2013 FFH real world fuel economy

[mainesail55]

I've driven the FFH, C-Max and the Camry hybrids and I have to say that my wife and I really like the Fusion although for the life of me, I can't figure out why Ford would link a moonroof and Homelink since we don't particularly want a moonroof. Back on topic, what are people seeing in the real world for fuel economy. My son has a 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE which is a little lower rated than the regular Camry Hybrid but he of the lead foot is getting about 36mpg. We're certainly attracted to the 47/47 rating but am wondering what people are really seeing.

I saw this article and am more than a little nervous now about what the Fusion could reasonably be expected to get.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1080580_ford-hybrids-fuel-economy-failing-to-live-up-to-epa-ratings

[Nmadole]

I am only getting around 33-35MPG (City Driving Average, Temp of 45 degrees, Climate Set at 68, 90% braking score) with mine... I am taking it in to get one of the rims buffed out tomorrow and I am going to mention the sub-par MPG to them... Still love the car.. but not living up to the hype

[Ric]

I am only getting around 33-35MPG (City Driving Average, Temp of 45 degrees, Climate Set at 68, 90% braking score) with mine... I am taking it in to get one of the rims buffed out tomorrow and I am going to mention the sub-par MPG to them... Still love the car.. but not living up to the hype

Let us know what the dealer says. Mine has 600 miles on it, similar driving and temp. Getting 35mpg.

[lolder]

I am only getting around 33-35MPG (City Driving Average, Temp of 45 degrees, Climate Set at 68, 90% braking score) with mine... I am taking it in to get one of the rims buffed out tomorrow and I am going to mention the sub-par MPG to them... Still love the car.. but not living up to the hype

Let us know what the dealer says. Mine has 600 miles on it, similar driving and temp. Getting 35mpg.

Have either of you ever owned a hybrid before? I notice you are both males in northern states. If you're young, male, in the north in cold weather and have never owned a hybrid, that's worth 10-15 mpg. There's a site, CleanMPG.com that has a lot of info about efficient driving. You might take a look there. This forum and Fordfusionforum.com have a lot of info that you can search for. I have posts on each that discuss this a lot. I am male and 75 in Florida and have averaged 41 mpg. in 48K miles in a 2010 FFH. I don't hypermile but I work at good economy.

[terryb]

Have either of you ever owned a hybrid before? I notice you are both males in northern states. If you're young, male, in the north in cold weather and have never owned a hybrid, that's worth 10-15 mpg. There's a site, CleanMPG.com that has a lot of info about efficient driving. You might take a look there. This forum and Fordfusionforum.com have a lot of info that you can search for. I have posts on each that discuss this a lot. I am male and 75 in Florida and have averaged 41 mpg. in 48K miles in a 2010 FFH. I don't hypermile but I work at good economy.

I get the feeling you're right on the mark in regard to a lot of the whining. I had up to 43 mpg during my 4000mi trip in August. The '10 hybrid hates cold weather and doesn't like hot weather, but with temperate weather the norm on the trip it did fine up to 70 and it really liked drafing although the 18 wheelers weren't to fond of me disappearing from their mirrors.I anticipate being able to get near the EPA after some breakin and gretting used to new clues.TerryB

 

T

[Ric]

I get the feeling you're right on the mark in regard to a lot of the whining. I had up to 43 mpg during my 4000mi trip in August. The '10 hybrid hates cold weather and doesn't like hot weather, but with temperate weather the norm on the trip it did fine up to 70 and it really liked drafing although the 18 wheelers weren't to fond of me disappearing from their mirrors.I anticipate being able to get near the EPA after some breakin and gretting used to new clues.TerryB

 

T

 

Not trying to be sarcastic, but: I don't believe the EPA included drafting semi's when they set the 47/47 mpg rating. Although drafting works some what, I don't believe it is safe. If you were ever behind a semi when a trailer tire blew, you would know what I mean. If the semi driver can't see you in his mirrors he doesn't know your there. I do not have a lead foot, drive carefully and safely. We hope the mpg improves once we have more miles on. If it does not, we will contact our dealer to see why. Otherwise we really like the FFH. Nice ride and good amenities.

