howardbc

I am in Arizona and hope my Fusion Energi will qualify for the AFV incentives. I don't have the title yet so don't know how the fuel code was typed. It's not on the registration. I will try asking my sales person. Or is there anyone on the forum from Arizona who has any feedback? 'Hope you get everything straightened out there in Georgia. Thanks.

I had previously complained about a too-dark tint being applied to the back windshield and the dealer was going to charge me a lot to remove/replace it. I had agreed that I did select the tint from a sample but felt I was not adequately advised as to how dark it would look on an actual car. I want to report that the Ford dealer removed the too-dark window tint and replaced it with the next darkest tint and he did NOT charge me! I had been really angry about it and am so glad he was a good guy about it. If I had known that I wouldn't be able to see out of the back window, I never would have selected that dark a tint I am a senior. Maybe the dark tint might be fine for a 19-year old but not for me. Now I will feel a lot better about going back to that same Ford dealer for service in the future. They also did a great job on all the other windows and on the window visors. So it was a happy ending and I am very relieved.

Thanks, meyersnole. It's not a big deal. You have already given me very helpful advice. I just wanted to be sure I am not missing out on anything. I always note my braking score when I stop and am pleased that it's usually in the 90s or even 100. I'm really enjoying learning from and about this car. Thanks for all your help.

Hi, Meyersnole. I have yet to see any carrot icon above the battery icon on the display to the left of the odometer. When I am braking I see a swirling circle over the battery icon, but no carrot. I have the left side of the small display (to the left of the steering wheel) set to show me estimated EV miles on the battery and later the number of EV miles I've driven since the last time I turned the engine off, and then the Lifetime Summary. I guess the carrot isn't important but I'm just curious. I am usually looking at the "Status" display (outline of car) when the car is moving. When it stops, I look at EV miles since last stop and then lifetime MPG. I'm still learning all the options available to display on this car. It's a little over-whelming to me.

My experience with the window tinting has become a disaster. I have always had my car's windows tinted but NEVER had the back window come out so dark that I cannot see out of it!!! If I take off my sunglasses I can just barely see the car behind me, but I need my sunglasses for the front windshield The dealer says it's what I selected so I will pay them more money to have it removed and something lighter put on in its place. The invoice doesn't say what percentage any of it is and besides there is no illegal darkness for the rear window in Arizona. I just wish the Ford service adviser had said something like "If you chose that tint, you may not be able to see out the back window." I am really furious.

Thanks, Shaggy. I'm in Arizona and will try to find someone who will install a 240V portable garage charger if I can justify the cost. It would be nice but I am doing fine with the 120V so far.

You all are awesome! Before I bought my Energi, I spoke to 3 different Ford salesmen at 3 different Ford dealers. Not one mentioned all these rebates and/or credits! You'd think that $4951-$5951 in rebates and tax credits would have been used as a selling tool, so I am very surprised that not one of them mentioned it. I saw the $1500 on my sales contract and asked the sales person about it because I was suspicious and thought it might be some kind of add-on, but no, it was the $1500 rebate taken off the price. I didn't even know about the garage charger rebate! I hadn't planned to buy one but now may do it if I can get a $1000 tax credit. I also read on-line that there is a $1500 state tax credit but won't consider that a done-deal until I talk to a tax person. Thanks again for making my day!

When I bought my 2013 Ford Fusion Energi last month, the dealer gave me a $1500 "rebate" which was immediately deducted from the price of the car. Yeay. Now I understand that I may also be eligible for a $3751 federal tax credit on my 2013 taxes. Does anyone know if I can I get both? I don't want to get my hopes up, even though my income is very modest and the tax credit may not be even helpful. I'll check with a tax person too of course, but I find that there is general misinformation about alternative cars and I wonder if the tax professionals are up on all this. Any advice is appreciated but won't be accepted as tax "gospel." Thanks.

Bummer ... So if I bought instead of leasing I don't get the $3751? http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxphevb.shtml This website doesn't say anything about a lease being required - at least not that I could see. I'm hoping we have an accountant on this forum who can provide some guidance. I bought mine on March 29, 2013. I didn't pick it up until April 5th, but the sales person says March 29 is my official sales date. I did get the $1500 credit off the cost. Is there a better/more clear website that tells me what credit options, if any, I might have? Thanks.

1) Is it possible to make a certain screen/display the default screen/display? 2) Has anyone found a simple schematic/diagram of the Energi system? 1) I prefer to have the "Status" (outline of car) screen/display showing most of the time. I like being able to see when I am in Electric Drive or Hybrid mode or recharging the HV battery, etc. I know I can press the leaves icon (from the Home screen) to get it but it would be nice if I could set it as the default display. I asked a Ford dealership employee about this and he didn't know. 2) I am not an engineer but it would be interesting to see a schematic or simple diagram of how the Energi system works. I am still amazed that the hybrid gas mileage (not even counting the EV miles) is so much better than my old Prius. Thanks in advance for any info.

