Ford Fusion Hybrid set to attempt to travel 1,000 miles on a single tank of gas
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery
How far can you get on a single tank of gas? That depends on such details as how much fuel you can fit in your tank, the efficiency of your vehicle and how much control you have over your bladder. Ford seems to think you can eke 1,000 miles out of a single tank of 87-octane with its new 2010 Fusion Hybrid – a figure that seems nearly impossible at first blush.
To meet this rather impressive goal, the aforementioned hybrid sedan would need to average 57 miles per gallon, an attainable figure since Ford's preliminary testing indicates the Fusion Hybrid can manage up to 70 mpg when driven by a hyper-miller like Wayne Gerdes, who will join NASCAR racer Carl Edwards and a few assorted engineers as drivers.
Ford estimates that it will take 43 hours to get from Mount Vernon, VA to Washington, DC – a trip of about 20 miles as the crow flies (yes, you read that right). In fact, the crew could almost make it to Miami, Florida, from their starting point in Virginia using that same tank of gas. Obviously, Ford has a meandering route in mind.
Besides attempting to prove how fuel efficient its hybrid is and how the way you drive is nearly as important as what you're driving, the Blue Oval will also be raising funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Full press release after the break.
Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
PRESS RELEASE:
Ford Team Aims To Drive 2010 Fusion Hybrid 1,000 Miles on a Single Tank of Gas
- The Ford Fusion Hybrid team will attempt to drive more than 1,000 miles for more than 43 continuous hours - on a single tank of gas, raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in the process
- The most fuel-efficient, mid-sized sedan in America - the Fusion Hybrid driven by a team of Ford hybrid engineers, a fuel efficiency expert and a NASCAR star, will have to achieve an average of at least 57 mpg on the challenge to reach its goal
- By using Eco-Driving techniques engineers have achieved 70 mpg during testing of the Ford Fusion Hybrid in preparation for the challenge
- Consumers can improve their own vehicle's fuel economy performance is by adopting Ford's "Eco-Driving" tips used for the 1,000-Mile Challenge
The 1,000-Mile Challenge starts at around 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, from Mount Vernon, Va., and ends the morning of Monday, April 27, in Washington, D.C. The team will drive for more than 43 hours continuously to reach the 1,000-mile goal. The drivers will do stints of between two and three hours each and will have regular breaks to ensure safe driving is maintained. Already rated as the most fuel-efficient, mid-sized sedan in America, the Fusion Hybrid will need to average at least 57 mpg to achieve its goal. During preliminary testing in preparation for this challenge, Ford engineers have reached as much as 70 mpg in the Fusion Hybrid by using Eco-Driving techniques.
The team will run clinics for media and customers over the weekend in the Fusion Hybrid, conducting interviews and vehicle demonstrations on how simple techniques can make a significant difference to real world fuel economy numbers.
The Fusion Hybrid being used in the challenge will be a factory produced model with no modifications or alterations and will run on regular 87 octane gas.
The team will be uploading regular images and video to YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/fordstory), Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordmotorcompany), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/people/Kristopher-Spencer/1228149870), Twitter (http://twitter.com/Ford), and www.media.ford.com.
Ford is taking on the 1,000-Mile Challenge for a number of reasons:
- To demonstrate Ford's commitment to be the best or amongst the best in fuel economy in every vehicle segment in which it competes;
- To highlight the crucial role the driver plays in maximizing fuel economy and demonstrate how consumers can make a difference through Eco-Driving;
- To raise awareness about Eco-Driving and how the Fusion Hybrid contributes to it with the ability to run up to 47 mph in pure electric mode; and
- To raise awareness and funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- Wayne Gerdes, the world-record breaking hypermiling champion and founder of www.cleanmpg.com;
- Carl Edwards, the NASCAR race star who recently bought his own 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid;
- Sherif Marakby, graduate of Maryland University and Ford hybrid chief engineer;
- Gil Portalatin, Ford hybrid applications manager and Ford Fusion Hybrid team leader;
- Tom Rolewicz, one of Ford's top calibration experts and hybrid system expert; and
- Steve Burke, Ford product expert on hybrid applications
The mileage-maximizing techniques that the Ford team will use and pass on to consumers include:
- Slowing down and maintaining even throttle pressure;
- Gradually accelerating and smoothly braking;
- Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and anticipating traffic conditions;
- Coasting up to red lights and stop signs to avoid fuel waste and brake wear;
- Minimize use of heater and air conditioning to reduce the load on the engine;
- Close windows at high speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag;
- Applying the "Pulse and Glide" technique while maintaining the flow of traffic;
- Minimize excessive engine workload by using the vehicle's kinetic forward motion to climb hills, and use downhill momentum to build speed; and
- Avoiding bumps and potholes that can reduce momentum
Click here (http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=28946) for more Eco-Driving tips
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 213,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's wholly owned brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Sektor 11:33AM (4/22/2009)
It's entirely possible; I hypermiled my EPA estimated 21mpg car to 500+ miles on a single tank.
