Pghpete Report post Posted November 24, 2009 Newby here. After doing my due diligence and looking in past posts on this topic (and finding nothing specific to this question), I have a question for you folks. I am in the market for a new fusion (on the Ford A Plan), and I'm wondering about the "up to 47 MPH in the EV mode" claim seen online. If my battery is fully charged, and the FFH is warmed up to proper operating temp, can I make it to work (about 12 miles, max speed limit 45 MPH) solely on the EV mode? I understand the variables of uphill vs. downhill and level driving, etc., but the prospect of using little or no gas on my daily commute in a really cool looking car is quite appealing! Thanks - Pete Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VonoreTn Report post Posted November 24, 2009 Having about 5K miles on an A-plan FFH, I can tell you it will not run for 12 miles in EV mode at 45 mph. The engine will come on several times to charge the batteries. But the good news is I would expect for that 12 miles you will get over 50 mpg, since 45 is about the optimum speed for fuel economy. My full record of fuel economy is posted elsewhere and based on complete fillup data. But even if you get 50+ mpg going 45 for 12 miles, your full tank mileage will probably be closer to 40 mpg, since you will no doubt include some high speed mileage, where you might get anywhere from 35 to 42 mpg, depending on your AC usage, terrain, and time spent above 70 mph, where the mpg starts to drop off due to the high wind drag. I am happy with my FFH, it is fun to drive, and I have cut my gas fillup stops in half. Used to be every week in my Explorer getting 19-20 mpg, now it's twice a month, with a slightly smaller tank. If my battery is fully charged, and the FFH is warmed up to proper operating temp, can I make it to work (about 12 miles, max speed limit 45 MPH) solely on the EV mode? I understand the variables of uphill vs. downhill and level driving, etc., but the prospect of using little or no gas on my daily commute in a really cool looking car is quite appealing! Thanks - Pete Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lolder Report post Posted November 24, 2009 Newby here. After doing my due diligence and looking in past posts on this topic (and finding nothing specific to this question), I have a question for you folks. I am in the market for a new fusion (on the Ford A Plan), and I'm wondering about the "up to 47 MPH in the EV mode" claim seen online. If my battery is fully charged, and the FFH is warmed up to proper operating temp, can I make it to work (about 12 miles, max speed limit 45 MPH) solely on the EV mode? I understand the variables of uphill vs. downhill and level driving, etc., but the prospect of using little or no gas on my daily commute in a really cool looking car is quite appealing! Thanks - Pete These are not electric vehicles. All the energy comes from gasoline. The hybrid components are designed to improve the efficiency of the ICE. Depending on speed and accessory (AC, etc.) use, you can only go about 1/2 to 1 1/2 miles in EV mode. The ICE will then start and run for about a 1/2 mile or perhaps more. It will be getting about 30 mpg while moving the car and charging the battery. You can usually not control when or how much the battery charges. That is very precisely controlled by computers to about 1/2 on the gauge. When the car is in EV mode you are getting infinite mpg. (The mpg. computer may then actually be using a 99.9 mpg. number, we're not sure.) The overall mpg over several on/off cycles in this mode is a combination of the two mpg figures. It is not the average. The computer knows the fuel used and distance covered and calculates the mpg. It is not necessarily the average of say 30 mpg and 99.9mpg. It is more related to the ratio of the distances traveled in EV verses ICE modes. It will probably be between 40 and 55 mpg. When the ICE is operating continuously with no battery charging at about 50 mph, the mpg. will be about 50. Small amounts of hills, headwinds, wet roads and heavy AC usage have a big effect when you're getting 50 mpg; about 10 mpg for each, especially wet roads.The fascination with longer range P-HEVs (plug ins) will quickly fade when their owners get their first monthly electric bills. These cars are here and now! Lee Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rlawson4 Report post Posted November 24, 2009 I think people misunderstand the benefit of the EV mode by over-using it. If you deplete the battery to the point the ICE comes on and must re-charge it, you get less MPG. The key is to always have enough power in the battery so that the ICE never has to run at a stop light or while going down hill, etc. When I have followed that formula, my mileage has improved. The other thing I have done to improve mileage is the use as much EV mode as possible in the last mile to mile and a half of my drive home. I like to arrive home with a low battery. I do this because the ICE must run anyway first thing in the morning while the engine warms up. As a result, you may as well use the battery at the end of your day because it will be charged when the ICE warms up in the morning. Just my 2 cents. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pghpete Report post Posted November 24, 2009 I think people misunderstand the benefit of the EV mode by over-using it. If you deplete the battery to the point the ICE comes on and must re-charge it, you get less MPG. The key is to always have enough power in the battery so that the ICE never has to run at a stop light or while going down hill, etc. When I have followed that formula, my mileage has improved. The other thing I have done to improve mileage is the use as much EV mode as possible in the last mile to mile and a half of my drive home. I like to arrive home with a low battery. I do this because the ICE must run anyway first thing in the morning while the engine warms up. As a result, you may as well use the battery at the end of your day because it will be charged when the ICE warms up in the morning. Just my 2 cents. Thanks guys. I'm going to have to pay more attention to the ad I saw/heard. I guess the FFH can go up to 47 mph in the EV mode, but they didn't say how long it could stay in the EV mode. Kinda tricky. Thanks again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites