2017 Fusion Energi Titanium in Daytona

[NewTimes]

Monday, June 12, visited friends in Winter Park, FL - one had 2013 Ford Fusion Energi, the other had 2015 C-Max Energi. I drove and rode in both.

Wednesday, June 14  went to Ford Dealership in New Smyrna Beach. Checked out interior and exterior colors and trim. Vehicle relocated from West Palm Beach to New Smyrna Beach

Thursday, June 15, paid my favorite Uncle his 1/4erly estimate, went to dealership, bought 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium with 11.8k miles, just coming off a corporate lease, loaded with most all options.

Friday, June 16, spent most of day reading manual, researching best garage AC system, and taking my ride for a quick spin marveling at the mileage per gallon.

 

My family had always been Chevy/Toyota/Honda buyers for many years. My good ole' boy brother's favorite line is "I'd rather push a Chevrolet than drive a Ford". Well, my mindset changed after my Monday experience with the 2013 Fusion and 2015 C-Max. I was very impressed enough to change longtime car allegiances. For our application, now retired, and driving less in Daytona Beach, this was the best fit. Got within $1,000 of buying a Acura TLX a week ago, checked out Honda CRV's and was about to take a "wait and see" attitude until Monday, and having my friends speak so effusively about their vehicles. Then my research and reviews validated their claims. I pulled the trigger and so far am glad that I did.

 

I'm as green as one can be with Fords, and the features, and pros/cons of the Fusion Energi. Am going to research past posts for answers on garage chargers, how to utilize the apps and features, and what apps to use on my phone, and on and on. So congrats to Ford for converting me and any wisdom your with your years of experience will be appreciated.

 

NewTimes in Daytona Beach

[Sandroad]

Monday, June 12, visited friends in Winter Park, FL - one had 2013 Ford Fusion Energi, the other had 2015 C-Max Energi. I drove and rode in both.

Wednesday, June 14  went to Ford Dealership in New Smyrna Beach. Checked out interior and exterior colors and trim. Vehicle relocated from West Palm Beach to New Smyrna Beach

Thursday, June 15, paid my favorite Uncle his 1/4erly estimate, went to dealership, bought 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium with 11.8k miles, just coming off a corporate lease, loaded with most all options.

Friday, June 16, spent most of day reading manual, researching best garage AC system, and taking my ride for a quick spin marveling at the mileage per gallon.

 

My family had always been Chevy/Toyota/Honda buyers for many years. My good ole' boy brother's favorite line is "I'd rather push a Chevrolet than drive a Ford". Well, my mindset changed after my Monday experience with the 2013 Fusion and 2015 C-Max. I was very impressed enough to change longtime car allegiances. For our application, now retired, and driving less in Daytona Beach, this was the best fit. Got within $1,000 of buying a Acura TLX a week ago, checked out Honda CRV's and was about to take a "wait and see" attitude until Monday, and having my friends speak so effusively about their vehicles. Then my research and reviews validated their claims. I pulled the trigger and so far am glad that I did.

 

I'm as green as one can be with Fords, and the features, and pros/cons of the Fusion Energi. Am going to research past posts for answers on garage chargers, how to utilize the apps and features, and what apps to use on my phone, and on and on. So congrats to Ford for converting me and any wisdom your with your years of experience will be appreciated.

 

NewTimes in Daytona Beach

 

 

Welcome. You've followed a similar path to me; the Energi is my first Ford. Enjoy!

[NewTimes]

Thanks.  As the ultimate newbie, I've been immersing myself in the technology playing catch up. Lots to acquire upon to build a foundation to rely upon. 

[jeff_h]

Welcome - and actually reading the manual - congrats and enjoy!

[NewTimes]

I had no choice but to read the manual. Test driving a C-Max at the dealership yesterday, we could not get the AC on, wife was getting ready to test drive and it was hot, Florida hot. Sheepishly, after about 5 minutes, wife (experiencing her own personal summers, and menopause still after 20 years), was grating on me to get the air or or put the windows down, I went inside and told the 27 year old salesman that I could not figure out how to turn on the AC. Did I say it was hot? As wife was in the driver seat, I did not know to look for the little green icon on the dash being lit.  The dash was lit but no little green light lit. Now I know about the little green light. All the salespeople got a chuckle. Me, I just went with it. Hey, I'm buying a new electric/hybrid car that I know absolutely nothing about. Did I say it was hot?

[Russael]

As wife was in the driver seat, I did not know to look for the little green icon on the dash being lit.  The dash was lit but no little green light lit. Now I know about the little green light. All the salespeople got a chuckle. Me, I just went with it. Hey, I'm buying a new electric/hybrid car that I know absolutely nothing about. 