Reply
fixitfixitstop 12:19PM (4/22/2009)
What size fuel tank?
Quantumphysics 12:45PM (4/22/2009)
So now I'm gonna end up having to rocket around a bunch of hypermiler snails at speeds upwards of 75mph to get where I want to go huh?
RITmusic2k 1:55PM (4/22/2009)
Quantum, do you *have to* do 75mph to get where you're going, really?
How about you *have to* leave ten minutes earlier if it bothers you that much, but you *want to* drive at 75mph anyway.
Smegley 2:11PM (4/22/2009)
I hypermiled ine tank in an Audi A4 1.9TDi to just over 1,300km, or about 800 miles. I routed thru Italy mostly on country roads thru small towns and villages and it was a beautiful.
Bob 1:26PM (4/23/2009)
I've hypermiled my gas guzzling jeep to 515 miles on a single tank + reserve fuel still left (3-4 gallons)...21.1 gallon tank
Anything is possible.
nardvark 11:37AM (4/22/2009)
Question: In a hybrid, is it actually better to let your car coast to intersections? If you are going to have to slow down, isn't it better to dump some of your energy into the regenerative braking system?
Reply
phooky 11:41AM (4/22/2009)
Either way, don't you need to brake at some point before the red light? Assuming it stays red, of course. And if it turned green as you were coming up to it, braking before would have been a waste.
nardvark 11:57AM (4/22/2009)
Well it's more a question of whether gradual or hard braking is most efficient. It is my understanding that the regenerating braking system can take almost all of the energy back under light braking, but if you have to do hard braking, the physical brakes (rotors or drums) kick in. So if you were going to brake either way, wouldn't you be better off lightly braking over a long distance?
This is assuming that you don't misread the situation, and brake when you don't have to.
Joe K. 11:57AM (4/22/2009)
Coasting activates the regenerative process too, so I would say coasting is still better since any added friction from the brake pads will result in wasted energy.
laser 11:39AM (4/22/2009)
While GM and Chrysler are spending time avoiding or planning for bankruptcy, Ford highlights its product through an event that will advertise its capabilities and to give customers a reason to buy a Ford.
Some companies have it. Some companies just don't get it.
Today's Ford gets it and is not ashamed to show it!
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 11:43AM (4/22/2009)
I don't think the two thing you list are comparable.
GM and Chrysler are working on their viability plans out of necessity. If Ford's future hinged on a viability plan, they'd be working on theirs too.
artso06 11:59AM (4/22/2009)
While i see your point LS2LS7 i agree completely with Laser. Its positive for Ford and although there in a different place than the other two they still are much more aggressive in SHOWING there product to the consumer. Example; GM had 2010 productions cars at a local auto show. The buick and the camero however you couldn't even breath on them or go near them because they were "preproduction". These are the cars that while bring people back to the show rooms and they couldn't even show the product cuz some one might scuff the interior??? Its not right. Any normal time preproduction is preproduction however the game of just promissing words and showing us pictures of the products we could have if GM survives isn't enough.
Ford if anything gets; positive message + solid product (doesn't even have to be the best) = sales and TRUST.
cdwrx 5:32PM (4/22/2009)
@LS2LS7,
Ford's future does depend on its viability plan. It just isn't so bad at managing its own business that it has to prove it to the government.
Matt 2:52AM (4/23/2009)
I think the thing to remember is that Ford began it's restructuring a ways before GM (and especially Chrysler), and did so much more drastically.
I'm a GM man, admittedly, but I'll be darned if there isn't a single new Ford first drive/ABG or reveal that I've read, detailing a new model year, where I wasn't wholly impressed by the acheivements and advancedments made from the previous year or generation.
We just went and looked at the new Stang and Fusion today, for the heck of it, and wow... how can you say no? And sorry, but 34 MPG highway in the Fusion/Milan non-hybrid is ridiculously impressive.
zamafir 11:41AM (4/22/2009)
Dooo It. Take that Audi A8 TDI!
Reply
racewithferrari 7:32PM (4/22/2009)
Clarkson did 800 miles in a single tank in diesel in A8 TDI, and also the fuel tank in A8 is probabley larger than Fusion.
I wish Ford best of luck !
Zach 11:53AM (4/22/2009)
Probably bigger? Its a full size executive sedan.
PyRo1509 11:42AM (4/22/2009)
Lame, Clarkson already did this in a Jag
Reply
Will 11:50AM (4/22/2009)
Was it a $27000 Jag?