Brand new owner of a Ruby Red Energi Titanium

[Earthdog]

Just got my new Energi Titanium Ruby Red. drove 60 miles home and got a whooping 78mpg. I think I am going to love this car!!! ust wanted to say Hello!

[DeeCee]

Congrats and enjoy.

[acdii]

Very nice! Wishing I could swing one, but guess will have to stick with what can be afforded! :)

[rjent]

Man am I jealous!!!!! I almost ordered a energi but opted for a HyTi. Sounds like the energi was a good choice!!!

[djminfll]

Wow, that makes even the best of the hybrid mpg sound mediocre!

Good luck, and please post pictures?

[jeff_h]

Just got my new Energi Titanium Ruby Red. drove 60 miles home and got a whooping 78mpg. I think I am going to love this car!!! Just wanted to say Hello!

 

I thought about getting one and would have if there was a place to charge at the office (I asked about this 2 years ago, crickets)... since my commute is 60 miles I figured it would not be worth it, but 78 MPG on the 'out' trip would be pretty darn good with starting with a full charge. I wonder what MPG one would get on the 'back' trip when the HVB had not been connected to the charger.

[tombarker13ffh]

Welcome! Did you get the 3-hour charger? How much does that setup cost?

[Boat Racer]

Very impressive mileage. Congratulations!!

[dlramon]

I thought about getting one and would have if there was a place to charge at the office (I asked about this 2 years ago, crickets)... since my commute is 60 miles I figured it would not be worth it, but 78 MPG on the 'out' trip would be pretty darn good with starting with a full charge. I wonder what MPG one would get on the 'back' trip when the HVB had not been connected to the charger.

I second that wonder - my commute is 72 miles and figured the energi's extra cost couldn't be justified because of poor return trip mpg. Assuming the HVB (hybrid vehicle battery?) was discharged beyond the point where it is not able to provide energy to the electric motor (would be the case if car had been in all electric mode AND the mileage after leaving home charger was > 21 miles), than all energy must be provided by gasoline. It seems that for commutes beyond 21 miles, all electric mode should be avoided. Comments?

Edited March 18, 2013 by dlramon

[acdii]

Plan your trip so that you can utilize the EV mode where most appropriate, such as city traffic. Don't waste it on the highway or above 45 MPH.

[TX NRG]

Assuming the HVB (hybrid vehicle battery?) was discharged beyond the point where it is not able to provide energy to the electric motor (would be the case if car had been in all electric mode AND the mileage after leaving home charger was > 21 miles), than all energy must be provided by gasoline. ..Comments?

 

 

The “full” or conventional HEV version of the Fusion has a battery pack rated at 1.4 kWh. The plug-in Energi's is rated at 7.6 kWh however it dedicates 6.5 kWh of that for EV range (the ~21 miles) and allows a residual of 1.1 kWh for HEV operation. So after the initial plug-in charge is depleted, it should operate similar to the hybrid with somewhat reduced MPG due to the ~300 extra pounds and 0.3 kWh less in hybrid battery power.

 

[acdii]

It is also geared different from the non NRG as it can reach 82 or so on EV alone. That reduces the MPG too. 43 is probably going to be a more realistic number in this car too once the pack is low.

[dlramon]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="TX NRG" data-cid="46076" data-time="1363683398">The “full” or conventional HEV version of the Fusion has a battery pack rated at 1.4 kWh. The plug-in Energi's is rated at 7.6 kWh however it dedicates 6.5 kWh of that for EV range (the ~21 miles) and allows a residual of 1.1 kWh for HEV operation. So after the initial plug-in charge is depleted, it should operate similar to the hybrid with somewhat reduced MPG due to the ~300 extra pounds and 0.3 kWh less in hybrid battery power.</blockquote>
<p>The above data makes it necessary to recalculate whether the cost of gas payback vs additional Energi retail cost justifies its purchase.  In my case I spend about $75/wk for gas, assuming normal work week and weekend drive miles while driving my Toyota Tacoma pick-up => [((72 mi x 5 (work)) + 50 mi x 1 (weekend)) x (gal/20mi) x ($3.80/gal) x (52 wks/yr) x 6 yrs = $24,304.80.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Assuming I replace the Toyota Tacoma with a Ford Fusion Energi  =>[[((21 mi x 5 (work)) + 50 mi x 1 (weekend)) x (gal/78mi) x ($3.80/gal) x (52 wks/yr) x 6 yrs] +  [(51 mi x 5 (work)) x (gal/43mi) x ($3.80/gal) x (52 wks/yr) x 6 yrs]] = $2,356 + $7,031 = $9,387</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Wow, but not so fast: $24,305 - $9387 = $14,918 but this savings in gas money must account for at least the time value of additional money required for Energi minus Federal rebate for the EV plug-in.  Ford Fusion Energi is approximately $7,000 more than Ford Fusion Hybrid (assuming Titaniums are compared - $39K vs. $32K but this is probably relative for SE's).  Assuming, loan rate APR = 2.8%, $7000 costs $612.56; therefore, $14,918 - $612 = $14,306 is gas cost savings over 6 years.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Assuming the Ford Fusion Hybrid in place of the Energi = > [((72 mi x 5 (work)) + 50 mi x 1 (weekend)) x (gal/43mi) x ($3.80/gal) x (52 wks/yr) x 6 yrs = $11,304.55.  Total gas cost difference Tacoma vs. Hybrid: $24,305 - $11,305 = $13,000. Difference in gas savings between Energi and Hybrid: $14, 306 - $13,000 = $1,306 total gas savings difference.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The above would imply that the extra cost for the Energi can't be paid back in a 6 year time frame unless the Federal rebate applies to the Energi and also that it is at least $5.5K.</p>

Edited March 20, 2013 by dlramon

[acdii]

For your cost savings comparison, going from a gas guzzler to a highly fuel efficient vehicle, the savings are extraordinary, but if you go from a car that gets OK gas mileage, say 28-30 MPG, the savings dont add up as well. Considering that when I first went green I was driving a Crown Vic that got 20 MPG and an F350 that got 14 MPG, then suddenly went to 53 MPG, the savings alone covered the car payment and insurance. When you look at it in that sense, works out great, but if I were to go for it now, it would not be cost effective to go from 38 MPG that my current 2010 gets to the Energi. So it is all relevant. You know what you spend now in gas, and even if you only get 38 MPG in the new one, you already know the savings will be huge. The higher that number goes the savings are even better.

 

 

You will love that car when you get it!

[jeff_h]

The above would imply that the extra cost for the Energi can't be paid back in a 6 year time frame unless the Federal rebate applies to the Energi and also that it is at least equal to $3K.

 

You noted you have a 72 mile commute. Since I have a 60 mile commute my thinking was that if I had recharge capability on each end that I would have gone for the Energi. I met with the COO of my company almost 2 years ago and said hey how about putting one in, but no dice. So do you have a way to recharge on each end of the trip?