Ford Virtual Lunch Date

[hybridbear]

Has anyone else been contacted by JLA Research or Team Detroit about their experiences with their FFHs? JLA Research has been hired by Ford to do some of their marketing research.

 

I was contacted and interviewed via Skype by JLA Research and then was invited to a Virtual Lunch Date with Gil Portalatin from Ford to talk about the Fusion Hybrid. Gil's job title is "Hybrid Systems Application Manager". There were a few other people on the video chat with Gil and we were all allowed to ask questions about Ford Hybrids during the 45 minutes or so that we were online.

 

I wish we had been given more time with Gil as I could easily have filled up an hour or two myself asking him questions about the powertrain in the new Fusion. One of the things I did ask him about that might shed some insight into the MPG variation has to do with how the FFH powertrain differs from the Prius and Camry Hybrids' powertrains.

 

For example, from test driving the Camry Hybrid and riding with a friend who has a Prius, I have noticed that the Toyota Hybrids almost never operate with the ICE off except at very low speeds. You can cruise through a parking lot in a Toyota Hybrid in EV mode, but not much more than that. Also, under acceleration the ICE kicks in almost immediately in a Toyota Hybrid even under gentle acceleration. Then the ICE and Electric Motor work together for acceleration. Even at cruising speeds the ICE is still running, just under a very light load.

 

In contrast in the FFH I've noticed that rarely do the ICE & Electric Motor work in tandem, it's almost always one or the other. The only time I see both working together is under heavy load or cruising on the highway when the Hybrid Battery is full.

 

Having noted this difference I asked Gil about why there is such a difference. He said that Ford did mapping of the most efficient ranges of operation for the ICE and the Electric Motor and then wrote their code to maximize the most efficient ranges of each engine. He wouldn't really expound beyond that and because there were other people in the group I wasn't given the opportunity to press him for more details.

 

Comparing his statements with the real world results makes me think that the Toyota ICE is much more fuel efficient than the Ford ICE and that therein lies the discrepancy in fuel economy.

 

Gil also said that right now he is driving the production version of the Fusion Energi and that his team is down in Mexico doing training at the plant so that they can begin production of the Energi.

 

He also said that when he drove the Fusion and C-Max before they went into production he was able to get over 60 MPG averages consistently in each vehicle. Take that with a grain of salt though, Gil was one of the Ford employees who drove the old FFH in the 1000-mile challenge and did so well. See the article referenced below.

http://www.automobilemag.com/green/news/0907_ford_fusion_hybrid_1000_mile_challenge_high_mileage_tips/

 

[jeff_h]

I would have been interested, have now driven 280k miles between the Prius and FFHs. But then again so has Acdii with both Prius and two FFHs, however I don't think they would want to talk with him (but should).

Edited February 7, 2013 by jeff_h

[B25Nut]

I was contacted by JBL Reseach back in October before I got my FFH. They did a Skype interview about why I chose the Fusion. I don't do well with such things. They were looking for a bubbly personality so they didn't use the interview.

I don't think it's correct to say the TCH's ICE is "much" more effecient. It can probable be rated more effecient. I actually see the ICE and EV working together quite often. That's the main reason I like to use the Engage display so that I can more clearly see when they are.

[Riggo]

I posted the video of this in the News section of this forum around 1 pm today

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/5984-video-with-ford-fusion-hybrid-engineer/

[hybridbear]

When I've watched the Engage display I don't see both motors working together often, it seems for my FFH it's mostly one or the other

Edited February 7, 2013 by hybridbear

[hybridbear]

I posted the video of this in the News section of this forum around 1 pm today

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/5984-video-with-ford-fusion-hybrid-engineer/

 

This is the video I am in

[acdii]

Yeah, I would give them an ear full that's for sure. Then challenge him to get 47 in my car.