Will a Hybrid Do Well in My Commute?

[Phil3]

I very much like the Ford Fusion Hybrid (FFH), but am unsure how well it might do in the kind of commute traffic and conditions I see. I know it can be impossible to accurately predict, but after reading various posts here, I am unsure now if a hybrid or diesel may work best.

 

My commute is about 100 miles a day. It may take 75 - 90 minutes each way, sometimes noticeably longer. Of that 90 minutes, about half the time, traffic is moving quite slowly on the freeway, moving from 0 to maybe 30, sometimes staying relatively steady as we creep along, sometimes back and forth in speed. Often times, the speed is steady, but slow. The other half of the commute time is moving at pretty much normal freeway speeds. That would favor a diesel. The car will also be used for regular non-commute duty and that will be about 2/3 freeway, 1/3 in town. I am not sure then if a diesel or hybrid is best. I am leaning to the FFH since it seems with practice, it can do very well, regular gas is cheaper than diesel, and the FFH will deliver superior mileage in those heavy traffic situations.

 

I intend to accurately measure the attributes of my commute, in time, average speed, etc, but the info here is a good start.

 

Thank you.

 

Phil

[rjent]

Phil,

I actually thing your commute will work quite to the hybrid's favor. The slow and stop and go is what a hybrid likes. When you go fast (you didn't say what the speeds are going to be) assuming 70, you can still get close to 40. I think your average will be in the mid 40's and maybe more.

 

While I don't envy your commute, I would suggest the hybrid over the diesel for a lot of reasons.

 

JMHO

 

Dick

[corncobs]

Phil,

I actually thing your commute will work quite to the hybrid's favor. The slow and stop and go is what a hybrid likes. When you go fast (you didn't say what the speeds are going to be) assuming 70, you can still get close to 40. I think your average will be in the mid 40's and maybe more.

 

While I don't envy your commute, I would suggest the hybrid over the diesel for a lot of reasons.

 

JMHO

 

Dick

+1 on the Hybrid

 

My commute is very similar except it's not quite as long only 40 miles each way.

For the slow portion I probably average around 60 MPG for the freeway around 40 MPG for a combined 52-55 MPG

 

...Under ideal conditions!

 

Use of A/C; heater; elevation changes and traffic patterns will likely trigger the YMWV disclaimer.

 

One thing you would need to manage is to charge the HVB when you can while in stop and go. Kick in the ICE when you are low on charge and you can tell it's going to move for more than a few feet.

 

This will obviously not always work but if you keep an eye on it it will yield better mileage.

 

Best of all enjoy the ride.

[jeffo65]

 

Will a Hybrid Do Well in My Commute?

 

Yes

[mwr]

One thing you would need to manage is to charge the HVB when you can while in stop and go. Kick in the ICE when you are low on charge and you can tell it's going to move for more than a few feet.

How do you "kick in the ICE", and why would you want to do that rather than just let the FFH do it's thing re the ICE and HVB?

Edited December 23, 2014 by mwr

[corncobs]

How do you "kick in the ICE", and why would you want to do that rather than just let the FFH do it's thing re the ICE and HVB?

If in stop and go traffic I try not to start the ICE when it's going forward by a car length or two. If the SOC is low it will take longer for HVB to gain enough charge than it takes to move 100ft before the ICE shuts off again. Making it very inefficient.

 

So you are right I'm not really "kicking in the ICE" I rather avoid it until I see an "opening" where traffic moves far enough to recharge the HVB while moving and not standing.

 

Running the ICE while standing counts higher against your MPG because well you aren't moving.

 

It's a dumb game but sitting in a traffic jam I need something to do besides listening to music and the FFH has some cool games build in. :)

[hybridbear]

I very much like the Ford Fusion Hybrid (FFH), but am unsure how well it might do in the kind of commute traffic and conditions I see. I know it can be impossible to accurately predict, but after reading various posts here, I am unsure now if a hybrid or diesel may work best.

 

My commute is about 100 miles a day. It may take 75 - 90 minutes each way, sometimes noticeably longer. Of that 90 minutes, about half the time, traffic is moving quite slowly on the freeway, moving from 0 to maybe 30, sometimes staying relatively steady as we creep along, sometimes back and forth in speed. Often times, the speed is steady, but slow. The other half of the commute time is moving at pretty much normal freeway speeds. That would favor a diesel. The car will also be used for regular non-commute duty and that will be about 2/3 freeway, 1/3 in town. I am not sure then if a diesel or hybrid is best. I am leaning to the FFH since it seems with practice, it can do very well, regular gas is cheaper than diesel, and the FFH will deliver superior mileage in those heavy traffic situations.

 

I intend to accurately measure the attributes of my commute, in time, average speed, etc, but the info here is a good start.

 

Thank you.

 

Phil

I see that you're in California. Have you looked at the Energi? The PHEVs come with a CA state rebate and carpool lane access at no cost. With these incentives many have been able to get an Energi for less than the Hybrid. The Energi would beat the Hybrid in fuel efficiency because you could use the battery range during those slow portions of the freeway as well as the city driving to achieve minimum fuel use & costs.