Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challenge.

This is old news (April, 2009) but very good news, so it worth repeating. Trained drivers using hypermiling techniques achieved 1,445 miles on a single tank of gas in a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Driving in the Washington, D.C. area, the Fusion Hybrid achieved an average of 81.5 mpg. The Fusion Hybrid’s spec sheet says the car has a 17-gallon tank. This set the world record for gasoline-powered midsize sedan.

Hypermiling is the act of driving using techniques that maximize fuel economy.

The Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challenge proves that fuel-efficient driving techniques can nearly double a vehicle’s EPA-rated fuel economy. Granted the team consisted of professionals in the automobile industry, but hypermiling techniques can be learned and practiced by anyone.

As reported back on April 28, 2009 by a Ford press release, drivers trained in mileage-maximizing techniques such as smooth acceleration and coasting to red lights were able to get an extraordinary 1,445.7 miles out of a single tank of gas during a fund-raising effort in Washington, D.C. that concluded today. They did it by averaging 81.5 miles per gallon in an off-the-showroom floor, non-modified 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, the most fuel-efficient midsize car in North America – nearly doubling its U.S. certified mileage.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni9oW_cD2Tg

The Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challenge started at 8:15 a.m. EDT on Saturday, April 25, from Mount Vernon, Va., and ended this morning at 5:37 a.m. on George Washington Parkway in Washington, D.C. After more than 69 continuous hours of driving, the Fusion Hybrid finally depleted its tank and came to a stop with an odometer reading of 1,445.7 miles – setting a world record for gasoline-powered, midsize sedan.

The challenge team, which included NASCAR star Carl Edwards, high mileage trailblazer Wayne Gerdes and several Ford Motor Company engineers, raised more than $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) by exceeding the goal of 1,000 miles on a single tank of gas. The Fusion Hybrid’s official estimated range is approximately 700 miles per tank.

“Not only does this demonstrate the Fusion Hybrid’s fuel efficiency, it also shows that driving technique is one of the keys to maximizing its potential,” said Nancy Gioia, director, Ford Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs. “The fact that we were able raise much needed funds for JDRF while raising the bar on fuel efficient driving performance made the effort doubly worthwhile.”

Maximizing mileage

A team of seven drivers prepared for the challenge by learning a few mileage-maximizing techniques, most of which can be used in any vehicle to improve fuel economy, but are especially useful in the Fusion Hybrid where the driver can take advantage of pure electric energy at speeds below 47 mph.

CleanMPG.com founder Wayne Gerdes, an engineer from Illinois who coined the term “hypermiling” to describe the mileage-maximizing techniques, provided the pointers. They 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

“You become very aware of your driving because you’re constantly looking for opportunities to maximize mileage, and a more aware driver is a safer driver, too,” said Gil Portalatin, Ford hybrid applications manager.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDdP-0qJprE

In addition, it is important for Fusion Hybrid drivers to manage the battery system’s state of charge through the use of regenerative braking and coasting, and balancing the use of the electric motor and gas engine in city driving to avoid wasting fuel.

Fusion Hybrid drivers also can stay more connected to the hybrid driving experience with Ford’s SmartGaugeTM with EcoGuide, a unique instrument cluster that helps coach drivers on how to optimize performance of their hybrid.

The Challenge

The Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challenge team took turns driving several routes in and around the national capital over the course of approximately three days and nights. The route involved elevation changes, and ranged from the relatively open George Washington Parkway to a 3-mile stretch in the heart of the city that is clogged with roughly 30 traffic signals.

“The Fusion Hybrid works brilliantly,” Gerdes said. “When you don’t need acceleration power while driving around town, the gas engine shuts down seamlessly. There’s not another hybrid drivetrain in the world that does that as effectively. The Fusion engineering team really knocked it out of the park.”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi7ENrJDxG4

Ford NASCAR star Carl Edwards took time away from the high speed world of professional car racing to contribute to the Fusion Hybrid team’s success in D.C.

“It was exciting to be an active part in this challenge. The fact that it will help spread the word about the Fusion Hybrid’s great mileage, and help out a great charity, makes it even more special,” said Edwards, whose ‘99’ team has used fuel-saving techniques to win races. “There’s no question that the Fusion Hybrid will help consumers save fuel when they drive it. Having driven the car, I feel strongly about how great it is – so strong that I’ve purchased one myself.”

