Brand New Fusion Hybrid--Help with Mileage Please

[Adam Gilles]

I was in a car accident and my 2006 Fusion was totaled (not my fault and I am ok.) Anyway I got a good payout for my 2006 from Insurance company and went with the 2013 Fusion Hybrid as I wanted the 47 MPG.

 

I drive M-14 to 23 South from Plymouth to Milan 24 miles (48 Round trip) I have been really messing with how to get the best mileage.

 

When I got the car it was 24 mpg and that quickly went up as I am currently at 35.3, but can't seem to get above that.

 

I got the upgrade (per the letter from FORD) which allows Hybrid mode up to 80, and I have been trying to use cruise control often. When I sue cruise around 70-75 all the time. I hover around the high 30's. I did this for one week.

 

This week I am not using cruise just using the gas and no brake really unless I have to. It seems when I get to 75 then slowly back off and sort of "hover" it goes right into EV mode until the battery needs to charge or I go up a hill (often through A2.)

 

Of course I am going to read the forum extensively for tricks tips, but wanted to see if I could get a few quick ones. Also I see abbreviations all over the site, what do they mean??

 

edit: was jsut reading about resetting your MPG? since it had about 50 miles on it before I even got it??

 

Thanks again.

Edited September 10, 2013 by Adam Gilles

[dkegel]

You'll never get mid to high 40s at 75mph. Try 65. Also, your mileage will improve after several thousand miles.

 

Dave

[corncobs]

Hi Adam welcome to the FFH family.

 

You will find a couple pinned topics around the forum that will help with initial understanding of abbreviations and some basic best mileage tips and tricks.

 

It sounds like your new ride was used as a demo car? If so first of all reset all MPG avg. displays second you might be a candidate for the "hard reset" by disconnecting 12 V battery and HVB in order to start with default engine parameters.

 

Another important tip RELAX if you don't hit 47 MPG on your first day hybrid driving is different plus like Dave in the previous post said don't expect high 40's when going 70+ MPH.

 

Enjoy reading...

[djminfll]

It took me awhile, but I finally realized that the reason why I am not getting great mileage on the highway is because I-95 is constructed with the exits UNDER the highway instead of being done as an overpass. What this means is that the highway is constantly going on an incline over the exits, then going downhill. Mileage slips to the mid-20's on uphill, then 60+ on the downhill portion.

I started using the 30 minute monitor on MyView, and this helps achieve more consistency. I'm leaving additional drive time and avoiding highway driving - results are impressively improved.

 

 

 

 

[Skydogz]

It took me awhile, but I finally realized that the reason why I am not getting great mileage on the highway is because I-95 is constructed with the exits UNDER the highway instead of being done as an overpass. What this means is that the highway is constantly going on an incline over the exits, then going downhill. Mileage slips to the mid-20's on uphill, then 60+ on the downhill portion.

I started using the 30 minute monitor on MyView, and this helps achieve more consistency. I'm leaving additional drive time and avoiding highway driving - results are impressively improved.

 

 

 

 

Very nice! I was only able to get a 50+ mpg leg by adjusting my AC temp to 74F (was set at 68F), till then I could only get to just at 39mpg.

I see you 2013 summary has more/different info than my 2014 :(

[Adam Gilles]

I will also say I only have 1600 miles so far on the car. Bought it July 2, 2013 only filled up 3 times so far. I am a teacher so off in the summer. Did mostly local under 45 driving for the first month or so.

 

Today I am going to set ECO Cruise (just learned about it) and Reset Lifetime MPG. Now that I am back at work and doing more normal driving. We will see I guess.

[hybridbear]

I see you 2013 summary has more/different info than my 2014 :(

What does the Trip Summary on the 2014 show? I see in the pic in your signature that your Fuel History screen is formatted slightly differently. What we see is shown below.

[hybridbear]

I was in a car accident and my 2006 Fusion was totaled (not my fault and I am ok.) Anyway I got a good payout for my 2006 from Insurance company and went with the 2013 Fusion Hybrid as I wanted the 47 MPG.

 

I drive M-14 to 23 South from Plymouth to Milan 24 miles (48 Round trip) I have been really messing with how to get the best mileage.

 

When I got the car it was 24 mpg and that quickly went up as I am currently at 35.3, but can't seem to get above that.

 

I got the upgrade (per the letter from FORD) which allows Hybrid mode up to 80, and I have been trying to use cruise control often. When I sue cruise around 70-75 all the time. I hover around the high 30's. I did this for one week.

 

This week I am not using cruise just using the gas and no brake really unless I have to. It seems when I get to 75 then slowly back off and sort of "hover" it goes right into EV mode until the battery needs to charge or I go up a hill (often through A2.)

 

Of course I am going to read the forum extensively for tricks tips, but wanted to see if I could get a few quick ones. Also I see abbreviations all over the site, what do they mean??

 

edit: was jsut reading about resetting your MPG? since it had about 50 miles on it before I even got it??

 

Thanks again.

Welcome and congrats on your purchase! Glad you're ok from your accident with your old Fusion.

