Ford Fusion Hypermiled

[bestmapman]

Hypermiling_in Brookline with the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Bill Griffith - Boston - Mar. 19, 2009

I would like to see what the Fusion could do with a experience hypermiler. -- Ed.

Ford brought one of its 2010 Fusion Hybrids to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline Wednesday, giving its marketing people a chance to show off the vehicle to the area's automotive media and fleet managers.

The vehicle, rated at 41 m.p.g. city and 36 m.p.g. highway, goes on sale later this spring. The price, for a well-equipped Fusion, will be $27,200, about $3,000 more than for a four-cylinder gasoline-powered version that, in its own right, delivers 23 city and 34 highway.

Many in attendance had the chance to drive the Fusion around a short loop through Brookline and Boston, trying to break the 50 mile-per-gallon mark on the vehicle's dashboard readout.

This driver – the first to head out on the circuit – didn't fare well, averaging about 37 m.p.g. The engine was cold when we started out, and I didn't have the right touch for feathering the throttle – even though the smart gauge on the dashboard would grow vines and leaves when I did... [Read More]

[Taliesin]

Originally Posted by bestmapman

I would like to see what the Fusion could do with a experience hypermiler. -- Ed.

No kidding...

125% of current EPA is good, but we routinely blow that out of the water.

[GaryG]

Originally Posted by Taliesin

No kidding...

125% of current EPA is good, but we routinely blow that out of the water.

All you have to do is beat EPA Estimates to be a hypermiler even though there are many here that could do much better. The '09 FEH with this same engine did not get all the improvements the 2010 FFH eCVT and HV battery got and I'm seeing higher MPG numbers from an SUV. I suspect the strategy to maximize MPG in the FFH takes some getting use to like it did in my '09 FEH. For instance, I accelerate with the ICE to charge the battery because the new 2.5L is much more efficient than the old 2.3L. Once up to speed I go EV in CC where the battery last the longest at a steady state speed. I drive my '05 FEH completely different by accelerating in EV and use the Low Gear Advantage (LGA) to recharge the battery. The LGA does not work in the '09 FEH and I'll bet it's the same in the '10 FFH.

GaryG

[mdensch@charter.net]

I would love to see Gary G have some seat time in the FFH, given his experience with Ford hybrids. Gotta say, though, if one of the drivers in the article can hit 51+ mpg on a short course without ever having driven the car before, you gotta figure 60 is attainable.