Neutral Gear Mode

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 Mercury Mariner and 2010 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The hybrid electric system operates in this mode when the driver selects NEUTRAL. In neutral gear the electronically controlled CVT does not deliver any positive or negative torque to the output shafts of the vehicle. The neutral gear actually consists of 2 neutral operating states: active neutral activated above 10 km/h (6 mph), and passive neutral activated below 10 km/h (6 mph). In active neutral, the generator motor is permitted to start and stop the internal combustion engine as needed to maintain the high voltage traction battery charge, and provide A/C. In passive neutral, the engine must remain in the state it was (running or not running) when the mode was entered and is not permitted to change state (start or stop). If the engine is running when entering passive neutral, the speed control of the engine is transferred from the generator motor to the engine itself. The engine controlling its own speed in passive neutral is described as secondary idle. The vehicle cannot be started in passive neutral, but can be started in active neutral.