What happened to the "charge now" mode in the new version?

Hi everyone, the older model had the “charge now” mode, which allowed the engine to charge the battery while driving, although it consumed more fuel. In the newer version, this feature is missing, and there are only three options now. I was wondering, is there any way to replicate this feature? Maybe through some settings or adjustments?

No, but honestly, it’s not worth it. That feature was removed because charging the battery with the engine is inefficient.

Bailey said:
No, but honestly, it’s not worth it. That feature was removed because charging the battery with the engine is inefficient.

Yeah, I know it’s not the best. Maybe I’m asking too much though.

@Aidan
Try putting the car in sport mode. The battery will hold its level or charge a little if the car is under light load. I use it when I know I’ll drive in a city-highway-city pattern, where the city trips can use up the EV range. Plus, the car feels more fun to drive in sport mode on highways.

@Leon
I asked because of the city trips. I tried sport mode before but didn’t like the noise. Though, if charging is possible that way, I suppose the noise might be a part of it.

Aidan said:
@Leon
I asked because of the city trips. I tried sport mode before but didn’t like the noise. Though, if charging is possible that way, I suppose the noise might be a part of it.

When I used sport mode with cruise control, the battery charged at the same rate as it would in EV mode since the car doesn’t need the immediate power from the engine. It’s also good for maintaining EV range if you plan on using it in certain areas.

@Scout
Oh, does it? That explains why I saw higher fuel consumption with sport mode. I tried using cruise control, but the fuel usage was way higher than normal mode. I’ll give it another go and see if I notice anything different.

@Aidan
For me, the fuel consumption was about the same. As long as the throttle doesn’t show blue, the battery will charge. EV charge stops at 78%, but in sport mode, it reached 82%. Not sure why that happens.

Bailey said:
No, but honestly, it’s not worth it. That feature was removed because charging the battery with the engine is inefficient.

Did you compare the fuel used against the energy added? Also, did you factor in the cost of fuel versus electricity?

@Freya
It’s basic logic: running the engine harder is less efficient, and batteries are never 100% efficient. Plus, there’s energy loss when converting between energy types. So, overall, it probably isn’t worth it. There might be a few exceptions with certain models, like the RAV4 Prime, but I can’t say for sure.

@Steve
I see, but when you force charge the battery with the engine, it’s like towing something. The engine works a bit harder, which uses more fuel, but that’s the extent of it. I tested it with OBD data to check the current and engine load.

@Freya
That makes sense. I guess I was just repeating things I read online. Do you agree with my other points though?

Steve said:
@Freya
That makes sense. I guess I was just repeating things I read online. Do you agree with my other points though?

Yes, the whole efficiency thing is a bit of a trade-off. The main factor to consider is the price of fuel and electricity. That’s where the real savings are.

@Freya
Even if fuel is cheaper, charging via the engine ends up raising the fuel costs overall. It’s probably just better to skip the engine charge and rely on gas.

Steve said:
@Freya
Even if fuel is cheaper, charging via the engine ends up raising the fuel costs overall. It’s probably just better to skip the engine charge and rely on gas.

True, but if I’m running low on battery and near my destination, I let the engine charge for a few minutes. It helps preheat the car and keeps it from idling unnecessarily.

@Freya
I get that. I don’t mind if the engine runs for a minute or two. The Escape isn’t really tuned for engine-only power, so it’s not as efficient around town.

I’ve had the car for over 18 months and haven’t used this feature once. Unless you’re on…