Deadman
Full Access Members
Most of the hybrid benefit is attained in local stop and go driving, because the electric motor can get the vehicle up to speed while the ICE engine stays off or near idle to maintain coasting speeds, and can be powered down when decelerating. On the highway where you're traveling at higher, steady speeds, the electric motor won't provide much of a benefit. There's no regen and the battery is too small to provide motive energy. The other advantage of the PowerBoost is acting as a generator for camping, house backup, etc.
As battery prices decrease and energy density improves, Ford will be able to add a PHEV option, where local driving and part of distance driving can be done on pure electric. The question is what premium Ford will need to charge to recoup on the additional parts. All new tech starts out as expensive. With the increased focus on electrification, I think decreases in battery prices will accelerate due to increased scale and improved technology.
The battery prices will fall until we saturate the market with EV's, then China will stick it to us and triple the price of Lithium and all the BS needed to make these batteries.