Hi Sdctcher:

___When I say more aggressive, I am speaking of just enough acceleration to get you moving in EV mode and then the ICE should kick in to take over. Once the ICE kicks in, keep it accelerating just fast enough to leave the ICE running. While climbing, you do not want to accelerate at all. Hit a minimum target speed and hold it in the far right lane while waiting for the climb to subside. On the regen side of the fence, engine braking might be helping you bring the pack back up but regen can be detrimental in the FE dept as well. Again, I have not driven the Escape HEV just yet but their should be a point with a very small accelerator angle that you are not really using the ICE (coasting w/ ICE on or off) and regen has yet to be engaged. This allows for maximum coasting distance with a minimum amount of fuel consumed. Ford probably removed the SoC meter because like those in the Prius II’s, it reaches a certain point and the ICE is force charging no matter what conditions you might be in at the time. Let the Ford SW take care of the charging and you take care of figuring out where the EV and Regen points are to maximize FE.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net