 

Check out the Welcome thread here. The Welcome thread has links to topics with tips to improve fuel economy and a wealth of other information.

 

You can find an Acronym Decoder thread here.

[dkegel]

What does the Trip Summary on the 2014 show? I see in the pic in your signature that your Fuel History screen is formatted slightly differently. What we see is shown below.

 

 

 

Yes, they added "Hold OK to Reset", I think in a couple places, to the 2014s.

 

Dave

[Adam Gilles]

This biggest issue I have is that between 60 and 70 when I turn on the cruise it never goes into EV. I did realize today that most of 23 and 94 is uphill on the way to work. I turned on ECO and reset my MPG and am hovering around 38 right now got 39 on the way to work today 30 miles. Still dont think with the hills around plymouth and AA that I will ever get to the mid 40's

[rjent]

This biggest issue I have is that between 60 and 70 when I turn on the cruise it never goes into EV. I did realize today that most of 23 and 94 is uphill on the way to work. I turned on ECO and reset my MPG and am hovering around 38 right now got 39 on the way to work today 30 miles. Still dont think with the hills around plymouth and AA that I will ever get to the mid 40's

Yes you will! Use the techniques taught here, and you can easily see 45 or more. Slow down, drive a mile ahead of yourself, use regen braking as much as possible, accelerate SLOWLY to speed when you can, keep it under 65 on the highway. You will see EPA. Takes time, You need to break in the car 6000 to 10000 miles :O, be patient, and most importantly, enjoy the car, it is an amazing feat of engineering!

 

Have fun! :)

Edited September 11, 2013 by rjent

[majorleeslow]

This biggest issue I have is that between 60 and 70 when I turn on the cruise it never goes into EV. I did realize today that most of 23 and 94 is uphill on the way to work. I turned on ECO and reset my MPG and am hovering around 38 right now got 39 on the way to work today 30 miles. Still dont think with the hills around plymouth and AA that I will ever get to the mid 40's

Uphill drives I look for the biggest air moving vehicular object (however small it may be) Thats close to the speed at what your driving. Draft that puppy at a very safe distance. All you need is some reduction in load so you can stay EV just a bit longer. I've had just one time before the update just under 55 mpg following a Suv for 20 miles. Again it will depend on the grade and wind conditions But this method can easily give you a few mpg boost.

 

Good luck and read on.

Edited September 12, 2013 by majorleeslow

[dkegel]

Draft that puppy at a very safe distance.

 

"Draft" and "very safe distance" are mutually exclusive. Unless you're within a car length or two of the vehicle in front of you, you are not gaining any benefit from a "draft".

 

Dave

Edited September 12, 2013 by dkegel

[acdii]

 

"Draft" and "very safe distance" are mutually exclusive. Unless you're within a car length or two of the vehicle in front of you, you are not gaining any benefit from a "draft".

 

Dave

Following a 2 second rule behind a flat bed trailer, you would be surprised at how much it can improve the FE. You don't need to be right on their ass to get the benefits, but within the envelope of their draft. You can get to where you can still see a mirror and still be within the envelope, and on the Adaptive Cruise, that is the second bar. Following behind a 48" van though, you are in the buffet zone, and that can actually hurt your FE. Empty, or low loaded flatbeds seem to work best.

[murphy]

It is stated quite often on the Nascar practice broadcasts, when practice qualifying runs are being done, that if you can see a car ahead there is a benefit from it. Of course they are running 170 to 200 mph so the air disturbance is considerably greater.

[dkegel]

It is stated quite often on the Nascar practice broadcasts, when practice qualifying runs are being done, that if you can see a car ahead there is a benefit from it. Of course they are running 170 to 200 mph so the air disturbance is considerably greater.

Yes, they are going three times faster than we are and they also punch a huge whole in the air. NASCAR aerodynamics don't really apply to a production car on the highway.

 

Dave

[B25Nut]

Creating a safe environment for driving will always have a higher priority for me than getting better mileage. I cringed when one poster stated they intentionally stay inside a pack of cars (which my dad used to call a covey of quail) to reduce aerodynamic drag. My goal every day is to adjust my speed so that I keep considerable distance between my FFH and other groups of cars. If I'm going to get into an accident, it will be caused by another driver. I know this sounds arrogant, but I can back it up with the fact I haven't had one accident in 46 years of driving.

Edited September 13, 2013 by B25Nut

[majorleeslow]

As a big racing fan I know for a fact that you can get benefit from drafting up to 7 car lenghts. Now these are racing cars. Real life GIANT VEHICULAR OBJECTS are several more times the cross section and impeding nook and crannies of a typical stream lined racing car. If I were to estimate, one could benefit even by a small % at about 10 car lengths at highway speeds.

 

Now if your in cross winds all bets are off. But I have had surprising good results at (safe) 2 seconds. Note that FooznH has one of the best brakes I've had in cars which helps too in case of surprises.

 

The EV Kw consumption gage is misleading while drafting, I usually end up pressing the gas pedal the same as not drafting but the final number is usually a lot more pleaseing.

Edited September 13, 2013 by majorleeslow