L button on shifter

[Kamuelaflyer]

I assume you had to keep the accelerator pressed some to prevent the car from coming to a stop? When going down a long descent, L mode without 1PD should allow you to keep your speed down without your foot on the accelerator. I’m glad the MME gives us lots of options.

Yeah, feathering the throttle to enable coasting or not coming to a stop. While the road from the Visitor's Center is downhill it's not all an "OMG it's so steep!" descent. That's saved for the gravel road from the summit (≈13,800 feet) to the Visitors Center. I haven't driven that part in the MME (yet). But the lower part of the road has several 10 - 12% grade spots and one 16% grade spot.

As for the L, I didn't think about switching out of 1pd until I hit the "normal" decent portion of the road and that's an area none of us would think twice about. I'll try it with 1pd off and "L" on when I next make that journey.
---

This is the area that had the protests early last year and in 2019 over the 30-meter telescope (TMT). The visitor center is still closed due to the pandemic and U of H has no intention of opening it soon (They control the lease for the mountain top). They also restrict access to the summit at the present time to certain types of vehicles. The MME isn't on their list (it's also 10+ miles of switchbacks on gravel roads with several 16% grades so ...). Anyway, it's a great area for stargazing, even at 9000 feet, and is mostly tourist-free atm. Both of those are good things (no crowds, no demands I play an unpaid tour guide)

For those wondering the TMT protests were not truly about the telescope or attempting to restrict scientific advancement. They were about respect, and it's not resolved.

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[ChasingCoral]

Yeah, feathering the throttle to enable coasting or not coming to a stop. While the road from the Visitor's Center is downhill it's not all an "OMG it's so steep!" descent. That's saved for the gravel road from the summit (≈13,800 feet) to the Visitors Center. I haven't driven that part in the MME (yet). But the lower part of the road has several 10 - 12% grade spots and one 16% grade spot.

As for the L, I didn't think about switching out of 1pd until I hit the "normal" decent portion of the road and that's an area none of us would think twice about. I'll try it with 1pd off and "L" on when I next make that journey.
---

This is the area that had the protests early last year and in 2019 over the 30-meter telescope (TMT). The visitor center is still closed due to the pandemic and U of H has no intention of opening it soon (They control the lease for the mountain top). They also restrict access to the summit at the present time to certain types of vehicles. The MME isn't on their list (it's also 10+ miles of switchbacks on gravel roads with several 16% grades so ...). Anyway, it's a great area for stargazing, even at 9000 feet, and is mostly tourist-free atm. Both of those are good things (no crowds, no demands I play an unpaid tour guide)

For those wondering the TMT protests were not truly about the telescope or attempting to restrict scientific advancement. They were about respect, and it's not resolved.

Last time I was up there the approved vehicle list required true 4WD, no AWD vehicles were allowed. Their major concern isn't the road up, which really wasn't bad, it's the concern over burning out brakes and keeping solid traction control on the way down. As you said, it's a steep grade. Then there's the issue of unexpected snow and ice.

The Mach E would probably not make the list even though the regeneration would actually work well for reducing brake stress as long as you didn't charge up at the top!

 

[mkhuffman]

If that's the case (and it sound like it is), I think that's a major missed opportunity. I think the ability to tell the car you want maximum regeneration "right now" would be a useful feature. Being able to tell the car you want "a lot" of regeneration "right now" but not the maximum (for some reason) isn't useful to me at all. But I'm sure someone loves it so I won't rain on your parade (whoever you are).

100% agree. If this is not how it works, it should. Maybe they will fix it with an OTA. It would definitely be useful to quickly engage max regen on demand.

 

[WFU03]

So, my takeaway is that no one really knows for sure what L does in conjunction with every drive mode and/or one pedal driving.

Come on, Ford, just tell us.

 

[ChasingCoral]

So, my takeaway is that no one really knows for sure what L does in conjunction with every drive mode and/or one pedal driving.

Come on, Ford, just tell us.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Last time I was up there the approved vehicle list required true 4WD, no AWD vehicles were allowed. Their major concern isn't the road up, which really wasn't bad, it's the concern over burning out brakes and keeping solid traction control on the way down. As you said, it's a steep grade. Then there's the issue of unexpected snow and ice.

The Mach E would probably not make the list even though the regeneration would actually work well for reducing brake stress as long as you didn't charge up at the top!

My WAG is that the climb from the visitors center to the top would be a solid 25% on the battery. Maybe more. I’d anticipate getting a lot of that back on the way back down though. I didn’t chat with the U of H security guys checking the cars trying to head up there as I had no intention of going up there in my brand new MME. Mauna Loa is another story though, it’s paved to the top.

 

[WFU03]

Thanks, but then inquiring minds want to know if it's just the same as one pedal but L stops after you hit a certain speed.

 

[SnBGC]

If this is true then my initial statement is actually false either way.

Assuming you are correct (and I assume you are since you own the vehicle and operate it on a daily basis ), then I should revise my statement like this:

L either sets the vehicle to a prescribed level of regeneration that is fairly aggressive but is not the maximum, or it does nothing if the combination of the vehicle's current Driving Mode and One Pedal Driving selection result in a level of regeneration that already meets or exceeds that level.

