L or D?

[Deezul]

When I got my Mariner Hybrid years ago, I perused the Escape/Mariner Hybrid forum and read that driving in L was the best way to get maximum mileage on the hybrid. So for 4 years that's what I did. I didn't have transmission problems, so I wasn't concerned. But after getting my Fusion Energi, I read the manual and it notes that prolonged driving in L is not recommended, so I've switched back to D. What does everyone else do? I do notice that going downhill, L will turn on the engine to simulate the lower engine speeds. But with the accelerator on, L feels like D. It's only during periods of no acceleration do I really notice I'm in L.

[bdginmo]

The brake lights do not come on when coasting in L so it could be a safety issue. It also results in more charge/discharge activity which may stress the HVB slightly more than normal.

[Deezul]

Good to know. In my Mariner, I used it mainly for newspaper delivery, so no brake lights at 2-4 am wasn't an issue, as I'd see maybe 2 cars in a week. But my Fusion is now my daily driver, so D it is! My previous daily driver was a 2004 Impala, so it won't be a huge adjustment in driving habits anyway. Just have to remember not to go down to L anymore.

 

Side note, I bought my Mariner used in 2013 with 80,000 miles or so. I'm at 215,000, and the battery has not given me any issues. Power steering went out, and that was an expense I want to avoid ever again! Couldn't get an extended Ford warranty on my Fusion when I bought it, but I'll be getting one in March or April when I get the tax credit back!

[shaggy314]

I drive in L only in stop and go traffic.

[alphaman]

I drive most often in D. I use the Grade Assist when I want to maintain a max speed going downhill. I use L when braking to a stop or before a sharp turn, but flip back to D immediately after. It would be nice if Ford had put all 3 of these modes in one place, like what Mercedes does with their B250e using the steering wheel paddle shifters (a brilliant design, fwiw).

[16vjohn]

L or D has no impact on anything other than it makes the regen more aggressive, which is the whole point of owning a hybrid if you ask me. It's not going to hurt the transmission at all. What I have noticed is when the HVB is full and you use L and the incoming charge exceeds what the battery can store, the gas engine does wind up to help slow the car. So, coming out of the neighborhood I use EV mode and D until the HVB is at 95% or less. In the winter, I intend to use EV later to warm the engine before I get on the highway, in which case, I'd use D. 

 

Be smart and treat the HVB right, but don't avoid using regenerative braking where it makes sense... that's why you bought the hybrid/energi.

[Trades46]

Drive in D simply coasting/light regen is more energy efficient than constant heavy regen braking (while it is more efficient than friction braking, regen braking still loses energy during the electrical conversion). You'll be going further in D than in L.

 

The only time I use L is getting off the freeway with <80% SoC on the HVB - it slows the car down quickly using the maximum regen from high speed to a the ramp light & it won't trigger the friction brakes as easily. I do the same in our other car, the Outlander PHEV, where I throw the car into B5 which does something similar.