Ford Escape Hybrid...... Surely someone must know how to indicate to the Vehicle System Controller (VSC) that the engine is at the proper temperature to run all electric even when its cold..... When I asked Ford why I have to heat the engine to around 172 degrees before it will run all electric, I was told," to reduce emissions.. " SO I said, "to make sure I understand,,, you run the engine to reduce the emissions that you wouldn't have if the engine wasn't running?" It doesn't seem to matter if i'm stopped or if the batteries are fully charged. This cannot be an EPA issue , since we are not bypassing or eliminating any required control. We simple aren't running the engine if we have enough "juice'. On this tankful the guages told me I was at 30.7 MPG, now here in Chgo, we have a spell of cold weather and it dropped to 28.4 mpg. The car gives good fuel mileage but it could give even better if this requirement was bypassed. I'm not suggesting that engineeering requirements for choke control, richness, idle speed etc be impacted,only the logic in the VSC "to think" the engine is warm. Then it would shut off the engine at all stops whenever the batteries had enougn charge to continue on. and not turn on the engine when the temperature drops to below 140 when you're at a complete stop. Thanks....Ted

thaddeus




Ford Hybrid System Controller