OK to drive in ‘L’ full time?

[GreaseMonkey]

1 Pedal Drive (1PD) and putting the car in “L” are two different things. 1PD increases the amount of regenerative braking based on how much pedal is released compared to the speed driven, then applies the friction brakes as needed. “L” provides increased regeneration over the Whisper and Engage drive modes’ programmed amounts (it does not affect Unbridled). ??

For me, I see no reason to use “L” since in Unbridled the steering is still over-assisted and the suspension is too wallowing. Ford needs to introduce a stiffer setting for the steering and suspension. ?‍?

You must have some silk smooth roads in California, Steve. I’m breaking my teeth on rough city roads in unbridled. I need unbridled for a more planted steering feel and quicker acceleration. But can’t handle the feel going over bumps and pot holes. I also feel like there’s too much fore/aft and cross-car movement in engage that is a bit unsettling.

Keep switching between modes based on road conditions. But will certainly try L in engage. Whisper is complete garbage. Totally useless to me.

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[Kamuelaflyer]

Hard to spot sarcasm in forums, so here you go:

I thought that was the “LOL” button for use when you see a cybertruck.

 

[moog]

As they say "If you don't like one pedal drive, take the L "

 

[YeOldeTraveller]

Yes, it’s the 1-pedal driving that brings you to a stop, not L mode.

L is a misnomer like you said, but it makes the car “drive similarly” to how a gas powered car does in L. Rather than create a new name, Ford just decided to pick something people kinda know how it works from their old cars.

Going down a slope and don’t want to have to hit the brake pedal as much? Hit the L button.

My previous car was a Ford Fusion. One of the reasons I like the Mach-E is that the controls feel very similar to the Fusion, including the L.

 

[HuntingPudel]

You must have some silk smooth roads in California, Steve. I’m breaking my teeth on rough city roads in unbridled.
<SNIP>

The roads near my former office are in the unincorporated part of town and quite cracked/rutted/pot-holed. I just got used to commuting in a car with metal on Delrin on metal suspension bearings. Granted, I wasn’t driving that car to my most recent job but some of the streets could rattle your fillings out. ??

 

[hack-e]

After 3 years ownership, I can't wait to try L driving. I only ever used L to put it in car wash mode.

 

[EB87]

Thank you for pointing this out. I seriously didn’t know about L-driving. Bought my MME in April 2021. Always used 1-pedal driving in whisper mode.

Curious, why always in whisper mode?

 

[MyLittlePony2021]

Curious, why always in whisper mode?

Sorry, I meant engage mode. I tried unbridled but it felt a bit too fast/aggressive for me.

 

[Tomatoboy]

L is a misnomer like you said, but it makes the car “drive similarly” to how a gas powered car does in L. Rather than create a new name, Ford just decided to pick something people kinda know how it works from their old cars.

I have an even more cynical explanation…Ford wanted to recycle an existing part and just used the rotary shifter from one of their other vehicles. While the Mach-E isn’t impacted because it doesn’t have more than one forward gear ratio, all automatic vehicles in the USA that *do* have more than one (so every ICE car) are required by DOT Standard 102 (which also specifies the PRNDL layout) to have a low gear of some sort, and so the other cars using the dial have one somewhere.

 

[scott_77]

After 3 years ownership, I can't wait to try L driving. I only ever used L to put it in car wash mode.

I was just trying this for first time and noted an unpleasantry with it that perhaps now I can expect. I was driving home from work on Highway yesterday trying out the L function which I thought Id like when in gridlock especially - previously I was favoring unbridled mode for similar reason.(although I worry cars behind me not seeing my brake lights may increase odds of being rear ended). Anyway, I’m also using the final days of my limited trial of blue cruise. When I was doing 70 with blue cruise and car in front of me in my lane was probably doing 65 a ways up, I put signal on to change lanes before it would start slowing down, and the car jerked hard to lower my speed… it kinda hurt my back actually…. As I wasn’t anticipating that at all. Next week I won’t have blue cruise anyway, but when combined with L (or with variable cruise perhaps) I’ll be keeping my foot on accelerator to avoid any sudden speed drop like that again.

 

[Mach1E]

I was just trying this for first time and noted an unpleasantry with it that perhaps now I can expect. I was driving home from work on Highway yesterday trying out the L function which I thought Id like when in gridlock especially - previously I was favoring unbridled mode for similar reason.(although I worry cars behind me not seeing my brake lights may increase odds of being rear ended). Anyway, I’m also using the final days of my limited trial of blue cruise. When I was doing 70 with blue cruise and car in front of me in my lane was probably doing 65 a ways up, I put signal on to change lanes before it would start slowing down, and the car jerked hard to lower my speed… it kinda hurt my back actually…. As I wasn’t anticipating that at all. Next week I won’t have blue cruise anyway, but when combined with L (or with variable cruise perhaps) I’ll be keeping my foot on accelerator to avoid any sudden speed drop like that again.

Bluecruise and cruise control ignores drive modes, so I don’t think that would explain things unless BC completely disengaged.

 

[scott_77]

Bluecruise and cruise control ignores drive modes, so I don’t think that would explain things unless BC completely disengaged.

I must be mistaken then. BC was definitely still engaged. Was likely me using accelerator with BC and closer to car in front than thought. When letting it go at same time of engaging turn signal it slowed abruptly for a moment before auto lane changed

 

[AliRafiee]

It’s a confusing misnomer to have labeled that button ‘L’, that designation having a completely different meaning after decades of use in ICE cars. It is not a ‘lower gear’ nor does it affect anything other than to slightly increase the level of regen when you lift off, or reduce, your acceleration pedal position. That’s all it does and yes, I regularly drive around in ‘L’ all day long because it means I don’t need to start decelerating quite as early as I approach a stoplight; the car then feels more like my ICE cars even though I’m not having to use the brake pedal at all.
I test drove the KIA electrics before getting the MME and those have paddle shifters that allow you to choose among four levels of regen vs the MME’s two. I thought that would have been a nice feature but I really haven’t found the need to adjust regen if I keep the MME in ‘L’. Maybe on one steep hill I drive down I’d be able to control my decent speed with a lighter regen setting than the MME has, but that’s the only exception.

Nissan calls it B

 

[Pez68]

I have an even more cynical explanation…Ford wanted to recycle an existing part and just used the rotary shifter from one of their other vehicles. While the Mach-E isn’t impacted because it doesn’t have more than one forward gear ratio, all automatic vehicles in the USA that *do* have more than one (so every ICE car) are required by DOT Standard 102 (which also specifies the PRNDL layout) to have a low gear of some sort, and so the other cars using the dial have one somewhere.

I think this is accurate. What the hell would the L stand for on an electric vehicle??

 

[HuntingPudel]

Nissan calls it B

And some cars have P R N D 2 1 as well. ??

I think this is accurate. What the hell would the L stand for on an electric vehicle??

Uhhh… Leverage? The motors have more leverage over the car? ?‍?

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