Lincoln Corsair: Unique Driving Characteristics / Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle Operation

Regularly plug in your vehicle to get optimal electric-only range capability from the high voltage battery. Charging your vehicle adds electrical energy. This energy propels the vehicle.

Estimated electric-only driving range shows in blue next to the gasoline range on the information display.

The system maximizes the use of electric-only operation in normal drive mode. System conditions could require the engine to operate, however, the system uses the available electric range whenever possible.

In Pure EV drive mode, your vehicle only uses electric power unless you enable the engine, or system conditions require the engine to operate.

Preserve EV drive mode saves the electric range for later use. If you select this mode and the battery is at full or near full charge, it uses some electric-only range to discharge the battery. This allows the regenerative braking system to fully operate. If the battery charge is low when selecting Preserve EV mode, the engine charges the high voltage battery to a minimum level. This provides additional electric driving range. When the battery charges to this level, Preserve EV saves the electric range for later use.

Other drive modes appropriately make use of electric power to help deliver the selected drive mode experience. It could use available electric-only range, if needed.

When the electric-only range reaches zero, the powertrain system switches to hybrid operation. This means the energy you gain from plugging in and charging your vehicle is now gone. Both the gasoline engine and electric motor power your vehicle and maximize fuel economy during hybrid operation. Hybrid operation provides some electric-only driving as the powertrain system maintains the high voltage battery charge level within functional limits.

Low Engine Use

The low engine use mode properly lubricates the engine at sufficient temperature and activates when you drive your vehicle with limited engine operation. When in low engine use mode, your vehicle runs the engine as necessary. When low engine use mode begins, a message appears in the information display. If low engine use mode does not complete before you switch your vehicle off, it continues the next time you start your vehicle and the message reappears.

Pure EV mode is not available during low engine use mode.

Note: Cold temperatures affect the engine warm up time and the low engine use mode could operate more frequently.

Note: An oil change is not required but gives you the option of not running a low engine use cycle. Resetting the oil life monitoring system suspends the low engine use mode.