Problem is.... its not only the buyer that has to be taught.... what about vallet parking? You've got guys in suits continually trying to restart your car because they don't think it started properly. (I frankly would have solved that with a vallet option or something).... People borrowing your car? etc....

I would have preferred the vehicle NOT starting the ICE when you put the key in, just like you. But to a marketing specialist, its not an obvious decision...even if we thought they made the wrong one. Remember, we are mostly early adopters and are fine with things being "different". Many others will think there is something wrong with the vehicle. I mean... think about how many times on this site we have to reassure each other that "no... thats fine.... when its cold you can't get into EV mode..." and all the other times you've read a post where someone thinks something is wrong because they are newbies when its fine... think about the guy that posted way back that returned his convinced that his daughter was being shocked by the HV battery when she got into the car (despite the fact that there is NO WAY that was what was happening.... only on the passenger side? only his daughter? it was static... but we couldn't convince him... no his daughter was in danger of being shocked!)

As for the difference in MPG lost... well the EPA tests are run with a warmed up vehicle, which hides the startup effects. As far as marketing is concerned real world MPG performance would take a back seat to what the EPA would allow you to advertise on the window sticker.... so to them... little gain, too much risk.

People fear difference.... so marketing makes changes to calm their fears. Often not ones we like....

 

Tim all good points but they still could offer it BOTH WAYS, what we now have for dumb and dumber, and an all EV no ICE start-up for those who are smart enough to know better. My bet would be that soon those without EV start-up would soon realize that they were being left behind in the FE and would switch too. Ford has made a great first start and because of this there is, like ALL NEW THINGS, a learning curve.

I think the added hassle is worth the added effort to learn how to maximise on your investment/expense. Most are fine with the way things are. All I am hoping for is the option to start out in EV mode. I will even be a BETA tester on my dime to give it a try.

How about it Ford? Willing to take us up on the offer to Beta for you?

 

Yeah... you'd hope that after a bit of exposure (and a model year or two) people would get used to the idea that hybrids work different and then you could phase out the "dumb and dumber factor".

I'm an engineer and not in marketing.... I've been forced a bit too often to do what marketing wants rather than what is best, so I have some unwanted experience in the matter...

 

LOL! Reminds me of the caveman commercial, hope you saw it.... went something like:

Caveman1 "What's that?"
Caveman2 "Pants."
Caveman1 "I fear pants... I'm keeping my bush."

 

Having watched some of the geniuses driving around here when it snows.... I'd have to say many of them aren't far removed from that level...

 

Just by dumb luck, I found this today.
This was not a car show.
I had no idea this would be there.
This was just a parking lot in N. Iowa.
It was cold, snowy, +5'F, and my fingers could barely press the shutter button, but I had to take a couple photos.

What's the chances of this? ( and don't say 1 in 20 ! )





South Dakota Plates.
Not dealer plates. Not Demo plates.
What, if anything does that tell us?
-John
P.S. Re-reading the original press release of 01/2007 Ford says it would SELL 20 Flex Fuel Escapes... I figured they were lease only like "experimental only". Guess not.