Best Driving Mode for Long Trips

Newboj

Active Member
First Name
Jeff
Joined
Aug 26, 2021
Threads
4
Messages
41
Reaction score
40
Location
Salt Lake City
Vehicles
Mustang Mach E
Country flag
Has there been any research done to determine which driving mode is best for freeway miles? I’m planning a trip and would love to know what’s most efficient.
Sponsored

 

RickMachE

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2021
Threads
267
Messages
17,903
Reaction score
27,861
Location
SE MI
Vehicles
2022 Mach-E Premium 4X, 2022 Lightning Lariat ER
Country flag
They are all the same...
 

acosmichippo

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2022
Threads
5
Messages
223
Reaction score
161
Location
Virginia
Vehicles
'22 Select Dark Matter Gray
Country flag
*if* you are good about lifting and coasting to avoid regen braking, i would guess Whisper would be best (edit: since it lets you coast with no regen).

probably not a huge difference though.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ARK

Murse-In-Airy

Well-Known Member
First Name
Rod
Joined
Mar 5, 2021
Threads
82
Messages
3,678
Reaction score
8,297
Location
Chaumont, NY
Vehicles
Mach-E ER AWD
Occupation
Nurse
Country flag
There isn’t any real difference for efficiency. Especially once you’ve reached a steady speed. The motors are going to draw the same power.
Even speeding up and slowing down… speeding up slower may draw less power, but for a longer period of time. Slowing down faster may regenerate more power, but for less time. It’s all a wash if speeds are the Same.
 

JohnnyForensic

Well-Known Member
First Name
John
Joined
Apr 14, 2021
Threads
44
Messages
1,208
Reaction score
2,191
Location
VA, US
Vehicles
'21 Infinite Blue MME 4X Premium
Occupation
Digital Forensics
Country flag
Ford has stated all modes are equally efficient, as Rick mentioned. That said, “Whisper” is often touted for long highway driving because it accelerates and decelerates less aggressively and it lightens the steering. However, it’s really a personal preference, so you do you.

The best thing for efficiency is to watch your speed. The faster you go, the more resistance you hit, and the less efficient the car is overall. There’s a huge difference between 60 and 70 mph, and higher than 70 even more so.

If you start to get into trouble getting to a charger (which is getting more and more unlikely), turn off the heat, get in the right lane, and keep your speed down.
 


SpaceEVDriver

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2021
Threads
71
Messages
2,651
Reaction score
4,774
Location
Arizona
Vehicles
2022 CA Route 1 AWD, ER; 2023 Lightning Lariat ER
Occupation
Planetary Science
Country flag
Cruise control at a speed that's safe but not passing everybody.
 

AKgrampy

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mike
Joined
Jan 29, 2022
Threads
7
Messages
3,521
Reaction score
3,592
Location
Fairbanks, Alaska
Vehicles
Ford Expedition, Ford F-150, Mach E GT
Occupation
Retired
Country flag
I think the key is if you can stand to drive under the speed limit or not. Higher speeds equals less efficient no matter which mode you select.
 

HuntingPudel

Well-Known Member
First Name
Steve
Joined
Mar 23, 2021
Threads
88
Messages
12,929
Reaction score
17,374
Location
Bay Area, CA
Vehicles
2024 MME GT with Performance Upgrade, 1979 Fire-Am, 1972 K/5 Blazer
Occupation
Engineering
Country flag
I am always in Unbridled mode. I use the ACC a lot of the time. I seem to get the same numbers as others with the same trim level at about the same speeds. ?‍♂?
 

azerik

Well-Known Member
First Name
Erik
Joined
Jan 8, 2023
Threads
79
Messages
4,545
Reaction score
4,556
Location
Chandler/Flagstaff, AZ
Vehicles
'21 Spacey Prem4x, '21 RX450H, 13 Focus EV
Occupation
DevSecNetOps, General PITA
Country flag
Cruise control at a speed that's safe but not passing everybody.
Except not using the cruise when climbing steep hills. It'll punch it to keep that speed. Unless you really want to keep that time and can afford the KW loss on investment.
 

The Electric Duo

Well-Known Member
First Name
Patrick
Joined
Jul 25, 2020
Threads
134
Messages
1,787
Reaction score
7,592
Location
Oceanside, CA
Website
machevlog.com
Vehicles
Mach-E GT PE - Grabber Blue - Blucifer Twocifer
Country flag
All modes should be about the same for efficiency, but I use Whisper mode when I am doing long stretches with BlueCruise. It seems to me it is less aggressive on the accelerator and brake when in Whisper.
 

ARK

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2020
Threads
45
Messages
2,938
Reaction score
4,297
Location
Los Angeles
Vehicles
'21 Premium SR AWD
Country flag
Except not using the cruise when climbing steep hills. It'll punch it to keep that speed. Unless you really want to keep that time and can afford the KW loss on investment.
That’s the sort of bad practice that creates traffic jams, slowing down for no other reason than there is a hill in front you. I’d argue there are other things to take into account than just efficiency when driving.

The 405 in LA going from the valley into the west side is a prime example of this.
 

emichnov

Well-Known Member
First Name
Eric
Joined
Mar 14, 2022
Threads
29
Messages
361
Reaction score
432
Location
Mass
Vehicles
2022 Mach-E Premium
Country flag
That’s the sort of bad practice that creates traffic jams, slowing down for no other reason than there is a hill in front you. I’d argue there are other things to take into account than just efficiency when driving.
x2. Don't drive inconsistently just to save a watt or 2. Be consistent, and therefore, safe.
Sponsored

 
 







Top