2017 Ford Fusion Energi PHEV boosts total range to 610 miles
27 May 2016
Ford’s 2017 Fusion Energi—incorporating enhancements announced earlier this year at the Detroit Auto Show (earlier post)—can travel 610 miles (982 km) on a full tank of gas and battery charge according to EPA estimates to be posted to fueleconomy.gov—the highest combined range of any plug-in hybrid sold in the US. The 2016 model of the Fusion Energi has a combined range of 550 miles (885 km).
The 2017 Fusion Energi’s all-electric range is an estimated 21 miles (33.8 km). If there is gas in the tank, the car will then operate for about a mile using both battery and gas. After that, the gas engine kicks in for another 588 miles (946 km) of range, according to EPA estimates. The 2016 Fusion Energi has an EPA-estimated all-electric range of 19 miles (30.6 km).
Changes to the car’s hybrid powertrain software and regenerative braking in its new 2017 Fusion Hybrid and Energi (plug-in hybrid) models deliver a more refined and engaging drive and contribute to better overall fuel economy and electric driving range.
A March 2016 Harris Poll of more than 1,000 US adults found that Americans believe the longest-range plug-in hybrid can go 261 miles—less than half the Fusion Energi’s range. This significant underestimation shows the disconnect between reality and what consumers believe, Ford observed.
Ford—the Nº 1 seller of plug-in hybrids in the US for 2015 and year-to-date 2016—is raising awareness of the advantages these vehicles offer. Through April, Fusion Energi sales are up 58%.
Since introducing the plug-in hybrid vehicle in 2013, Ford has sold nearly 30,000 Fusion Energi cars in the United States. Fusion Energi is one of six Ford Motor Company electrified vehicles, including Ford Fusion Hybrid, C-MAX Hybrid, C-MAX Energi, Focus Electric and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. By 2020, Ford will invest $4.5 billion in electrified vehicles, adding 13 new ones to its product portfolio. More than 40% of the company’s nameplates globally will be electrified by the end of this decade.
Ford insights on plug-in hybrid drivers. Data Ford collected from more than 610 million miles logged by its electrified vehicle owners show these drivers put an average of 13,500 miles annually on their vehicles—similar to what owners of gasoline-only cars log—with about half those miles in electric mode. That breaks down to an average daily commute of 42 miles for Ford plug-in hybrid drivers.
With the enhanced electric range, this means the average Fusion Energi commuter could go the entire day using no gasoline—if the car is fully charged before leaving for work and fully charged before leaving for home.
Ford concludes from the data that most customers are likely charging their vehicles only at home—leaving opportunity for growth in workplace charging stations.
The 2017 Ford Fusion Energi has an EPA-estimated rating of 43 city/41 hwy/42 combined MPG, a 14 gallon tank and 21 miles all-electric range.
This survey was conducted online in the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Ford Motor Company, 22-30 March 2016, among a nationally representative sample of 1,052 people ages 18 and older.
OP> (Fusion Energi) all-electric range is an estimated 21 miles (up from 19 in 2016)
> (drivers completed) about half those miles (traveled) in electric mode
Chevrolet increased the all electric range of the Volt from 35 to 53.
Toyota increased Prius AER from 11 to 20.
Posted by: electric-car-insider.com | 27 May 2016 at 08:09 AM
Yes, it seems obvious that Ford and Toyota could do much better with their PHEVs?
It may come with 2X batteries in 2020+?
Posted by: HarveyD | 27 May 2016 at 10:29 AM
EPA just published the official ratings:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=36248&id=37470
There seems to be a slight difference with the numbers reported here (i.e. range).
Posted by: Mariordo | 27 May 2016 at 07:53 PM
Well if every car had 50mile + EV range... Plus an on board generator... We could probably reduce 70%+ of our gasoline use.
If we could drive the price down for hybrids and bevs this could become the norm.
Hopefully renewables keep growing. And the cost of this type of technology isn't a deterrent.
I can see after 2020, the average age of vehicle will gradually go up year after year as accidents are reduced. So we better get worth while plugins to market soon.
Posted by: CheeseEater88 | 27 May 2016 at 09:56 PM
I added the Tesla Model S90D for comparison and it shows its combined fuel economy is 103 MPGe versus only 97 MPGe for the new Ford in electric mode. Tesla is still doing a much better job on efficiency than Ford despite having a much larger and heavy vehicle. The next iteration of Model S will increase its EPA range to over 300 miles which is more than many gassers get on a full tank.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=36248&id=37470&id=37240
Posted by: Account Deleted | 27 May 2016 at 10:54 PM
Henrik you are comparing two very different systems and claiming a huge variance over 103MPGe and 97MPGe. I'm sure system voltage and configuration is a bit different on a car that cost almost 2x as much and has much more batteries.
Vehicle mass is largely irrelevant on a flat plane at a constant speed.
No doubt regeneration would be better on the S too. A much bigger sink.
Posted by: CheeseEater88 | 29 May 2016 at 05:59 AM
Henrik, in EV mode Ford used some gasoline, because EV power is not suficient to drive the test cycle. That gasoline is added in the MPGe.
Posted by: GasperG | 30 May 2016 at 02:29 AM
I don't think I've ever sat in a vehicle that wasn't capable of 300mile range... I've owned one with 600mile range. Even suvs have 30+ gallon tanks...
The point is with cars like these, is 90%+ of the miles can be EV, and there is no need prolonged charging for long trips.
I also think it's a poor choice for manufacturers not to include plugs on H2 vehicles. They have a fairly large battery, why not utilize grid power too?
Volts engines have to start up ever now and again just to burn through the gas before it goes stale. The amount of gas most owners use is negligible.
Until we have all the infrastructure in place for EVs, BEV only vehicles will be a hard sell to most. Quick charging is a must. Autonomous vehicles will aid the development of truely long range BEVs, and maybe hinder it some. If your car can quietly carry you and your loved ones to a far off destination while you sleep, why not go?
Autonomous trucks will need 1.5Mwh batteries that can charge in 1-4 hrs to make a business case. But there is the problem battery weight there is a limit.
LD BEV trucks will have to be reclassified or almost every attempt at a BEV truck will make them not light duty.
Posted by: CheeseEater88 | 30 May 2016 at 06:17 AM