...can the FEH be driven as a non-hybrid?

 

You can easily find your answer by opening the rear gate, lifting the cargo carpet and disconnecting the hybrid battery switch. Then try to start your vehicle.

 

No.

First, the ICE couldn't be started, and second, even were it running at the time the e/CVT cannot work without the high voltage.

 

This question sounds like a "worry" for an owner of getting stranded somewhere. Thing is ANY car will have many reasons it will strand you.

If the HV is dead you can't start the car but in fact its probably less likely to die than your 12V in a conventional car... and you can't drive any car without the 12V working either. However at least in the FEH if you have a working 12V and the HV is "dead" (not terminal but out of juice) you can JUMP start the car from the 12V battery by using a procedure outlined the manual (consists of hitting a button and letting the 12V charge the HV battery).

In fact I think you can even take a jump start from someone elses 12V battery (check the manual to be sure) but you'd hook up the jumpers between the 12V systems, start the "donor" car, and then hit the button in the FEH and wait for the HV battery to charge up enough. (I think it tells you to wait 8min or so.)