Ford Fusion Hybrid Gets 81.5 MPG and World Record 1445 Miles on Single Gas Tank is a post from: CleanCarTalk

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Fuel economy battle between Toyota Prius, Jetta TDI, Ford Focus and smart fortwo. The comparison was conducted in what looks like hot dry summer weather of Southern California and Las Vegas, NV. While the test itself looks to have been carried out fairly and professionally, I think the video missed it entirely in its final call on the conclusion. Watch the video and I’ll discuss the results below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=46nMnCt75qI

Stage One -- Back Roads Results (334 miles @ 50-65 mph)

1. VW Jetta TDI -- 47.3 mpg
2. Toyota Prius -- 46.0 mpg
3. smart fortwo -- 43.9 mpg
4. Ford Focus -- 36.9 mpg

Stage Two -- City Driving Results (132 miles, stop and go)

1. Toyota Prius -- 52.4 mpg 
2. smart fortwo -- 34.0 mpg
3. VW Jetta TDI -- 32.6 mpg 
4. Ford Focus -- 23.6 mpg

Stage Three -- Highway Driving Results (209 miles @ 75 mph, one pit stop)

1. VW Jetta TDI -- 48.9 mpg  
2. Toyota Prius -- 47.7 mpg 
3. smart fortwo -- 40.0 mpg
4. Ford Focus -- 37.5 mpg

Lowest Cost Per Mile Calculation (the video defines it as average overall fuel economy divided by total cost of fuel consumed, which does not make any sense, then shows this tabulated result, which is really total cost comparison; and the overall mpg numbers are irrelevant in this table). So I added the real cost per mile calculation to the right of the arrow based on the total miles driven of 675 miles.

1. Toyota Prius -- $53.32 @ 47.7 mpg --> $0.079 per mile
2. VW Jetta TDI -- $66.37 @ 40.0 mpg --> $0.097 per mile
3. smart fortwo -- $66.66 @ 43.8 mpg --> $0.099 per mile
4. Ford Focus -- $75.96 @ 33.3 mpg --> $0.113 per mile

Relative Green House Gas Emissions

1. Toyota Prius -- 0.18 tons 
2. VW Jetta TDI -- 0.19 tons
3. smart fortwo -- 0.22 tons
4. Ford Focus -- 0.26 tons

I would disagree with Edmunds, the video producer, that there is no overall winner. Because the video’s goal was to find out which car is the most fuel-efficient as introduced in the beginning, we do have a clear winner in the Toyota Prius at 47.7 mpg. It seems Edmunds forgot what the goal of the comparison was.

Additionally, I would also draw the following observations and conclusions:

• The Toyota Prius is never ranked below a 2 in all the test, regardless of drive cycle.
• The Jetta TDI is ranked mostly 1 or 2, with once in slot number 3.
• The smart fortwo ranks 4 times in slot 3, and only once in slot number 2.
• The Ford Focus is last in number 4 in all stages.

So again, if we look at the overall data and results, the winners in standing order are clear:

1. Toyota Prius.
2. Jetta TDI.
3. smart fortwo.
4. Ford Focus.

In the end, since each of us has different needs, additional weighting factors will need to be applied in order for individuals to select the best car for their own use. When you factor in purchase price, brand name, prestige and coolness as part of the buying decision, fuel economy may not be the strongest factor to influence sale of a particular model. This is why many car ads and commercials show cool-looking people driving cool-looking cars doing cool-looking (and dangerous) things.

So what is your opinion on this fuel economy comparison? How likely are you to buy a new vehicle based purely on its fuel economy numbers? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

2008 Fuel Economy Comparison: Prius vs Jetta vs Focus vs Smart is a post from: CleanCarTalk

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A couple of novice hypermilers drove the Toyota iQ for 504.2 miles, achieving 70-72mpg when the car’s official figure is 65.7mpg. Beginning on January 25, 2009, Mark and Simon of the iQ blog piloted the small iQ through towns and cities in the south and midlands of England and Wales, hitting 18 cities in all.

According to Simon, “We set out to prove that iQ is an efficient car, but also that it’s not only possible to match a car’s official fuel consumption figures -- you can beat them in real driving on real roads.” Read more about “500 miles in the Toyota iQ“.

iQ stands for intelligent Quality.

Hot video Toyota iQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=evBfgLG1VwA

Toyota iQ: Parking

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QZ2Izee_-s

Hypermiling in a Toyota iQ: 504 Miles on a Tank of Gas is a post from: CleanCarTalk

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Advices abound about how you can improve your car’s mileage or miles per gallon (MPG) by using the cruise control. Essentially by using your car’s cruise control, you are telling the car to travel at a constant speed regardless of road conditions. It’s a very nice feature originally offered to allow driving on long trips without getting fatigued.

Here are a few ideas and advices from eZinearticles.com , ecomodder.com and Daily Fuel Economy Tip. There are countless others if you google for them.

By definition, cruise control keeps your car at a constant speed. Manufacturers build some “smart” into the system by allowing cruise control activation only above a certain speeds, typically around 25-30 miles per hour (mph) for most cars. This means you can’t use cruise control in relatively low speed stop and start driving, or in other words, most city driving. The system is not designed for such driving environment.