Hi, BadRock. I dug out my receipt for the window tint job, but it didn't say what percentage the back window is. Just that it is Arizona Legal and the darkest that the law here allows. I looked at an example of the tint of course before I agreed to it, but it was on a showroom window and didn't prepare me for the super-dark tint after it was installed on the back windshield. I'm almost wondering if the installers accidentally installed a double layer of tint, but I doubt if that is possible I almost want to be stopped by the cops so I can say to the Ford service adviser that it can't be legal. I hate that it has to be fixed, but I just can't live with it the way it is. I'll probably have it re-done some time next week. By the way, my sunglasses are Ray Bans and not super dark. They're the same sunglasses I wore for years while driving my Toyota Prius. It too was tinted after the sale in 2008 but everything was very visible through the back windshield. My advice to you is to ask to see a car that has the tints you are thinking of selecting. I had always felt that the back window was too light on previous cars, so I never dreamed that it would be almost blind-dark on my new car. Good luck to you. I think you'll love the Fusion Energi. Make sure the sales person shows you the large display with the outline of the car - showing what mode (electric, hybrid, etc) you are currently driving in. Very neat. Also have him/her show you how to set the display on left side of steering wheel to show EV miles and Lifetime MPGs. I am getting 59+ MPG after 3 weeks. Also getting 24-30+ pure electric miles after an overnight charge. Getting a quote on a garage charger but I can recharge it using a standard 120V outlet.

Tint on rear window is way too dark ... I had all the windows tinted and those window visors put on. It looks great BUT the tint on the back window is so dark I literally cannot see out of it unless I take my sunglasses off. I have never had this problem before. I always wear sunglasses because of the glare out the front windshield, but the back windshield is WAY too dark. If there is a dark car behind me, I literally cannot see it unless I take my sunglasses off. If it is a light-colored car, I can just barely see it. I don't feel safe the way it is, but I picked out the tint so I will pay them something to remove and replace it. I offered to pay them. They didn't pressure me. The other windows are all fine. I have been rear-ended by a drunk with no insurance so I am really cognizant of who/what is behind me. Plus half the drivers are texting or something. I said "That's not Limo tint, is it?" and they said no but I couldn't believe it when I got in it. Has anyone else had this problem?

Hi. I've just had my FFH for less than 3 weeks. I have 400+ miles on odometer. There are so many info resources that the car displays, it has taken me a while to notice them all, but yesterday I noticed the "Lifetime Summary" for the first time. It said that I was getting over 59MPG! Is that really what I'm getting from the hybrid/gasoline system? Does that include the miles I'm getting in pure EV mode? If so, it should say MPGe, right? Also, when I eventually fill up the gas tank (and it's still got over half a tank), will the "Lifetime Summary" just continue to display overall averages, or do I need to press a "reset" button somewhere? In fairness, my results may not be typical, as I drive very conservatively and don't even drive every day. But I won't be the older person driving 50mph in the left lane with the turn signal on! Thanks.

Hi, bibolton. I don't see a button that says "Hill Assist." Where is it? It sounds like it may be similar to the "B" button on a Prius that is only used when one is going downhill for some time. It's very flat where I live but am curious where the "Hill Assist" button is. Thanks.

I bet I am not the only one who hears snide remarks from owners of regular cars like "Yeah, but I bet it will cost you a fortune on your electric bill!" I don't know how to see the number of kilowatts I use to recharge my batteries, but the electrician who checked out my standard 120v outlet said it would be equivalent to plugging in another refrigerator for the 7-9 hours. I charge after 9PM when my rates are lowest. I'm assuming the car's system doesn't use any additional electricity after the batteries are fully charged. I too have solar panels, although they are not connected directly to the outlet in the garage. The solar panels don't provide all the power to my house, so I get the remainder from a wind farm (really). My electricity rate is a little higher for the wind power (9.73-9.23 cents per kw hour) but it is worth it to me. Thanks, everyone, for all the great info.

Thanks so much. I have gotten over 30 miles in EV mode at least a couple of times. Now that I know I can increase the battery-mileage through regen, that will encourage me to drive like there's a raw egg under the accelerator. But so far I find myself going over the speed limit most of the time. I blame it on the analog speedometer. A digital speedometer was easier for me to stay with. But I am enjoying the heck out of the car. Thanks so much for the feedback. Much appreciated.

I've only had the car less than 2 weeks and have so many questions. The last couple of times I've started out with a fully charged battery, it says I should be able to go pure electric for 28 miles. Okay. But when it gets down to 1-5 miles left in the battery, I've noticed that the number of electric miles left seems to increase (slightly) if I do the coasting/braking/regen thing a few times. I've got the EV mode set to EV Auto. I can see the battery level on the left side of the steering wheel. Am I imagining this, or am I able to actually increase the juice left in the batteries for pure electric mode by coasting/braking, etc? I know I can do this when it is in Hybrid Mode but didn't think I could change how much juice is left in pure electric mode. I've already noticed that the car will go back into a total electric mode (if only for a short time) when I have depleted the batteries and am officially in hybrid mode. I keep the "Status" display (showing outline of whole car) on the main screen most of the time. I would love to talk to one of the engineers who designed the car, even if I couldn't understand half of what he said. I'm hoping one of you will be able to educate me. But please keep it simple and easy to understand. It's much appreciated. Thanks so much.