If that's the case (and it sound like it is), I think that's a major missed opportunity. I think the ability to tell the car you want maximum regeneration "right now" would be a useful feature. Being able to tell the car you want "a lot" of regeneration "right now" but not the maximum (for some reason) isn't useful to me at all. But I'm sure someone loves it so I won't rain on your parade (whoever you are).

That would be me! ?
There aren't any situations where I want maximum regeneration just by lifting off the accelerator. I am fine with pressing the brake pedal to add in whatever ever extra regen or friction brakes I require for the situation.

Whisper mode will coast when lifting off the accelerator so you have that setting there if you want it. I drive almost exclusively in Whisper and L selected. It feels like Unbridled to me but without the heavy steering wheel and a much less touchy brake pedal. It's by far the smoothest setting that I have found so far.

On weekends, when I don't drive the car very much, then I might switch to Unbridled or use 1PD for short trips. But some days I drive for 150-200 miles so Whisper with L is the least exhausting mode for me.

 

[SnBGC]

Thanks, but then inquiring minds want to know if it's just the same as one pedal but L stops after you hit a certain speed.

To me, L and 1PD feel about the same except 1PD will blend in the friction brakes when the regenerative field collapses in the motor and it can't slow the car down effectively any longer.
In L, the only way to come to a complete stop is to blend in the friction brakes by manually depressing the brake pedal.

 

[Jimrpa]

Yeah, feathering the throttle to enable coasting or not coming to a stop. While the road from the Visitor's Center is downhill it's not all an "OMG it's so steep!" descent. That's saved for the gravel road from the summit (≈13,800 feet) to the Visitors Center. I haven't driven that part in the MME (yet). But the lower part of the road has several 10 - 12% grade spots and one 16% grade spot.

As for the L, I didn't think about switching out of 1pd until I hit the "normal" decent portion of the road and that's an area none of us would think twice about. I'll try it with 1pd off and "L" on when I next make that journey.
---

This is the area that had the protests early last year and in 2019 over the 30-meter telescope (TMT). The visitor center is still closed due to the pandemic and U of H has no intention of opening it soon (They control the lease for the mountain top). They also restrict access to the summit at the present time to certain types of vehicles. The MME isn't on their list (it's also 10+ miles of switchbacks on gravel roads with several 16% grades so ...). Anyway, it's a great area for stargazing, even at 9000 feet, and is mostly tourist-free atm. Both of those are good things (no crowds, no demands I play an unpaid tour guide)

For those wondering the TMT protests were not truly about the telescope or attempting to restrict scientific advancement. They were about respect, and it's not resolved.

I thought they gave up on the TMT a few years ago and we’re going to expand observatories on South America where there wasn’t as much local resistance?
Someday, I’d like to go to HI. I’ve only ever been there for work so the only things I’ve ever seen are the stupid Hilton Hawaiian Village, the beach in front of it, and the Arizona memorial. I’m pretty sure that wasn’t very representative of the best Hawaii has to offer.

 

[dtbaker61]

How does the L mode work when driving down long long descents?
In a traditional ice vehicle you can down shift to 3 or 2 or what ever your next gear is and you can drive down a long mountain pass without having to touch the brakes.

I’m curious if the regen and L setting will kinda operate the same way?

My understanding is that the L button is basically a manual 'on' for regen.... sort of like a temporary switch to 1-pedal driving or 'downshifting' an ICE vehicle.

Interestingly, it doesn't do anything at all if you are already in 'unbridled 1-pedal' mode as you already are getting max regen available/needed.

 

[ChasingCoral]

My understanding is that the L button is basically a manual 'on' for regen.... sort of like a temporary switch to 1-pedal driving or 'downshifting' an ICE vehicle.

Interestingly, it doesn't do anything at all if you are already in 'unbridled 1-pedal' mode as you already are getting max regen available/needed.

Actually, as I found in the manual
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/l-button-on-shifter.1153/post-185516
L does nothing in OPD. Put another way, OPD overrides L.

 

[dtbaker61]

So, my takeaway is that no one really knows for sure what L does in conjunction with every drive mode and/or one pedal driving.

Come on, Ford, just tell us.

what would be BEST is actual display of the kW going in/out of the HV battery at all times.... while driving, regen, AND charging to verify charge rate!

one more number to display, but it would fit nicely in the upper left area used by the 'drive mode' color bars.

 

[dtbaker61]

Actually, as I found in the manual
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/l-button-on-shifter.1153/post-185516
L does nothing in OPD. Put another way, OPD overrides L.

exactly....
which I have verified by looking at current sensor with the CarScanner app on my phone while driving connected thru the ODB.

I just keep plugging for display of actual kW in/out in hopes that Ford adds the info to the display.

 

[Carmel Mach E Auto]

exactly....
which I have verified by looking at current sensor with the CarScanner app on my phone while driving connected thru the ODB.

I'm curious about the output you saw from CarScanner. Did it confirm that OPD offers the same level of regeneration as L or more regeneration than L? I ask because the statement that OPD overrides L is correct in either case.

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