Ford Fusion Hybrid pedals its way to 1,445 miles on a single tank
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery
The Ford Fusion Hybrid we talked about yesterday, the one that had as of our last report cleared 1,000 miles on its hypermiling publicity stunt, has finally reached the end of the road its fuel supply. The final number: 1,445 miles on a single tank of gas.
For the high-mileage odyssey, the Fusion hybrid was pushed to an average of 81.5 mpg. Even considering that hypermiling techniques were employed to reach these numbers, we're quite impressed, as the event took place on city streets and public freeways, not on a closed course. Better still, the entire 69-hour event raised $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. You can read the details of how the driving teams managed the 80 mpg in the official press release after the jump – and no, they didn't find a thousand-mile downhill road. Thanks to everyone for the tips!
Gallery: Ford Fusion hybrid hypermiling test
[Source: Ford]
PRESS RELEASE:
FUSION HYBRID AVERAGES 81.5 MPG, SETS WORLD RECORD WITH 1,445 MILES ON SINGLE TANK OF GAS
The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid 1,000 Mile Challenge Car
* Drivers trained in mileage-maximizing techniques achieve 1,445 miles on a single tank of gas in a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid – averaging 81.5 mpg in Washington, D.C. – and set world record for gasoline-powered, midsize sedan
* The Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challenge proves that fuel-efficient driving techniques can nearly double a vehicle's EPA-rated fuel economy
* The demonstration of the Fusion Hybrid's ultra high-mileage potential also raised more than $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
WASHINGTON, April 28, 2009 – Drivers trained in mileage-maximizing techniques such as smooth acceleration and coasting to red lights were able to get an extraordinary 1,445.7 miles out of a single tank of gas during a fund-raising effort in Washington, D.C. that concluded today. They did it by averaging 81.5 miles per gallon in an off-the-showroom floor, non-modified 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, the most fuel-efficient midsize car in North America – nearly doubling its U.S. certified mileage.
The Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challenge started at 8:15 a.m. EDT on Saturday, April 25, from Mount Vernon, Va., and ended this morning at 5:37 a.m. on George Washington Parkway in Washington, D.C. After more than 69 continuous hours of driving, the Fusion Hybrid finally depleted its tank and came to a stop with an odometer reading of 1,445.7 miles – setting a world record for gasoline-powered, midsize sedan.
The challenge team, which included NASCAR star Carl Edwards, high mileage trailblazer Wayne Gerdes and several Ford Motor Company engineers, raised more than $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) by exceeding the goal of 1,000 miles on a single tank of gas. The Fusion Hybrid's official estimated range is approximately 700 miles per tank.
"Not only does this demonstrate the Fusion Hybrid's fuel efficiency, it also shows that driving technique is one of the keys to maximizing its potential," said Nancy Gioia, director, Ford Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs. "The fact that we were able raise much needed funds for JDRF while raising the bar on fuel efficient driving performance made the effort doubly worthwhile."
Maximizing mileage
A team of seven drivers prepared for the challenge by learning a few mileage-maximizing techniques, most of which can be used in any vehicle to improve fuel economy, but are especially useful in the Fusion Hybrid where the driver can take advantage of pure electric energy at speeds below 47 mph.
CleanMPG.com founder Wayne Gerdes, an engineer from Illinois who coined the term "hypermiling" to describe the mileage-maximizing techniques, provided the pointers. They 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
"You become very aware of your driving because you're constantly looking for opportunities to maximize mileage, and a more aware driver is a safer driver, too," said Gil Portalatin, Ford hybrid applications manager.
In addition, it is important for Fusion Hybrid drivers to manage the battery system's state of charge through the use of regenerative braking and coasting, and balancing the use of the electric motor and gas engine in city driving to avoid wasting fuel.
Fusion Hybrid drivers also can stay more connected to the hybrid driving experience with Ford's SmartGaugeTM with EcoGuide, a unique instrument cluster that helps coach drivers on how to optimize performance of their hybrid.
