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.

http://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.

http://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.”

http://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.”

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

There are a number of reports on a hosted media drive mileage challenge for the new Fusion and Fusion Hybrid in Los Angeles (you can read about them at Green Car Congress, AutoblogGreen, and Jalopnik). According to Green Car Congress, initial reported results from the city cycle mileage challenge indicate fuel economy of better than 43 mpg US (less than 5.47 L/100km) for the Fusion Hybrid. AutoblogGreen reported 43.1 mpg; Car and Driver, 43.6 mpg; and Jalopnik, 43.8 mpg US. These are all very good numbers, especially because they’re directly results of real city cycle driving.

A city cycle mileage challenge is a great way to help promote public education, awareness and, ultimately, acceptance of the new, cleaner generation of cars. We should have more of these done around the country to help with public awareness. A more formalized challenge would be even better, where a particular challenge is run over a period of maybe a week or longer in order to get a better average. Additionally, each vehicle make and model should have its own series of challenges. Then challenges with other makes and models can run in parallel or at another time.

This marketing concept is an all-around  win-win-win for interested parties involved. For the media, it allows them to really write about what matters: the new technology and how they are actually performing as used in everyday life. For the manufacturers, it allows them a true and unbiased avenue to showcase and market their new products, while keeping them honest at the same time. And for the consumers, it allows us to see real performance comparison in real life driving cycles without all the marketing fluff and chatter.

So let’s have more city cycle mileage challenges. We want them!

Check out some YouTube videos.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid at L.A. Auto Show – Car and Driver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1H_9UWTs_4

Guided tour of Ford’s new Fusion hybrid Smartgauge system

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXZ1x1_ug4U

Let’s Have More City Cycle Mileage Challenges! is a post from: CleanCarTalk