1,000 mile + weekend for charity has begun!

[xcel]

Ladies and Gentleman, boot your vehicles. Its time to Hypermile in DC.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – April 23, 2009

Rear of the 1,000 mile Challenge 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid – 39 mpgUS combined and 1,000 + miles on a single tank of fuel... We hope

Dearborn, MI – As we previously reported on Ford's 2010 Fusion Hybrid in a Challenge Marathon drive for Charity, this weekend, the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is being put to the ultimate fuel-efficiency test. A team of drivers, including NASCAR star Carl Edwards and world-record breaking hypermiler Wayne Gerdes, will attempt to drive more than 1,000 miles on a single tank of gas, raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in the process.

The 1,000-Mile Challenge starts at around 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, from Mount Vernon, Va., and ends the morning of Monday, April 27, in Washington, D.C. The team will drive for more than 43 hours continuously to reach the 1,000-mile goal. The drivers will do stints of between two and three hours each and will have regular breaks to ensure safe driving is maintained. Already rated as the most fuel-efficient, mid-sized sedan in America, the Fusion Hybrid will need to average at least 57 mpg to achieve its goal. During preliminary testing in preparation for this challenge, Ford engineers have reached as much as 70 mpg in the Fusion Hybrid by using Eco-Driving techniques.

The team will run clinics for media and customers over the weekend in the Fusion Hybrid, conducting interviews and vehicle demonstrations on how simple techniques can make a significant difference to real world fuel economy numbers.

The Fusion Hybrid being used in the challenge will be a factory produced model with no modifications or alterations and will run on regular 87 octane gas.

The team will be uploading regular images and video to YouTube, Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter.
Ford is taking on the 1,000-Mile Challenge for a number of reasons:

• To demonstrate Ford’s commitment to be the best or amongst the best in fuel economy in every vehicle segment in which it competes;
• To highlight the crucial role the driver plays in maximizing fuel economy and demonstrate how consumers can make a difference through Eco-Driving;
• To raise awareness about Eco-Driving and how the Fusion Hybrid contributes to it with the ability to run up to 47 mph in pure electric mode; and
• To raise awareness and funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The 1,000-Mile Challenge team

• Carl Edwards, the NASCAR race star who recently bought his own 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid;
• Gil Portalatin, Ford hybrid applications manager and Ford Fusion Hybrid team leader;
• Sherif Marakby, graduate of Maryland University and Ford hybrid chief engineer;
• Tom Rolewicz, one of Ford’s top calibration experts and hybrid system expert; and
• Steve Burke, Ford product expert on hybrid applications
• Wayne Gerdes, the world-record breaking hypermiling champion and founder of www.cleanmpg.com

The mileage-maximizing techniques that the Ford team will use and pass on to consumers include:

• Slowing down and maintaining even throttle pressure;
• Gradually accelerating and smoothly braking;
• Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and anticipating traffic conditions;
• Coasting up to red lights and stop signs to avoid fuel waste and brake wear;
• Minimize use of heater and air conditioning to reduce the load on the engine;
• Close windows at high speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag;
• Applying the “Pulse and Glide” technique while maintaining the flow of traffic;
• Minimize excessive engine workload by using the vehicle’s kinetic forward motion to climb hills, and use downhill momentum to build speed; and
• Avoiding bumps and potholes that can reduce momentum.

Here is the link to the article for the contest for the donation/Scangauge contest.

[JusBringIt]

With a hwy rating of 36mpg, It seems you'll have to pulse and glide this baby all day to ensure you beat that marker. Good luck!

[jhu]

That car has a big fuel tank.

[bestmapman]

Good luck guys.

[SentraSE-R]

Now we know the goal related to Wayne's post about the DC beltway and roads. Good luck, Wayne.

[Xringer]

The weather is going to be smoking hot this weekend! Leave the winter parka at home!
I guess it's time to find out if it can do 57 MPG with the AC running!

Good luck Wayne! Kick some Butt!!

[fanamingo]

Smoking hot? It's not even supposed to break 90. Mid to upper 80s Saturday and Sunday with lows in the low 60s. I'm guessing Wayne won't be using the AC much, but there are four other drivers to worry about. Hopefully the reduced air resistance from thinner, warmer air will help offset the AC penalty.

NOAA weather forecast for the main route

[xcel]

Hi All:

___If I hear of a driver come back with a 55 mpg or lower segment, I am going to open the hood and cut the A/C belt out! I am kidding of course

___The Ford engineers I clinic'ed are all excellent technically and picked up the advanced techniques quickly. I did not have time to give them everything but they were pulling mid 60’s to low 70’s in heavy Detroit traffic and light to light so they should all perform well in Washington DC. That Northern Route is where some of them may fall apart and I will be watching their results closely during that 6 to 8-hours driving the bluff.

___I like the warm weather for FE and the way the vehicle is currently setup, I hope it is even easier than any of us may have first thought...

___You should have seen the E-Mail reply’s when I told the lead on this project that we should begin planning as a contingency to be in Washington DC an extra day because we may not run out of fuel until Tuesday

___Fanamingo and Kurz, did Kaitlyn or her counterpart get a hold of you to schedule your clinics?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[owlmaster08]

Originally Posted by xcel

___You should have seen the E-Mail reply’s when I told the lead on this project that we should begin planning as a contingency to be in Washington DC an extra day because we may not run out of fuel until Tuesday

I can only imagine!!!

[PaleMelanesian]

That weather sounds just perfect! Good luck to all of you.