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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg American Car Better Than Ever for Fuel Management (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=206008)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/SmartGauge_with_ECOGuide_in_practice.jpgSean Welch - CleanMPG (http://www.cleanmpg.com/) - May 6, 2009

One American automotive company continues to impress.

When the Sokolis Group needed a new company car, they chose Ford for a host of reasons--including the fact that it offered the fuel management and fuel consulting company simply the best option on the planet.

Company president Glen Sokolis says, "We did a lot of research and found that the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is the best car in its class. We feel that by getting behind Ford's great American name and great car, we're presenting our own little stimulus package to help the American economy."

Sokolis Group provides outsourced fuel management services to businesses large and small across the country that need help buying and managing their fuel costs, including building supply companies, the trucking industry and AAA.

The Ford Fusion hybrid is rated independently at 41 mpg, the highest fuel economy of any midsize sedan. That's more than 700 miles on a tank of gas--and it can run on E85 ethanol as well as regular gasoline.

Fusion is also a very fine piece of workmanship, drawing accolades from independent industry reviewers: Car and Driver's February 2009 issue rated the Fusion Hybrid ahead of the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Nissan Altima Hybrid and the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid.
Ford trainer Bob Cyran says, "The Fusion became a benchmark for quality in the Ford lineup even before the 2010 Fusion Hybrid appeared. J.D. Power and Consumer Reports both say it leads the midsize segment for quality and reliability, exceeding Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

"To have a fuel efficiency expert choose the Fusion hybrid is further confirmation of its attributes," he added.

Commitment to the environment
The Sokolis Group has made what appears to be, at first glance, an uncommon partnership: it has wedded the business of fuel purchasing with a commitment to environmental causes and reducing its own and its customers' "carbon footprint."

"We are as worried about the economy as anyone, but we're also determined to do everything we can within these difficult economic times to run as 'green' a business as possible--which a trip to our office or website, www.SokolisGroup.com, will show you," says Sokolis. "We encourage the use of ethanol and other renewable fuels, as well as fuel economy in many forms, to save money and decrease our reliance on foreign oil. We buy carbon credits to offset our company's carbon footprint, and we support the President's plans for the future and the increase in efforts to create more green jobs in America."

Sokolis Group recently served as advisor to a new fleet fuel card called 360FuelCard.com. Companies whose fleets of cars and trucks carry this fuel card receive fuel purchase benefits that include special services as well as fuel discounts and fuel rebates. In addition, 360FuelCard.com purchases carbon credits that help reduce each company's overall carbon footprint by offsetting the fuel their fleets consume.

"We thought they had a great idea at 360FuelCard.com, and we're pleased to help kick off the first fuel card program to provide eco-responsible fuel purchasing," Sokolis says.

"To have a fuel efficiency expert choose the Fusion hybrid is further confirmation of its attributes," he added.


Wayne, I thought you went with the Prius?? :D

Hybrid AND FlexFuel?!?

I WISH I was in the market for a car!

While ethanol in the US isn't good right now, I'm thinking it will change in the future.

If you can live with a trunk, the FFH is unquestionably the best choice out there.

If you need to transport anything much bigger than a large suitcase, however, the Prius is still the car to beat.

If you need to transport anything much bigger than a large suitcase, however, the Prius is still the car to beat.

I wouldn't turn up my nose at a Prius either, and that would be one in the running if I was in the market.

Right now the Fusion has a couple of things going for it (only for me though):

1: It's an "American" company. I am one of those that will buy "American" if they have what I need/want (and FE was a recent addition to that list).
2: It hasn't taken any bailout money yet (Toyota ties it here, but that leaves out the other "American" companies)
3: It's flexfuel. E85 isn't the greatest yet in the US, but I believe it will get better in the future. Even if it doesn't, it still runs on gas just fine. It keeps some options open.
4: If my "family" of 5 (really a very close group of friends) can travel in an '02 Chevy Cavalier, I am positive we can fit in a Fusion, but maybe not in the Prius.