[lolder]

Here are some hybrid driving tips:

1. Accelerate moderately with STEADY accelerator pressure. Do not try to keep tight spacing on the vehicle ahead.

2. Keep the number of ICE starts and stops to a minimum and avoid EV mode. Use EV for low speed, coasting and transient power demands.

3. Look ahead as far as you can see to traffic signals and coast to the next green. Brake early and lightly. Get your brake score to 100 %.

4. Turn off AC ( compressor ) in moderate temperatures and use ventilation. Don't use heat until ICE warms up from driving. Don't freeze either.

5. Keep to speed limits. Don't draft closely. Gains of 2-4 mpg. can be seen from drafting a van or SUV at proper highway spacing.

6. Keep tire pressures up. 40 psi. is a good compromise.

7. Don't drive in cold, rainy, windy weather, move to Florida

8. Have fun. The Ford hybrid is a high tech toy. Don't have an accident watching the video game.

Edited December 3, 2012 by lolder

[salprint]

Here are some hybrid driving tips:

1. Accelerate moderately with STEADY accelerator pressure. Do not try to keep tight spacing on the vehicle ahead.

2. Keep the number of ICE starts and stops to a minimum and avoid EV mode. Use EV for low speed, coasting and transient power demands.

3. Look ahead as far as you can see to traffic signals and coast to the next green. Brake early and lightly. Get your brake score to 100 %.

4. Turn off AC ( compressor ) in moderate temperatures and use ventilation. Don't use heat until ICE warms up from driving. Don't freeze either.

5. Keep to speed limits. Don't draft closely. Gains of 2-4 mpg. can be seen from drafting a van or SUV at proper highway spacing.

6. Keep tire pressures up. 40 psi. is a good compromise.

7. Don't drive in cold, rainy, windy weather, move to Florida

8. Have fun. The Ford hybrid is a high tech toy. Don't have an accident watching the video game.

A lot of good suggestions. I've made some of the same suggestions here and on the C-Max Forum. Most of the responses have been that "its too much trouble" or "I shouldn't have to drive the car special to achieve the advertised gas milage". Its typical, people expect it to be exactly as advertised without any effort on their part. In my way of thinking common sense tells me that it just doesn't work that way.

[Nmadole]

I've said this before and I'll say it again ... Every car I have ever owned has got within 2 mpg of its EPA rating with very little effort. There is no reason the hybrid should be different. Normal driving is normal driving... I am getting 15 mpg below EPA rating (90% average braking score). I can understand - 5-8 mpg for cold weather (40 degrees) but -15 mpg is ridiculous. All the cars coaching feature are indicating that I am driving just about as good a I can... Still no improvement

[B25Nut]

Since the majority of my miles have been at speeds around 75 mph, I have a 36.1 lifetime average after 1,700 miles. Last night's commute home at speeds between 65-70 got 42 mpg. This morning the return trip got 38. My goal is to average 40 mpg. I won't drive 55 to get 47.

lolder: Why do you say to avoid EV mode? One of the techniques others have expressed is accelerating then abruptly backing off to get it into EV mode. I've been trying that for a few days, but I haven't seen a mpg improvement from it so far. Since it is winter, the engine is reluctant to shut off since it's still trying to keep the systems warm.

[salprint]

Nmadole...with all due respect, I understand what you are saying, but just humor me for a minute. I drive 30 miles one way each day to work and back. I average between 45-52 mpg. Today, I got 49.5. I drive pretty normal, I keep up with traffic, and I don't hesitate to go 65 or 70 mph if the traffic is moving well. But whenever I can I back off on the gas and let the EV kick in, and use it to maintain speed. Yes....it is doing something extra that I normally wouldn't do in a regular car. But this isn't a regular car. It is designed differently, and I believe that it has to be driven differently. With just a little bit of effort you could increase your milage by 10mpg. And I'm talking very little....its not like you have to change your whole way of driving. Again...I don't want to get into a pi**ing match with you, but I just ask that you open your mind a little and give it a try. If not...ok then. I hope you like the car anyway. I have the Fusion Hybrid and the C-Max hybrid and I love them both.

