Fusion Energi Owner Survey

[markb]

I have been invited to write something about the Ford Fusion Energi for a major blog.  I am an owner and have nothing whatsoever to do with the car industry, the advertising industry or anything related to either.  The more I thought about it and the more I read this board the more convinced I am that this is a very interesting group of people so I'd like to be able to describe us as a group.  I've given it thought so I could ask the best five questions and hope you'll be comfortable in responding to this poll.

Edited August 30, 2013 at 09:43 PM by markb

[dlb92]

I'm surprised so many people are absolutely convinced about global warming let alone that it is caused by man.

 

Its a given fact that the climate changes over time but I'm not convinced that man can do much about it. I remain skeptical as the majority of the push seems to be political in nature and scientists and universities who want grant money from the governments of the world.  Turn on the news and all you hear is global warming caused my wife to divorce me or global warming caused me to abort my baby to reduce my carbon footprint, ect.  It's just a little ridiculous in my view.

 

Thirty years ago global cooling was going to kill us all.  One big hurricane and everyone rushes to blame global warming yet what about the big hurricane that happened 5 or 10 or 30 or 60 years earlier?  We all have short memories and emotions tend to persuade our thinking a little too much.

[Griff]

I am not sure that it is caused solely by man, but I am sure the rest of the industrialized nations were concerned about this decades before we even began to consider it could be real. This definitely makes me think about it. Especially, since the scientists have discovered a lot more carbon in the atmosphere than should otherwise be present. The earth is not exactly known for consistently producing tons of carbon.

[Depauwler]

I'd rather not start a political argument but here's a question for you.

 

What's the worst that'll happen if we go with the assumption that it's our doing and change our ways, investing and developing cleaner energy and stop polluting so much, but turn out to be wrong?

 

What's the worst that'll happen if we assume it's not our fault and keep going as we are, but turn out to be wrong?

[dlb92]

The last 14 years have turned me off to politics and I don't like extremists on any side of the spectrum.

 

What you say makes pretty good sense.  We waste so much and pollute so much..just buying one of these cars and driving it around is a big eye opener.  There are definitely cleaner ways to create energy and more efficient ways to use it and I'm sure we could do it on a scale that would allow us to live pretty comfortably and not cost us a fortune. 

 

What drives people on the right crazy is they think the everyone on the left is an extremist who want us to go back to the stone age.  I guess the people on the left hate the right because they think they represent the destruction and raping of the earth. 

[Depauwler]

LOL.  Yeah.  I used to be pretty active on a political forum, but just got sick of it.  What's the point anymore when no one can even agree what facts are?

[meyersnole]

I'm surprised so many people are absolutely convinced about global warming let alone that it is caused by man.

 

Its a given fact that the climate changes over time but I'm not convinced that man can do much about it. I remain skeptical as the majority of the push seems to be political in nature and scientists and universities who want grant money from the governments of the world.  Turn on the news and all you hear is global warming caused my wife to divorce me or global warming caused me to abort my baby to reduce my carbon footprint, ect.  It's just a little ridiculous in my view.

 

Thirty years ago global cooling was going to kill us all.  One big hurricane and everyone rushes to blame global warming yet what about the big hurricane that happened 5 or 10 or 30 or 60 years earlier?  We all have short memories and emotions tend to persuade our thinking a little too much.

 

There is a pretty strong consensus on this matter...

 

http://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus

 

http://epa.gov/climatechange/basics/facts.html

[markb]

In case you're interested, here's my post on the plugincars.com blog run by Bradley Berman who wrote the NY Times review of the Fusion Energi.  Thanks to all who participated in my poll:

 

http://www.plugincars.com/fusion-energi-owner-defends-his-much-loved-plug-car-128194.html#comment-30748

Edited September 7, 2013 at 04:14 PM by markb

[dlb92]

Nice post..

[Fat Fusion]

Here's my answers to the poll, as well as some commentary:

 

Which of the following best describes your view of climate change?

I'm sure it is happening but I'm not certain of the cause

 

Climate change has been happening since before man ever walked the earth.  To think that the climate has ever been "static" would be very naive.  I do think that all the fossil fuel burning has an impact, but how much of an impact it has, and how much we can realistically do as a WORLD full of people trying to make a better life for themselves and their family is certainly open for debate.  It's pretty sad when older people who have made a great life for themselves and generated a relatively large amount of wealth due to ignoring CO2 emissions over decades get preachy and tell developing nations and peoples that they can't do the same.  Plus, every single person I have ever met who drives an electric car or plug in lives in a house that is larger than they NEED and hops on an airplane to go on vacation.  It's extremely hypocritical in my opinion.

 

How far do you commute each day to work?

More than 20 miles

 

Just found out I'll be working in a building that has charging stations!

 

Which of the following were important to you in deciding to purchase a Fusion Energi?

Ford brand

 

I bought the Energi for two reasons.  First because I am getting carpool lane stickers.  That can't be overstated when commuting into and out of Silicon Valley every day.  The traffic is brutal and the economy is adding a ton of jobs each month.  Second because it is a Ford.  I'm a "Ford Guy."  I grew up with old Fords, have an old Ford, and likely will always drive Fords.  One of my favorite things to do is drive my dad's 103 year old Ford!

 

We all know that trunk space is an issue with the Energi, why were you able to overcome that?

We/I have another car with plenty of hauling capacity when we/I need it

 

One of my other Fords is a Crew Cab pickup truck.  If it doesn't fit in that, I have a car trailer as well.

 

Which of the following best describes you?

Male, 35-64, not a technogeek

 

Despite growing up in and around Silicon Valley, I'm not quite what I'd call a technogeek.  I do enjoy technology, but am rarely an early adopter.  In many ways I like to use very old technology.  Driving the Model T is one example.  To manually control things like spark advance and fuel mixture is fun!  Here I am in the '10 T.

 

[ChuckJ]

Nice car.  I almost bought a Model T in great condition a few years ago for $10,000.  Now I wish I had.

 

ChuckJ

[http]

How many miles does that Model T get on a full charge?

[Fat Fusion]

How many miles does that Model T get on a full charge?

 

Haha on a full charge of gas you'd get at least 100 miles.  It's about 6 to 1 compression since the gas was pretty bad in those days.

 

On another note, somewhat EV related, my dad is one of the few people in the world currently converting an EV to GAS!!!  :drop:

 

So as not to deviate from the thread topic I'll start a new one here: http://www.fordfusionenergiforum.com/topic/1451-my-dad-is-converting-an-ev-to-gas/

[markb]

Wow, we're above 60 responses and the first female (and a non-technogeek to book) is included in those.  Whoever she is, welcome to male geektechnogeekdom!

[frbill]

Deleted

Edited January 8, 2014 at 01:09 PM by frbill

[frbill]

Hey Mods, something seems to be wrong with this thread. It has been dead a while but continues to pop up occasionally showing the last post as current. I am not sure if anything can be done but maybe you can look into it. Thanks!

[murphy]

It shows the last post as current when someone new responds to the survey but doesn't post to the thread.

[Russael]

Maybe lock this thread since the person who needed the results has already published his blog.  All new votes are just moot, but are interesting to see.