Empower How the Power+Threshold (Empower) Gauge Works

[Lou Valencia]

I just got my Fusion Energy and am new to PHEVs in general and wanted to find out more detail on the Power+Threshold (Empower) gauge in the Information Display works.  I understand that the blue outline shows the point where the gas engine kicks on (1st photo), but what determines the height of that threshold and whether it is there at all?

Also, when on gas (hybrid), what determines if the blue border is there or not?  When it is present (such as in the 2nd photo), is it showing the KW level the battery is contributing (running on gas and electric at the same time), or the level below which power needs to be to allow it to run in EV mode, or something else?

Any help would be appreciated.  I'm loving my Fusion Energi and want to get the most out of it.

[larryh]

Ford uses a long list of heuristics to determine the ICE threshold when in hybrid mode.  The main goal is to keep the energy level as shown on the 2D icon representing the hybrid portion of the high voltage battery (HVB) around 50%.   As the HVB energy level falls, the threshold will fall to encourage the ICE to come on and recharge the HVB.  As the energy level increases, the threshold will increase, up to about 2 bars, allowing the ICE to turn off and stop charging the HVB. 

 

If the HVB is too cold or too warm, the turn on threshold will also decrease.  The HVB is unable to supply enough power.  If the ICE is too cold, the threshold will decrease to warm up the car.  These are only some of the many factors that determine the threshold.

Edited December 10, 2014 at 09:56 AM by larryh

[stevedebi]

I just got my Fusion Energy and am new to PHEVs in general and wanted to find out more detail on the Power+Threshold (Empower) gauge in the Information Display works.  I understand that the blue outline shows the point where the gas engine kicks on (1st photo), but what determines the height of that threshold and whether it is there at all?

 

Also, when on gas (hybrid), what determines if the blue border is there or not?  When it is present (such as in the 2nd photo), is it showing the KW level the battery is contributing (running on gas and electric at the same time), or the level below which power needs to be to allow it to run in EV mode, or something else?

 

Any help would be appreciated.  I'm loving my Fusion Energi and want to get the most out of it.

Larry is right, but let me restate it in simpler terms I myself understand, and by the questions you asked:

 

1. The height of the threshold is based on the speed you are going and the amount of battery left. The faster you go, the less energy required to get into EV (or stay there). It is a complicated running algorithm that Ford uses, and does not publish.

2.  On your second photo, there is a really low amount of energy available, so the blue line is very small. This meter always shows the amount of energy available to run in EV mode. If the white line is running, you are drawing too much energy to get into EV.

[Lou Valencia]

Thanks for the great responses.  Here's what I've noticed from driving.  

1. I'm not sure how it is measured, but seems to me like torque on the wheels that factors in.  For example, at a given speed and power demand, more opposing torque is placed on the wheels, causing the threshold to drop.  Conversely, going downhill puts less torque on the wheels, requiring less power to keep the car moving/speed up, so the threshold rises.  
2. Also, in watching the battery charge/discharge arrows, I've noticed when torque on the wheels/engine/whatever is below a certain point (power demand from ICE exceeds what is required to move the car at a given speed on a given incline/decline), the engine is putting charge back into the battery.  I assume this threshold between discharge/charge is enough electrical power generated from the ICE to overcome the climate/accessory load in the cabin.

I could be a bit off, but that's just my impressions/observations from driving it for a few weeks.

[Eric4539]

Hi Lou,

 

You may have already watched this video.  It explains very briefly the different instrument panel displays on the Energi.  At approx. 5:51 there is an explanation of the Empower view.  It doesn't explain how Ford determined the thresholds but it sort explains they "what" behind this particular view.

 

http://support.ford.com/vehicle-features/instrument-panel-fusion-energi-2014

 

I think your observations on the information that the Empower view provides are accurate.

 

The blue outline is the Power demand - how far you depress the gas pedal - and is the on/off threshold for the engine.  So going up or down a hill, have the air conditioner or heat on, or passing a slower driver should all affect the threshold.

 

I normally leave my screen on Engage.

[rbort]

Lou, not exactly as you say, more like this:

 

The threshold drops as the battery drains, is comes up as the battery charges.

The threshold also goes up as the speed of the car comes up initially, which is based on its easier to keep the car moving than to get it moving from a dead stop or very slow speed.

Its not based on torque to the wheels, downhill is just charging the battery and eventually the threshold will rise.  You can also make it rise faster by shifting to L down the hill and charging harder while slowing down.  Given enough initial speed, you'll see quicker results this way but it might work against you as you may not want to slow down.

 

Charge/discharge threshold:

 

If the engine is not running, its in charge when your foot is off the gas and in discharge when it is on the gas.

Its charging harder when you foot is on the brake, or you push hill assist or shift to L where its charging almost at the max rate.

 

If the engine is running at 1500 rpms warmup mode, its charging when the speed/load demands is not enough to take all the power from the engine as you say above.  As the engine warms up and runs normally, it will still charge as the demand is needed to maintain the battery whether from EV later selection or from being drained all the way.  The engine will shut off when there is no demand for power such as going down hill or coming to a stop.

 

Hope this helps.

 

-=>Raja.

Edited December 17, 2014 at 03:54 PM by rbort

[Habuata]

Hello i have a question about the below topic as when i bought my 2014 fusion hybrid the empower Guage used to exceed the 2 bar and now is has dropped and no longer reaching there except when driving on ev+ can anyone help

[Russael]

Your car is operating normally if it is a hybrid.  The only time you should really hit the second mark while not in EV+ mode is if your battery is fully charged, and you'll not likely hit that with routine driving.  You'd have to go downhill for some ways and regenerate enough juice to do that.

 

If you have a Fusion Energi... it sounds like you haven't charged the battery.  If you run in EV mode, the blue outline should run all the way up to around the 4th mark.

[Habuata]

Many thanks for your kind reply i totally agree with you but the thing is that when I first purchased it it used to hit the 2 1/2 mark and one day maybe I was a little bit harsh on it as i kept the Ac on all day and on next day i noticed the change could something have gone wrong with it

[Russael]

No, I don't believe anything is wrong with your ride.  The battery may have degraded a little, but that's also normal.  I would not be concerned about not having your EV mode reach the second mark.  When my Energi runs in hybrid, I don't see it hit the second mark either until I'm in EV+ mode, or unless I regenerate enough energy to the battery to fill the display, and the only way I can do that is if I try to keep the motor running while driving, thus, charging the battery, and then coming to a full regen stop.