[Nmadole]

Nmadole...with all due respect, I understand what you are saying, but just humor me for a minute. I drive 30 miles one way each day to work and back. I average between 45-52 mpg. Today, I got 49.5. I drive pretty normal, I keep up with traffic, and I don't hesitate to go 65 or 70 mph if the traffic is moving well. But whenever I can I back off on the gas and let the EV kick in, and use it to maintain speed. Yes....it is doing something extra that I normally wouldn't do in a regular car. But this isn't a regular car. It is designed differently, and I believe that it has to be driven differently. With just a little bit of effort you could increase your milage by 10mpg. And I'm talking very little....its not like you have to change your whole way of driving. Again...I don't want to get into a pi**ing match with you, but I just ask that you open your mind a little and give it a try. If not...ok then. I hope you like the car anyway. I have the Fusion Hybrid and the C-Max hybrid and I love them both.

 

I am already doing everything you mentioned... like I mentioned my Acceleration, Braking, and Crusing Coaches are almost as high as they can go... I am driving very very conservitavly. If I drove my Hybrid like a normal car I would be in the high 20's .... something must be wrong with my car...

 

When I tried my very hardest I only got 41MPG... I have not seen any numbers higher than that.. and dont see how I could drive any more efficantly

Edited December 3, 2012 by Nmadole

[salprint]

Well...then maybe you are right...maybe there is something wrong with the car. I would get it checked.

[lolder]

All the energy on non-plug-in gas/electric hybrids comes from gasoline. When you use EV mode, there are more losses in the generate-charge-discharge-motor energy path than driving the wheels directly through gears. Only at lower speeds when the ICE efficiency decreases because it can't be loaded up enough does the EV cycle become more efficient. The cycling of EV mode at lower speeds is the least benefit of a hybrid. Bigger benefits are the regenerative braking and the transient EV assist during acceleration. These recover energy and allow a smaller ICE. They try to run the ICE almost as a highly loaded stationary generator would be run. The throttle is opened almost all the way all the time and the spark is advanced just short of knocking. It runs all the time just on the verge of "bucking" which used to happen when you were in too high a gear at low speed and hit the throttle too much in old cars. This is the most efficient operating regime for ICE's. Display your RPM and you'll find it's very low for a 2.0L engine. When you hit the accelerator, there is very little additional throttle opening available at the current RPM. The electric motor provides a transient pulse of torque until the computer speeds up the ICE. If you floor, it the motor will assist until the HVB gets low. It's very important to keep steady pedal pressure ( your energy demand input ) for the system.to run the ICE most efficiently. Look at this link about B.S.F.C.:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_specific_fuel_consumption

The Prius engine is in the chart. Fords are similar. The hybrids almost NEVER run the ICE unless they can be in the sweet spot for low BSFC at low rpm and high torque.

The first gen FFHs lose mileage at 0.2 mpg. / º F.. A fall from 60º to 40º F. costs 4 mpg. Every mph. increase costs 0.6 mpg. Speeding up from 70 mph. to 80 costs 6 mpg.

Good luck.

Edited December 5, 2012 by lolder

[corvairbob]

Have either of you ever owned a hybrid before? I notice you are both males in northern states. If you're young, male, in the north in cold weather and have never owned a hybrid, that's worth 10-15 mpg. There's a site, CleanMPG.com that has a lot of info about efficient driving. You might take a look there. This forum and Fordfusionforum.com have a lot of info that you can search for. I have posts on each that discuss this a lot. I am male and 75 in Florida and have averaged 41 mpg. in 48K miles in a 2010 FFH. I don't hypermile but I work at good economy.

 

 

 

when people get these cars they are trying to save on gas. first they pay 10k more for them which may not ever get repayed but then they don't figure they have to go back to school to learn how to drive a hybrid. sensible driving should account for savings with these hi tech models, otherwise what's the sense in getting one if you have to learn how to drive one. then you can jut get a cheaper model and drive it like a hybrid and see the savings at both ends. and when they do the mileage tests for the EPA they should not do a lab test but the real world test like the car is going to be in.

[corvairbob]

Here are some hybrid driving tips:

1. Accelerate moderately with STEADY accelerator pressure. Do not try to keep tight spacing on the vehicle ahead.

2. Keep the number of ICE starts and stops to a minimum and avoid EV mode. Use EV for low speed, coasting and transient power demands.

3. Look ahead as far as you can see to traffic signals and coast to the next green. Brake early and lightly. Get your brake score to 100 %.

