only. Below that, DAMN run the heater.