In city driving where sometime you can get up to 40 mph, I find it’s more of a hassle to put on cruise control than it’s worth. This is because, more than likely, you wouldn’t be able to drive at that speed for too long before having to slow down again. So for most city or stop-and-go driving, cruise control does not do anything for you in terms of fuel economy.

Cruise control really shines when it comes to long trips. That’s what cruise control was originally built for anyway. In more environmentally conscious times like now, this little invention can also save you real dollars. If you do it right, that is.

On my many long drives between San Diego and Los Angeles, a very hilly drive along the California coast, the best mileage I get has been with my foot regulating the speed, no cruise control. I regularly achieve around 29 mpg in “manual” (foot) mode, while could only squeeze around 25 mpg with the cruise control on most of the trip. On the other hand, for the relatively flatter drive from Southern California to Las Vegas, for example, cruise control can really show its benefits. For the typical driver I think it will boil down to a combination of 3 things: convenience (long drive with less work on the pedal), fuel economy (get the best mpg with or without cruise control), and habits (subconscious actions without special awareness). No matter what camp you are from, here’s the reality.

On a given long-distance drive you can encounter a combination of flat, hilly and stop-and-go driving conditions. If you want to arrive with great feelings and no foot/leg fatigue, then go cruise control the whole way, except of course during very steep hills and in heavy traffic. If you’re more about getting there with the least fuel consumed, then set cruise control for long stretches of flat highway but take more active role to regulate speeds during hilly portions and stop-and-go traffic. Finally if you don’t care, then of course do what you want and just enjoy the trip.

There you have it. It’s really up to each of us to do the right thing, for us and for the environment. Take your pick.

Use Cruise Control to Increase MPG? It Really Depends on Your Personality is a post from: CleanCarTalk

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What is hypermiling? According too Wikipedia, hypermiling refers to a set of techniques used to maximize fuel economy. There are safe ways to do this. And then there are extreme ways to do this. On Clean Car Talk, we advocate safe methods to drive clean because no amount of mpg is worth you life. So here are some tips.

This is an old one, but it’s a classic. It’s so easy to understand and do. I guess we’ll just have to keep pounding on it.

If people really use their heads instead of their foot while driving, they will always come out ahead in their pocket. Practicing even just some of these techniques will make a difference in your mpg success. And in this tough economic time, this has double and triple effect. So to start us off, consider the following.

1. Track Your Fuel Consumption. Well it’s obvious, but if you’re going to know your miles per gallon (MPG) then you’re going to have to know how much fuel you’ve used after traveling a certain distance. Make it a habit to record the amount of fuel you purchase each time at the pump. Then track your total driving distance before you fill up again. Vary your intervals to get a better average.
2. Do Not Drive Aggressively. If you’re driving like you’re late to a meeting every time you get in your car, then you’re wasting fuel for really no reason. Driving aggressively means revving the engine constantly, effectively forcing it to operate outside of its most optimized operating range; reducing your safety and that your passengers and other drivers on the road; and it won’t help your blood pressure. Maintain a relaxed attitude and keep more money in your pocket.
3. Minimize Your Time at a Stop. By definition, zero distance travelled while the engine is on means 0 mpg. It would be great if we can all avoid stops during our driving trips. While this is not a realistic scenario, there are next best things we can take advantage of. Here are a few ideas: choose a less crowded or shorter route; plan your trip so you drive outside of high traffic hours; anticipate upcoming stop signs or stoplights and easing off the gas pedal earlier; and turn off your engine when you know you’ll be stopping for more than a few minutes. Remember safety should always be the overriding factor especially while driving, so do everything in a safe manner.
   
4. Accelerate Slowly and Smoothly. While it may seem cool and fun to floor your gas pedal every time to test your car’s 0-to-60 time, this is another wasteful habit. If there’s a real reason to get there fast, then maybe consider starting out earlier on all your trips. What they say is really true: time is money. So give yourself more time, and spend potentially much less on gas. Alternatively, do the easy thing: accelerate slowly and smoothly to speed.
5. Do not Exceed the Speed Limit. Although the law is a good reason not to exceed the speed limit, let’s forget the law for a moment. Let’s talk physical law. Aerodynamic drag is one of the resistances a car has to overcome to maintain speed. While drag depends on numerous factors, drags relate as the square of the speed, and increase as speed increases. Here a chart showing MPG vs. speed, courtesy of fueleconomy.gov website. So it would require the engine to work much harder (using much more fuel) at higher speeds. But really it boils down to this. By not exceeding the speed limit, you reduce your chance of getting speeding tickets, avoid getting involved in serious accidents (thus lower insurance premiums), and extend the life of your car by reducing wear and tear.

Happy hypermiling. More ideas and tips to come.

Basic Hypermiling Techniques to Increase MPG is a post from: CleanCarTalk

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Ways to Maximize MPG from Your Car is a post from: CleanCarTalk

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