Ford Fusion hybrid hypermiles, goes 1,445 miles on a single tank
by Sebastian Blanco on Apr 28th 2009 at 6:33PM 
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery
The Ford Fusion we talked about earlier today, the one that went on the hypermiling publicity stunt, has come to the end of the road its fuel supply. The final number: 1,445 miles on a tank of gas, giving wannabe Lisa Nowaks a new vehicle of choice. On the 1,445.7-mile trip, the Ford 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. I mean, this is a production midsize sedan that got over 80 mpg driving on regular streets, including many in Washington, D.C. The entire event took 69 hours and raised $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. You can read the details of how the driving teams managed the 80 mpg after the jump - no, they didn't find a thousand-mile downhill road.
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 2)
jharlan 6:48PM (4/28/2009)
They averaged less than 21 MPH for crying out loud. Who in the world has time to drive that slow? That being said, it is a very, very impressive car.
Reply
Joe 9:36PM (4/28/2009)
When I had my Cobalt with its average speed gauge, it would generally end up in the low 20s if not reset for a while. When start talking about stop-and-go traffic, even on faster roads, your average is low due to all the stopped time being counted.
So, 21 mph average is about right for mostly city driving.
harlanx6 9:49PM (4/28/2009)
Sounds right to me Joe. It's hard for me to realize that because I live about a hundred miles from the nearest traffic signal (in California no less). It's pretty sparcely populated but absolutely gorgeous country along the Klamath River.
sn 7:04PM (4/28/2009)
At that speed (21 MPH), most people can get a better mileage with a bicycle.
Reply
Ernie 1:22PM (4/29/2009)
Not really. My personal best for average speed on a bike was about 16Km/h, after biking every day all summer long.
And that's *not* counting time spent at stop signs and traffic lights (because bike computers don't count that), like the average you see here. Blocks of time spent at 0 Km/h really hurt your average.
Snowdog 7:29PM (4/28/2009)
And this guy gets 100MPG in a non hybrid ZX2 in near/below freezing temps in mountainous CO averaging over 40MPH.
http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=2208
Reply
Cellien 7:55PM (4/28/2009)
You guys would be on your knees, if this was Toyota, kissing their ass with praise.
Reply
Snowdog 8:20PM (4/28/2009)
No, I would be saying Hypermiling is BS. I hate it regardless of which car they do it with. I have said the same when the did it with diesels/Hondas/Toyotas and now Fords.
I like real head to head comparisons driving like real people, not nonsense Pulse and Glide BS of one car on its own.
FWIW, I have been driving my Ford since new in 1999.
Yikes 9:36AM (4/29/2009)
No, I call a stupid publicity stunt.
A stupid publicity stunt. Being passed by people on bicycles is embarrassing for Ford.
ziv 8:26PM (4/28/2009)
81 mpg is pretty impressive. Not in Prius territory, but the Fusion is a much more fun car to drive. It would be nice, won't happen, but I would buy it, if Ford could strengthen the electric motor and lighten up the ICE, keep the acceleration or improve it, and get the mpg figure up near the Prius. But 41 mpg city vs. 50 mpg vs. 40 mpg for the Fusion, the Prius and the Insight respectively... Those are some nice numbers, I would be going to the gas station every 20 or 22 days instead of every 10 or 11 days, with the Prius I might get through February without stopping for gas! I would rather drive a Fusion, but 50+mpg in town is awfully cool, the options are starting to look a lot better. I would rather have a Volt, if it costs less than or the same as the FFH, but that day won't be coming soon. Economies of scale won't kick in until 2012 at the earliest, and about the time they do reduce the price, the tax credit will probably lapse. All electric for weeks at a time, now that is sweet!
Reply
Chris 9:36PM (4/28/2009)
Why does this PR stunt remind me of Seinfeld where Crammer is with the car salesman to see how far they can go without refueling the car? Then the car craps out and they salesman over celebrates the moment (just like the guy in the picture with the Fusion Hybrid above.)
Agreed, it is a pointless PR stunt. I'm sure I could dramatically improve my mileage driving 21 MPH on average, though, I may fall asleep at the wheel due to boredom.
Reply
jharlan 10:00PM (4/28/2009)
Once you get up over 40 MPG, fuel costs become more minor considerations unless one drives a whole lot of miles. The Prius, Insight and Fusion are in that territory. VW is dealing for batteries with Chinese manufacturers. Their TDIs are already in that same territory, but I think I see what's coming next from VW. TDI hybrids are imminent and going to dethrone Prius easily. It's the logical next step in the mileage wars. You snooze, you lose!!!!!
Reply
3PeaceSweet 8:20AM (4/29/2009)
TDI hybrid, yes please.
The hydralic diesel hybrid might be even cheaper and lighter with improved braking and acceleration.
fnc 10:30PM (4/28/2009)
It's always funny to see people saying the energy density of gasoline makes it a far superior fuel, while happily pouring it into an engine that expends a great deal of that energy just to heat the area under the hood of their car (which calls for additional weight and complexity in a cooling system just to keep said engine from melting down to a hunk of solid metal). If anything, this INefficiency is just a testament to how much oil we can manage to suck out of the ground.
Reply
Yikes 9:38AM (4/29/2009)
Nice rant, but do you have a point?
Michael Hippenhammer 3:06AM (4/29/2009)
No mater what the stunt I am very happy to see an American car in the spotlight in a positive way. There are too many jobs at stake with no other replacement for them.
This is just the beggining and I really hope the best for Ford. I can't tell you how many Fords I would be proud to own that are from Europe. This, coming from a person that has not bought an American car in over 20 years. I buy European cars because they offer smart choices and well built cars that offer exceptional fuel mileage. Keep it up America and you may find a new American car buyer.
Reply
Yikes 9:39AM (4/29/2009)
Too many jobs at stake?
You do realize the Fusion is imported to the USA!
marz 1:47PM (4/29/2009)
Yup, & they'll probably only produce 25000 / yr. like they do with the Hybrid Escape. Great product, but for marketing hype only.
Kris 1:39PM (4/29/2009)
Let's not forget the main point here: A high-mileage car alone can't cure our addiction to oil. Drivers have to sacrifice their "need for speed" and learn how to maximize their car's fuel efficiency if the U.S. is ever to achieve energy independence.
Reply
ic 4:00PM (4/29/2009)
if the U.S. is ever to achieve energy independence.
Use liquified coal and natural gas to run cars, nuclear power for electricity.