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(Winter) Long Term Test: 2013 Ford Fusion Energi

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Tideland Prius, Apr 22, 2014.

  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    A pretty good 3-part writeup on living with a Ford Fusion Energi during one of the coldest winters in Winnipeg, Manitoba.


    The wrap up is the most interesting with focus on fuel efficiency (both with a charged and depleted battery)
     
  2. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    Very well formated write up
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    all this litres/km and celsius just bogs down the facts.:confused:
     
  4. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    remember that's a canadian report.....
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    crazy cousins.:p
     
  6. 70AARCUDA

    70AARCUDA Active Member

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    AH-h-h, Canada, land of the original "KINGS ENGLISH"...and French...and numbers!
     
  7. GBC_Texas_Prius

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    I got hung up on the part about, "let's forget it's a $50k car." I kind of went somewhat blank after that. Something about the size of the storage area and the touch screen and gloves not working.
     
  8. Colin

    Colin Junior Member

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    If my car got 7.4 L/100 km I would probably take it to the shop to have it repaired. I bet the fuel consumption could be cut at least 50% with skillful addition of cardboard.
     
  9. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Not to mention the 'fuel equivalent' garbage. But at least conversion is possible:

    The author's driving in 0 to -10C weather (32 to 14F) on a full battery consumed between 387 - 531 Wh/mile. I don't know if the car's cabin was pre-conditioned to a comfortable temperature.

    Context is needed. The author drove the car in Winnipeg in the winter, and at least some of his drives were short 5 - 10 mile runs.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed. it really was a very poor and incomplete report and could lead to much dismay if people don't recognize the testing climate.
     
  11. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Allow me to rephrase: if people do not actually read the report, they are likely to draw silly conclusions.

    Other than the aggravating use of fuel(e) units, I thought the report was really, really good, and gave an excellent accounting of how winter driving affects that car. I would have liked to see some comparison data to other EVs and hybrids , but one cannot have everything.

    I very much appreciated the writing itself. Other than Dan O'neil (sp?), auto journalists write like 8th graders. Perhaps because the guy is Canadian, he presented data but seemed to avoid drawing conclusions. E.g., the rate of energy consumption/distance increases considerably quicker with EV as the weather is colder compared to petrol mode. I know this is due to cabin heating from the battery rather than waste heat, but a new reader about EVs might miss the reason.
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    they might also miss the benefits of the other three seasons.:)
     
    SageBrush likes this.
  13. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    I'm seriously considering replacing my wife's '11 Prius with a fusion energy early next year. Meanwhile I'm getting to know the vehicle under others perspective point of views.
     
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Don't forget that Winnipeg is frozen 6 feet under (literally). It's been so cold that the ground is frozen solid 6 feet under at one point. I would hope it's at least down to 2 or 3 feet lol. So, maybe it'll be thawed by July :p.
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    best place to look is fuelly i suppose.
     
  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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  17. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Fuelly doesn't track electric use yet though.
     
  18. jefe

    jefe Member

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    No matter how attractive a car may seem, it can never replace your spouse. Please reconsider this.
     
  19. jefe

    jefe Member

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    "Depending on who you are, the benefits can be measured in terms of savings at the pump or a by a more global yardstick such as reduced dependence on fossil fuels." <-- Nice subtle dig at Americans. All we care about is money.
     
  20. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    Pun taken and corrected.