4. Turn off AC ( compressor ) in moderate temperatures and use ventilation. Don't use heat until ICE warms up from driving. Don't freeze either.

5. Keep to speed limits. Don't draft closely. Gains of 2-4 mpg. can be seen from drafting a van or SUV at proper highway spacing.

6. Keep tire pressures up. 40 psi. is a good compromise.

7. Don't drive in cold, rainy, windy weather, move to Florida

8. Have fun. The Ford hybrid is a high tech toy. Don't have an accident watching the video game.

 

 

 

Here are some hybrid driving tips:

1. Accelerate moderately with STEADY accelerator pressure. Do not try to keep tight spacing on the vehicle ahead.

(get someone to pull you up to speed with a rope)

2. Keep the number of ICE starts and stops to a minimum and avoid EV mode. Use EV for low speed, coasting and transient power demands.

(take the ev battery out of the car after all if you avoid ev mode then that's just extra weight anyway)

3. Look ahead as far as you can see to traffic signals and coast to the next green. Brake early and lightly. Get your brake score to 100 %

(make sure you start to stop just after you go past the green light you went under, you don't want to wear out the car for gods sake.)

4. Turn off AC ( compressor ) in moderate temperatures and use ventilation. Don't use heat until ICE warms up from driving. Don't freeze either.

(get a car with no a/c or heat after all they use energy and we can't get good fuel economy using these modern conveniences now.)

5. Keep to speed limits. Don't draft closely. Gains of 2-4 mpg. can be seen from drafting a van or SUV at proper highway spacing

(can't do much drafting at 3 car lengths doing 70 down the road. I guess that why the nascar drivers tailgate doing 120 on the track)

6. Keep tire pressures up. 40 psi. is a good compromise.

(yes inflate those tires and the next time you have to panic stop the hard tires will slip and allow you to leave those black marks on the road so the cops can measure them to make sure you did in fact try to stop.)

7. Don't drive in cold, rainy, windy weather, move to Florida

(yes lest all move to Florida after all that is the climate they made these cars for in the first place. the way it sounds these cars should not even be sold in a climate that is not 65 deg year around anyway)

8. Have fun. The Ford hybrid is a high tech toy. Don't have an accident watching the video game.

(the only sensible stamen here.)

[corvairbob]

I've said this before and I'll say it again ... Every car I have ever owned has got within 2 mpg of its EPA rating with very little effort. There is no reason the hybrid should be different. Normal driving is normal driving... I am getting 15 mpg below EPA rating (90% average braking score). I can understand - 5-8 mpg for cold weather (40 degrees) but -15 mpg is ridiculous. All the cars coaching feature are indicating that I am driving just about as good a I can... Still no improvement

 

 

yes I agree. I have a Hyundai sonata hybrid the dealer and sticker maintain the car gets 35 city 40 highway have never seen more that 32 highway 27 city. we don't drive fast we accelerate sensible watch for red lights and brake to save the pads. so now they say we have to relearn how to drive a hybrid. I say bu@#$% the car should get the mileage they say with sensible driving. not be de rated because it gets to cold or to hot. we all don't live on an island of paradise. we live in the real world and the car should have the mileage ratings for the real world not the lab. you can bet I will not give the hybrid cars any good marks. like you a am sorely disappointed in this hy tech technology.

[corvairbob]

I am already doing everything you mentioned... like I mentioned my Acceleration, Braking, and Crushing Coaches are almost as high as they can go... I am driving very very conservatively. If I drove my Hybrid like a normal car I would be in the high 20's .... something must be wrong with my car...

 

When I tried my very hardest I only got 41MPG... I have not seen any numbers higher than that.. and don’t see how I could drive any more efficantly

 

 

ask that guy to trade cars with you and challenge him to get your car up to the miles he gets? I did this with a geo metro once and I could not get any takers. they all told me they got 45 to 55 mpg with their cars I had 7 of them and none got over 30. I finally gave up and sold all of them because they all were in a pi@#$%^ contest to see who could say they were getting better mileage. these people all tell us we don't know how to drive. the car is different. don't do this and that. it is a car it should not break and all parts should work as stated. would not have to inflate the tires rock hard coast 3/4's of the way to a red light (but is better on mpg's) and drive 55 on the x-way. I drive 60 and still don't see the differences they all claim to get. I get better mileage with my cobalt 30 plus on the x-way doing 60 mph. and a get the 1 finger salute almost every day from people that get stuck behind me. so I'm on your side with this one. bp.