Hey, meyersnole. That is funny about the lightning bolts. Actually, maybe a small discreet lightning bolt sign by the charging port that says something like "Warning - electric charge" might be good. But let me know if you think of something snazzy to put on a license plate frame. Maybe something a little more ingenious than "Plugin Hybrid". I've had my Fusion Energi for less than 2 weeks but have gone 300+ miles on 1/3 of tank. I'm getting 30+ miles on the batteries. I am already spoiled and wish it had the 70-mile battery range of a pure electric PLUS the hybrid.

I am trying to think of a clever catch-phrase to go on my license plate frame. Something specific for a plug-in hybrid. Maybe something more original than "Plug-in Power" or "Plug-in Hybrid". For example, my previous car was a Toyota Prius hybrid and I had a name-plate made up for it that said "Batteries Included." I already have a plain license plate frame. I will get a name-plate from a sign company that can be glued onto the existing license plate frame. Just something that will fit the space at the bottom of a license plate frame. I have looked on-line but haven't found any original ideas, Any clever ideas are welcomed. Thanks.

Hi. Can someone please re-send the link that will take me to the owner's manual (full version) for the 2013 Ford Fusion Energi? I know someone has already answered this and I saved it to my Desktop but had to make some changes to my PC's Settings and now I can't find it. I did a search inside this forum and no luck. I remember I had to go through Motocraft. And I think it was hidden in a regular Fusion or a Fusion hybrid's manual. It's a shame that Ford doesn't have it where it can be easily found. Many thanks. Bobbie

Hi, everyone. 1) Maybe I'm still just not used to the Fusion Energi driver's seat after using a lumbar cushion in my Toyota Prius for 5+ years, but the Energi's lumbar feature doesn't seem strong enough to feel good to me. I will ask the Service Dept to make sure it is working correctly. I can feel it coming out but I still can't seem to get totally comfortable. In fact I'm going to put my own lumbar cushion back in the seat. I've tried adjusting the seat many times in many ways. I keep feeling like I'm bent too far forward even though I have let the seat back go back. Anyone else have a problem with the driver's seat? 2) I was very surprised that the charging port cannot be locked/unlocked from the interior of the Energi. The Chevy Volt has this feature. I worry that some Neanderthal will pour a soda or put chewing gum or something into the charging port. Am I the only one who worries about stuff like this? Also, this morning I almost drove off with the charging port door still open. I had disconnected the cord but forgot to close the port door. But getting more and more used to the car every day and am loving it. I still haven't found the perfect display for the left side of the speedometer. I want the odometer to show, the battery icon to show, and the amount of EV time/miles left. I had it but was showing off and now can't find it again. ;) I belong to a local electric auto club and want to be able to answer all questions at the next meeting. Thanks.

Hi. I am familiar with the process of braking regenerating the hybrid battery, but will just normal driving do it also? I was looking at the display that shows the whole car and noticed that it said something like "Hybrid battery recharging" even while I was just driving the car - not coasting, not braking. This is after I had completely depleted the battery and am now in hybrid mode. The recharging words don't stay for long but it has me puzzled. It also says "EV Mode" for a short time too, occasionally, when I have depleted the batteries. Does this car actually recharge the battery even while driving? I have only had the car a week and am learning something new every day. I appreciate any knowledge you can send me. I am not an engineer but am interested in how things work - in simple terms. Thanks. Bobbie

I am in the Phoenix area - and this is my experience. Out of 3 recommended Ford dealers, only two had 1 Fusion Energi each. The first place I went sold the car before I could even test-drive it. Finally I put a small refundable deposit on one while it was still on the train and that is the car I ended up buying. The dealers are asking for thousands over MSRP. I didn't pay MSRP, but at this point you're not going to get a "deal" because the car is very scarce. I even heard a bunch of sales people talking to each other about a customer who paid $10k over MSRP. I asked my sales person about it and she said it was true. I can't even find a PDF for the full owner's manual and the dealer doesn't know how I can get that data. I have the paper copy but want the PDF for my computer. I thought I'd found it, but when I opened the PDF it was for either just the regular Fusion or just the hybrid. The Fusion Energi is still hard to find - even in print. I'm learning something new every day but I love the car.

Hi. I've only had my Fusion Energi for a few days but am already totally psyched. I have 2 immediate questions: 1) Shouldn't I always be in the first EV mode that uses the lithium-ion batteries first? I got 30+ battery miles yesterday and that was on an expressway doing 65-70mph! 2) Would you recommend going to the dealer to get an extra plug-in cord? I would like to have one to leave in my garage and one to leave in the trunk. 3) If I get the in-garage 240v optional charging station, will the plug-in cord that came with the car work, or will I need to get a different cord? Thanks!! Bobbie