One Year, 10 Months.

LuckyP - Ford says that the design is their own. However, I cannot help but think that they really took a Prius apart to see how it worked, and in their efforts to reverse engineer the thing, ended up simply building the THS system all over again. Even the MFD is similar in layout. Animations are different, polling times on the consumption screen is different (1 minute instead of 5), and screen layout varies, but the exact same info is related - minus the regen symbols.

The braking system behaves like the HSD version, with the brakes only being used with heavy braking application. Using the "L" on the shifter instead of "D" kicks up the regen more aggressively when you let off of the gas, and kicks the engine off at 40 mph instead of 30 mph when slowing. With this, you can get a measurable economy gain using the right notch at the right times. I am already at a real world 36 mpg on what is the vehicles secont tank of fuel, and on a drivetrain with less than 600 miles on it. All I'm doing is driving it in the same manner as I did my Prius, which is currently keeping to a maximum of 55 mph. Stealth is easier to obtain, and maintain when you're in it. Anyone here, would be immediately familiar with the feel of the FEH.

I find tht I'm absolutely loving having a tach again. Despite what the hybrid system screen says, I know for sure whether the engine is on or off. The charge/assist guage is great to see how much power is going where. The bad news is, that FEH owners that attended the Dearborne seminar are reporting that engineers are redesigning the dashboard, and are taking about eliminating the tach. The other thing I like, is that I do NOT have that stupid and irritating bladder in my fuel tank. I don't have to baby the fuel into the tank, and worry about the bladder puking fuel as it purges trapped air.

Remaxmanager - I'm building a mileage database on Green Hybrid. The vehicle is named the same as my nickname. Since I drive alot of miles, I should be building up a sizeable database very quickly. Yeah, the 06 is still a sea of chap hard plastic. This is still a domestic carmaker disease, but one that is at least tolerable.

Tideland Prius - The next in line for hybridization with FoMoCo will be the Mazda version of the trio. After that, will be the Ford Fusion Hybrid, which is slated for next year, and will be in direct competition with the Camry and Camry hybrid.

DaMan32 - The transaxle is built in Japan, the engine is domestic, and the vehicle itself is built in Kansas City, MO.