 

 

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[salprint]

If you mean me by "that guy" I have nothing to prove, I was just trying to help Nmadole. What I say I get in milage is what I get. If you don't believe me, than I'm sorry. So....whatever. I'll try to mind my own business from now on and not try to help people.

[B25Nut]

salprint: Don't give up. You can't please everybody. I've given up on trying to give my wife "helpful" suggestions.

corvairbob: I didn't pay 10K more for a hybrid. It cost me an additional $3,100 to go with SE Hybrid over the cost of the 1.6 SE. Even if the 1.6 wasn't having problems, I would still think I made the right choice.

lolder: Thank you for the great information! The link you provided didn't work, however. I'm still a little confused. You ended by stating "The hybrids almost NEVER run the ICE unless they can be in the sweet spot for low BSFC at low rpm and high torque". From what you said previously, you imply that I should not try to get my Fusion to run on EV mode if I'm around 60 mph. Applying what you've said, it seems I should save the battery charge for boosting acceleration and for EV operation at lower speeds, with steady pedal pressure being the most important factor for higher MPG.

 

[neevers1]

I got 47mpg on the way home about a 20 mile trip. It's sitting at 45mpg and almost 60 miles on the odometer.

[lolder]

salprint: Don't give up. You can't please everybody. I've given up on trying to give my wife "helpful" suggestions.

corvairbob: I didn't pay 10K more for a hybrid. It cost me an additional $3,100 to go with SE Hybrid over the cost of the 1.6 SE. Even if the 1.6 wasn't having problems, I would still think I made the right choice.

lolder: Thank you for the great information! The link you provided didn't work, however. I'm still a little confused. You ended by stating "The hybrids almost NEVER run the ICE unless they can be in the sweet spot for low BSFC at low rpm and high torque". From what you said previously, you imply that I should not try to get my Fusion to run on EV mode if I'm around 60 mph. Applying what you've said, it seems I should save the battery charge for boosting acceleration and for EV operation at lower speeds, with steady pedal pressure being the most important factor for higher MPG.

 

YES.

Try This:

http://www.wikipedia...uel_consumption

The little contour areas in the upper part in the chart about a page down in the article are the sweet spots. You can research where eCVT hybrid Atkinson cycle ICE's run. Torque is the vertical axis and rpm the horizontal. They try to run right below the torque limit line at the top at the lowest rpm for the horsepower ( torque X RPM ) required. The EV components and operation are devoted to making the ICE run as efficiently as possible and as seldom as possible ( coasting, stopped, etc. ). There are also about 6-8 other reasons why the system may run the ICE.

For better or worse, you cannot drive Ford hybrids like regular cars. You'll still get better mileage than non-hybrids. If you do alter your driving habits, you can usually reach or exceed the EPA numbers.

All new hybrid owners taking delivery in the Fall have problems reaching high mpgs as cold, windy, rainy weather approaches. Your old cars had difficulty too except you didn't notice it. Usually your fuel flow is only about a gallon an hour. That's nearly 1/3 of what you were used to.

Persevere.

Edited December 5, 2012 by lolder

[DeeCee]

Did my first fill-up today. For 440 miles it took 9.8 gal. for an actual of 44.9mpg. Not too shabby for the first go. My Lifetime Summary reading is 46.6mpg. I did a Lifetime reset at about 50 miles. I use ACC whenever I can. It seems the computer can use the throttle a lot more effeciently than my foot. Will be interested to see the effect of cooler temps this winter. We are having a warm spell lately with the temps in the mid to upper 60's an an occasional low 70's

[acdii]

I think those of us having low MPG may have the wrong tires on the car. Please post what tires are installed, those who are seeing good numbers, and those who aren't. I really should be seeing much better than 35 MPG when I get 40 in my 2010, and the only thing I can see that may be the problem are the Goodyear Eagles that are installed on it.

[Ric]

Interesting: Mine are: Goodyear Eagles LS2, M/S 235/45R18.