 

I had the same thing happen when I test drove a 2013 Ford Focus Electric, before I had taken delivery of my Fusion Energi.  I had never driven a vehicle with push button start before... so I went to drive it... and I couldn't make it go.  After 5 minutes of fiddling with it, I went back inside, dejected and disappointed, and the sales guy was like, "Did you press the brake when you hit the start button?"  Uh... nope.  I'll go try that.  And then it worked. :)

[NewTimes]

I'm guessing that 60ish old men such as myself, who have embraced technology, with a caveat to not be electronically addicted, but rather to have the tech offerings be a service and a feature. I'm excited to use the BLIS, lane watch and other safety features, which were a large factor for me to consider the Fusion. Not as an immediate need but rather for times in the future when they will be needed. As we age, we realize our reaction skills and awareness diminish, as I have noticed mine less than my super awareness-consciousness of a few years back. Not a diminish in a huge amount, but enough to realize being in the last 1/3 of my life cycle, things are changing for me, and the tech offering of the vehicle will be a feature and service for me. Not a necessity, a service. Not a toy for play or enjoyment. A feature for me to drive safely for myself and others. And not a necessity or compulsion for me to drive for as long as I can. Electronic addiction is a major factor for all to be conscious and aware, and to act accordingly. 

[DavidWhy]

I've had my 2017 Fusion Energi since September 2016. Here are a few tips that I picked up:

 

 - Get the MyFordMobile app if you have a smartphone. You can use it to set up "Go Times" that will use your configured times to warm up or cool down your car just before you get ready to drive it. This really only works if you are plugged in to a charger, but it uses the power from the charger to condition your car's temperature so you're not depleting the battery to cool or heat the car. This is most useful for commutes that you do on a regular schedule, but they can be altered on the fly 30 minutes or so ahead of when you plan to drive.

 

 - Read the manual twice. There are details and tips that I picked up the second time around

 

 - If you are driving in EV mode in heat over 80 degrees, your Energi may kick over to Auto EV because the battery is getting too hot. If this happens, close all the windows and moonroof and turn your AC on as high as you can stand it. The battery pulls cool air mostly from the cabin, not outside. Cooling the interior helps the car kick back over to full EV sooner.

 

 - If I'm driving a distance longer than the 22 mile battery range, I don't use EV mode on the Expressway. Highway driving kills the battery quicker than city driving, so I choose to go to EV Later mode and save my battery for when I exit the expressway. I generally want the acceleration power of the gas motor on the highway anyways, so it's a win/win

 

 - invest a few minutes to install mobile apps for as many EV charging networks as possible. I set up WattStation and ChargePoint. This gives me more options when the battery is depleted and I am looking to charge remotely while eating, shopping, etc.

 

 - Don't fill your trunk with unnecessary items. The extra weight reduces your battery range. Only carry what you need.

 

 - You may want to get the windows tinted to help keep the cabin cooler and reduce the use of AC. Any accessories that you use like stereo, AC, GPS, reduce battery range.

 

 - Holding the "lock" button on your remote closes your windows and moon roof. Comes in handy if you left your windows open and it looks like its going to rain.

 

 - You can lock your car by touching the sensor under the door handle OR you can just take your thumb and hold the bottom two numbers on the touch pad on the door pillar. For example, I just shut the door and hold my thumb on the 7-8 and 9-0 numbers and the car locks. That way, I never have to take the keys out of my pocket if I'm carrying something.

 

 - The car likes to brake slowly and over a long distance, so pay attention and plan your stops so that you have your foot on the brake as long as possible and you don't stop quickly. This helps reclaim battery energy from the braking system.

 

 - The car kicks over to AutoEV mode if you hit 85 MPH, so keep it under 85 on the expressway if you want to stay on full EV.

 

 - This probably won't apply to you in Daytona, but the battery looses range in very cold weather. The coldest its gotten with mine is 9 degrees Celsius. That cut the battery range in half (to about 11 miles). Using the GoTimes to heat up the car before leaving for work in the morning is a big help for this. I don't have to use as much battery to heat the car.

 

 - Don't top off (keep pumping to the next round dollar) your gas when you're filling up. Just pull out the gas handle when it shuts off. The car stops taking gas when it is full. Adding more gas is bad for the car.

 

Hope this helps.

[Timewellspent]

 - Don't top off (keep pumping to the next round dollar) your gas when you're filling up. Just pull out the gas handle when it shuts off. The car stops taking gas when it is full. Adding more gas is bad for the car.

 

 

Why is this bad for the car?  I have always topped of every car I have owned.