The Challenge
The Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challenge team took turns driving several routes in and around the national capital over the course of approximately three days and nights. The route involved elevation changes, and ranged from the relatively open George Washington Parkway to a 3-mile stretch in the heart of the city that is clogged with roughly 30 traffic signals.
"The Fusion Hybrid works brilliantly," Gerdes said. "When you don't need acceleration power while driving around town, the gas engine shuts down seamlessly. There's not another hybrid drivetrain in the world that does that as effectively. The Fusion engineering team really knocked it out of the park."
Ford NASCAR star Carl Edwards took time away from the high speed world of professional car racing to contribute to the Fusion Hybrid team's success in D.C.
"It was exciting to be an active part in this challenge. The fact that it will help spread the word about the Fusion Hybrid's great mileage, and help out a great charity, makes it even more special," said Edwards, whose '99' team has used fuel-saving techniques to win races. "There's no question that the Fusion Hybrid will help consumers save fuel when they drive it. Having driven the car, I feel strongly about how great it is – so strong that I've purchased one myself."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Chineyz 6:03PM (4/29/2009)
Wow..Looks like someone won a dungeons and dragons contest.
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havoc 6:04PM (4/29/2009)
more like someone hit 80 with their demo' 'lock
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AntBee 6:06PM (4/29/2009)
Good for them, but who has the time and patience to learn and remember all that hypermiling stuff? I sure don't!
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paul34 6:14PM (4/29/2009)
It's about driving efficiently, not blindly doing a few things here and there. A basic understanding of simple physics and the way modern motors operate is all you need.
Jim in Tampa 7:49PM (4/29/2009)
How much time does it take to learn a few basic rules?
Oh wait, you threw patience into the equation. That usually explains a lot about how a person drives.
Rich 10:13AM (4/30/2009)
Did you even read the article? It only takes a week of driving -- let's say about 5 hours -- to learn the techniques, and you'll be saving serious money. Not just on fuel, but on brakes, tyres, and other maintenance. You do *not* need a hybrid to achieve savings. Any combustion engine can be made more fuel efficient by safe and sensible driving.
Start with these tips:
* calculate how much time you "save" by driving hard. Are those 200-odd seconds *really* worth it?
* check your tyres are inflated properly
* don't accelerate toward a red light
* leave a long gap between you and the car in front -- and don't get upset when someone else shortens that gap
* start *immediately* the green light shows and not five seconds later -- use pedestrian signals to judge this
Simple enough. Now these:
* use engine braking: in manuals, change down through the gears to save brake wear (but don't hurt the clutch in the process). In automatics, switch to "sport mode", "overdrive off" or whatever it's called, while slowing.
* think like a bicyclist: imagine the car taking a rest when it's coasting
* don't accelerate toward a green light that's been green for too long -- it's likely it'll change
* learn to drive around corners properly -- take the racing line, or the defensive driving line, whichever suits the conditions
* pulse and glide: accelerate gently for ten seconds, then coast for twenty, trying to maintain the same average speed. Sounds weird, but it works.
There are many more tips, all of which increase your involvement with the car, and consequently your *enjoyment* of driving. The bonus is that you become a safer driver, because you're paying more attention to road conditions and vehicles around you.
Crackberry Addict 6:10PM (4/29/2009)
for some reason this picture reminds me of the Special Olympics...
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laser 6:11PM (4/29/2009)
This is impressive.
While the naysayers will point to an average speed of 20 something miles per hour or that "Ford is illegally advertising fuel economy you can really expect", the whole point is mixed - if you learn to drive with even half the techniques used in this exercise, you will increase your mileage 15-25% easily! I know - I've been doing about half these techniques and average 36 mpgs in the city with an Escort (have gotten 50 mpgs on the highway). And while the detractors will point out that some of these techniques will "impede traffic", I'll counter that properly following reasonable and courtesy techniques of surveying the traffic flow, you can employ most of these techniques. I drive only the speed limit, stay in the right lane, and will not go over speed limit even if you tailgate me. I will coast to stop lights when there is no point in going speed limit to sit for 2 minutes idling. I know the street light patterns on my trip and I will drive to synchronise with those.
