Green-conscious “hypermilers” will be pleased to learn the new Ford Fusion hybrid can top 50 miles per gallon with advanced driving technique. The 2010 vehicle, rated 41 city and 36 highway, follows the Ford Escape Hybrid and marks a new era of efficient cars coming out of Detroit.
Words that pundits in Washington don't want to hear:
"This has been a three-year project," he said
Actually I think the excellent Ford Fusion performance is a by-product to the 2006 EPA changes. Although the numbers are right on the mark for ordinary NHW20 driving, as hybrids bring newer technology into the vehicles, their performance will exceed the EPA numbers. This will lead to a nicer problem, "You know the hybrids get better mileage than the EPA sticker." <grins>
For example, air conditioner use, I suspect the Boston drivers were not using it. Also, only the first driver paid the 'cold tax' to warm up the engine. Block heaters anyone?
Bob Wilson
For example, air conditioner use, I suspect the Boston drivers were not using it. Also, only the first driver paid the 'cold tax' to warm up the engine. Block heaters anyone?
Bob Wilson
Bob,
What is an NHW20 ?
I second the 'cold tax' remark and the call for block heaters. I have not yet done a whole tank with the new block heater (in my TCH), but results so far indicate I'm getting as much as a 20% reduction in fuel consumption since starting to use it (with an average of about 1.5 cold starts averted per day).
Jack
What is an NHW20 ?
. . .
I tend to refer to model versus year:
- NHW10 - 1997-2000, first generation sold only in Japan but showing up in some export markets
- NHW11 - 2001-2003, second generation
- NHW20 - 2004-2009, third generation, currently for sale
- ZVW30 - 2010+, next generation available someday soon
Bob WilsonIf I read the specs correctly, the A/C compressor on the 2010 Fusion hybrid is electrically driven and no longer requires the gas engine be on to enjoy the A/C operation. But I'm still a month away from getting mine, so we will see.
Even if the A/C compressor is electrically driven, it will still lower the mpg. Since you don't plug in the car, ALL energy to operate the vehicle comes from gas.
Vorpal,
You also get regenerative energy when braking. The AC unit is also not driven to a percentge of engine RPM but can turn only what is required for the cooling job at hand via an electric motor. All in all, a MUCH better way to do things than the Escape.
I agree it is much better to have the AC compressor electrically driven.
Depending on how the battery charge is maintained, this probably has more of an impact on battery life rather than fuel economy. The extra discharging would increase the number of charging cycles compared to a hybrid with ICE driven AC.
A Ford hand picked team is shooting for 1000 miles out of 1 tank of gas- That would be over 57 MPG!
Check out my blog entry at http://kirkn.spaces.live.com/blog/cn...624!1462.entry
An excellent effort, 1445 miles / 69 hours ~= 20.9 mph to achieve 81.5 MPG.
Bob Wilson
Bob Wilson
In fact, I have never had a tank that actually got down to the EPA estimate.
RFB
Crank up the MPG as best you can in the warm weather!