[murphy]

Why is this bad for the car?  I have always topped of every car I have owned.

http://www.freep.com/story/life/2015/06/28/dont-top-off-gas-tank-environment/29269833/

[NewTimes]

I've had my 2017 Fusion Energi since September 2016. Here are a few tips that I picked up:

 

 - Get the MyFordMobile app if you have a smartphone. You can use it to set up "Go Times" that will use your configured times to warm up or cool down your car just before you get ready to drive it. This really only works if you are plugged in to a charger, but it uses the power from the charger to condition your car's temperature so you're not depleting the battery to cool or heat the car. This is most useful for commutes that you do on a regular schedule, but they can be altered on the fly 30 minutes or so ahead of when you plan to drive.

 

 - Read the manual twice. There are details and tips that I picked up the second time around

 

 - If you are driving in EV mode in heat over 80 degrees, your Energi may kick over to Auto EV because the battery is getting too hot. If this happens, close all the windows and moonroof and turn your AC on as high as you can stand it. The battery pulls cool air mostly from the cabin, not outside. Cooling the interior helps the car kick back over to full EV sooner.

 

 - If I'm driving a distance longer than the 22 mile battery range, I don't use EV mode on the Expressway. Highway driving kills the battery quicker than city driving, so I choose to go to EV Later mode and save my battery for when I exit the expressway. I generally want the acceleration power of the gas motor on the highway anyways, so it's a win/win

 

 - invest a few minutes to install mobile apps for as many EV charging networks as possible. I set up WattStation and ChargePoint. This gives me more options when the battery is depleted and I am looking to charge remotely while eating, shopping, etc.

 

 - Don't fill your trunk with unnecessary items. The extra weight reduces your battery range. Only carry what you need.

 

 - You may want to get the windows tinted to help keep the cabin cooler and reduce the use of AC. Any accessories that you use like stereo, AC, GPS, reduce battery range.

 

 - Holding the "lock" button on your remote closes your windows and moon roof. Comes in handy if you left your windows open and it looks like its going to rain.

 

 - You can lock your car by touching the sensor under the door handle OR you can just take your thumb and hold the bottom two numbers on the touch pad on the door pillar. For example, I just shut the door and hold my thumb on the 7-8 and 9-0 numbers and the car locks. That way, I never have to take the keys out of my pocket if I'm carrying something.

 

 - The car likes to brake slowly and over a long distance, so pay attention and plan your stops so that you have your foot on the brake as long as possible and you don't stop quickly. This helps reclaim battery energy from the braking system.

 

 - The car kicks over to AutoEV mode if you hit 85 MPH, so keep it under 85 on the expressway if you want to stay on full EV.

 

 - This probably won't apply to you in Daytona, but the battery looses range in very cold weather. The coldest its gotten with mine is 9 degrees Celsius. That cut the battery range in half (to about 11 miles). Using the GoTimes to heat up the car before leaving for work in the morning is a big help for this. I don't have to use as much battery to heat the car.

 

 - Don't top off (keep pumping to the next round dollar) your gas when you're filling up. Just pull out the gas handle when it shuts off. The car stops taking gas when it is full. Adding more gas is bad for the car.

 

Hope this helps.

David, thanks for sharing your comments on hints and tips. I printed them out. I keep telling my neighbors who are a little bewildered of me buying a Ford Fusion Energi about the features of the car. I'm still fumbling with the best verbal description of the vehicle. Currently it is, "Electric plug-in hybrid". Since there are electric cars, and there are hybrid cars, and there are electric plug-in hybrid cars, is this the best way to describe the vehicle?

 

Here's another story on myself. I read, re-read and re-read again the manual again about the Lane Assist. I could not get the lines to show on the dash. After several attempts to find it in the 400+ page manual, and I'm sure it's there and I just missed it.  I Googled it and, ta-da, push the button on the turn signal. I'm from the old school and like to have things be intuitive. Sort of like specific use software, it should be intuitive and a manual should be a reference rather than a required training step-by-step guide.

 

Now the next step is getting the right app combinations installed and when to use AndroidAuto and when to use Sync3? And FordPass, and MyFordMobile, and don't forget the apps for finding free and fee based charge stations. And when one turns off AndroidAuto but uses the USB port to charge the phone, AA overrides Sync3. Did I mention the manual is 400+ pages and the appropriate apps? And don't forget getting the best home charger for my 125 amp elec panel box and. Do I hard-wire or connect so I can take with me in my unanticipated future home, or a Turbo Cord?  I thought retirement was going to be different than studying on how to turn on my vehicle and use it's features. But I'll keep plugging along. I gotta be able to explain to my neighbors what I bought. Fortunately I knew why not to top off the gas tank. That's 1 for me and 1,000 for the learning curve. So far I'm skewed.

[Timewellspent]

http://www.freep.com/story/life/2015/06/28/dont-top-off-gas-tank-environment/29269833/

 

I guess I have been lucky with every car I've owned. :doh:  I think I will stop this practice before my luck runs out.