You don't have to impede anyone else driving using most of these techniques. You just have to think - that means - put down the cell phone and pull your head out of your arse. There is no winner to the stoplight and no prize given to the idiot who arrives first and sits there for two minutes!
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havoc 6:39PM (4/29/2009)
naysayers aside...
the hypermilers do impede traffic, and will do more so if more people follow the same pattern (think hypermiler at a 2-way stop, making a right on red as just one example). of course it actually works, but more the same way that e85 will save our gasoline problems.
instead my real opinion is that we should re-evaluate traffic light patterns, speed limits and other factors that also reduce mileage and increase emissions by forcing cars to operate in a non-efficient manner.
the city i live in, has a series of traffic lights that are timed, and if you go the speed limit starting from a light as it turns green (with a normal not foot-planted start), you will prob still hit the next light red. if you are already moving? chances are you hit the next light red. if you go 5-10 over the limit, you will make the next light before it turns red.
there has to be a better solution.
i know another road, that you must approach from one specific direction (only) and a set speed, if you want to make the lights all green. if you go about 20 over the limit you will also hit them green, maybe down to the last light before a red. this also allows you to operate in a higher gear which is typically accepted as more efficient than a lower gear. this particular road also has no turn-offs or parking, everyone is in the same boat... so in this example traffic lights are specifically for speed abatement.
Harribert 9:21PM (4/29/2009)
I got 27.3 mpg on a roundtrip trip between portland and sacramento doing 80-90 with a few stops on the way...in a volvo 240. ooooh ahhhhhhh *facepalm*
versionII 6:16PM (4/29/2009)
I challenge them to get someone who's not a prodriver and not a FORD engineer to that kind of MPG.
I know about the coasting, breaking, gradual start ... I still don't do it. You can teach John and Jane Smoe and they still won't do it.
I'd like to know the route they took, avg speed and anything else and especially if they can take a guy off the street and have it be duplicated.
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Hike15 6:27PM (4/29/2009)
you can get a general idea of what the average speed is by just putting distance traveled over time, but that includes being stopped. I would be interested to know the average moving speed.
Epyx 6:28PM (4/29/2009)
The route:
"The Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challenge team took turns driving several routes in and around the national capital over the course of approximately three days and nights. The route involved elevation changes, and ranged from the relatively open George Washington Parkway to a 3-mile stretch in the heart of the city that is clogged with roughly 30 traffic signals."
rodan32 7:17PM (4/29/2009)
Are you driving the same car? A hybrid has some built-in advantages for this sort of thing. The route may have been leaning more toward city driving, which favors the hybrid drive-train. Best I can typically get in my car is 44; it's a Metro, but it's the sedan. I'm not surprised by the numbers they're putting up with that. You won't repeat it in every-day driving, but if you really wanted to, you could get close.
Jeremy B 6:17PM (4/29/2009)
Take that, toyota!!!
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P.V. 6:28PM (4/29/2009)
EXACTLY!
BigWill 7:11PM (4/29/2009)
You probably don't want to say that too loudly. The 2010 Priu has already been able to achieve 75 MPG without rabid hypermilers at the wheel. Add in the fact that the Prius is classified a midsize car and Toyota could eat all of Ford's cookies. Question is whether they will.
Snowdog 7:29PM (4/29/2009)
Hypermiling is lame. But if you insist, hypermilers have done 100MPG in the previous Prius. 80MPG people have got close to that in an Accord.
http://www.calcars.org/calcars-news/101.html
Hybermiling is BS.
Franz 6:25PM (4/29/2009)
Can someone explain to me how they managed "more than 69 continuous hours of driving"? Or does "continuous driving" not actually mean continuous driving?
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BigWill 7:12PM (4/29/2009)
They had a big cat litter box in the back seat for all the drivers to use.