One reason the Prius is still in the running is for my non-boating fishing trips. Those 8' fishing rods don't fit in many vehicles (the original reason I got the Ranger). I don't know if they would fit in either one.

When I win the lottery I'll probably buy both. :rolleyes:

As the Fusion's back seat does not fold, those poles likely won't fit... but you never know until you take a tape measure to it! ;)

Does the Fusion have a fold-down rear seat? I can fit 9' lumber in my civic that way.

Edit: oh. Sean answered it before I even asked. That's too bad.

No folding rear seats? Aka the Civic Hybrid problem? Gaaa! It's worse than I thought.

So I can easily (and often do) stuff my bike in the back of my tiny 89cf Golf, but not in a full-size Fusion. Nice car for some people, but in the what-works-for-Wriconsult game that earns the FFH a "Bzzzzt! Wrong, but thanks for playing."

You and me both, Wri. I can (and do) take a 2-mile detour on my trip home and stop at Lowes / Home Depot. I can (and have) buy an armful of 2x4s, 8 feet long, and load them into my Civic. 2 miles at 60 mpg instead of a 20 mile round trip in the Ody at 30 mpg (at best :rolleyes:). .033 gallons vs .66 gallons, or 1/20 the fuel.

As long as I could manage it with the poles starting at back left of the vehicle and ending at the front right of the vehicle it would work.

But then if something else works better when I am in the market, it'll get a really good look too. Right now my first looks would be at the Insight, HCH (if it's in hatchback form), Prius, and FFH.

Can I hope they put something like this into a Ranger any time soon?

Does anyone know what the fuel efficiency is for e85?

Hi infittim:

___Your 2010 FFH is not spec'ed to run on E85 so do not even try it. FE losses on order of 20 to 25% would not be out of the question if one were to try such a thing? Other than Brazil’s Ethanol made from Sugarcane or the decades long promise of cellulosic for a buck a gallon, the stuff we have hear is the scourge of bio-fuels and gives them a bad name... let alone a bad taste (literally ;)).

___Good Luck

___Wayne

According to the epa testing of flex-fuel vehicles, E85 usually gives about 28% lower fuel economy.

My experience with my Ram is a 20% loss if I am not towing the boat.

For some reason, I don't loose anything if I am towing the boat.

Just a guess, but the higher octane should allow it to not retard ignition timing under load like regular would require.

Just a guess, but the higher octane should allow it to not retard ignition timing under load like regular would require.

That sounds good to me.

And 105 octane is a LOT.

I'll have to hook up the SG to it and check that some day.

No folding rear seats? Aka the Civic Hybrid problem? Gaaa! It's worse than I thought.

So I can easily (and often do) stuff my bike in the back of my tiny 89cf Golf, but not in a full-size Fusion. Nice car for some people, but in the what-works-for-Wriconsult game that earns the FFH a "Bzzzzt! Wrong, but thanks for playing."

I was turned-off when I found out the FFH lost the fold down rear seats in the Fusion. It's a big deal for a single car owner who hauls big things. My main concern about the FFH was getting into and out of a sedan like my daughter's '07 Civic EX who never uses the fold down rear seats because of 2 baby seats. The Civic is just to low to the ground for me and my wife but when we test drove the FFH it was easy to get in and out. The trunk is huge in the Fusion but still over-sized in the FFH with the HV battery placement.

The FFH is a nice vehicle and not made to haul 8' 2X4's or treated like a truck or SUV. My first thoughts about the lack of fold down rear seats was solved during the test drive when my wife fell in love with the FFH. It's big enough for 2 baby seats and 3 adults and the trunk is plenty big for a 120qt cooler or other big things and still close. I always will have an SUV like my '09 FEH and '02 Explorer for carrying the bigger things. The FFH can still carry much more than most sedans and get great mileage also. I would have purchased the FFH that night but we where $4,000 apart on my '05 FEH as a trade.

GaryG