Pleasing Ammenities But Lacking In Performance

[pluggedin]

First off, I like our new Fusion Energi, it is definitely a step up in styling from our 2010 Fusion Hybrid.

Enough with the pleasantries; we bought our fully loaded Energi Titanium 5 days ago. The first couple of days we charged it overnight and fully charged it indicated 21 miles just like advertised. Two days ago the ‘fully charged’ mileage indication dropped to 17 miles. Our mileage the first couple of days was averaging around 60 mpg. We noticed the drop in “engine only” gas mileage from 40mpg highway in our 2010 to ~25 in the Energi. The engine seems underpowered and strains to maintain highway speeds of 65-70 mph. I drive the vehicle 100 miles per day and just as in our 2010, I maximize the mileage by simple tweaks of operation. I don’t hypermile, just drive it using common sense (no jackrabbit starts etc) and use the battery mode to achieve highway speeds and on upgrades.

Our 2010 was averaging 45mpg (I beat the advertised numbers since the car was new) over a 20,000 mile span when we traded it in. The Energi has dropped to 53 and it’s on its way down with every mile over the exact same route we have driven for 10 years.

I've read the back and forth here with great interest and it seems Brad may have some legit concerns and then he may have a learning curve (for both he and the car) involved here.

 

I have watched my battery display do some really funny stuff in the last two weeks, since I took delivery, but the idiosyncrasies seem to be leveling out now and that may be the case for Brad, if he gives it time. 

 

What concerns me most is his statement that the ICE seem under powered and strains to maintain highway speeds of 65-70 mph. I have been on the freeway several times in the last two weeks and that is no where close to my experience. The engine and the hybrid battery should be working in tandem to provide the power to maintain those speeds, with power to spare, so his experience is not what should be expected. However, if he is using the EV (battery mode) to achieve highway speeds and on grades, he is doing in reverse of what I do and that will most decidedly suck up his EV range and kill his MPGe's.

 

My experience, to date, tells me that I can expect the best results for highway speed and battery life in EV Later. So as soon as I enter an on ramp to a freeway I move from EV to EV Later and use the vehicle as a hybrid. Sure the mileage sucks and you can watch your MPGe 10ths of a mile drop like a rock off the Empire State Building but my overall MPGe's for trips around 60 miles has been around 60 MPGe because I am using my EV range before and after I get off the freeway.

 

I was wringing my hands about my engine mpg's too until I changed all of my displays to show instantaneous fuel mileage and the exclusive engine mpg's went away. I suggest you do the same Brad and gauge everything by MPGe.

 

If you are showing engine mpg's of 25 and EV miles of 130, let's say, you will be averaging closer to what you expect. Personally, I would not use my EV power to get my 4,000 pound car moving or use it to keep it moving up a grade...I would use the ICE/hybrid modes for those occasions.

 

However, if you are experiencing a lack of power to maintain highway speeds in either EV Auto or EV Later or even EV+ perhaps, you should have your dealer address that issue.

 

My two cents in kWh's, lol.

 

 

 

[jposs]

We purchased the Energi Titanium because the SE can't be ordered with the upgraded Sony sound system. The Active Park came with it, so I'm not complaining about an option I bought and didn't need. I charge my vehicle at night, drive it 45 miles in the morning to work, charge it at work and drive 45 miles back home. Is this too much to ask of this vehicle? When the mileage dropped from 60 to 51 today and the battery range dropped from 21 to 17  to 15 FULLY CHARGED, I brought it into the dealer. They have confirmed ALL of my concerns and will have the car for several days. When you find an article from Ford that states the vehicle is not designed for 45 mile trips I would love to read it. And yes, I expect a 46,000 dollar car to performed right out of the gate. The tax incentives are only for the energi so the cost of the hybrid was the same or close.

 

You could have bought a Titanium version to get the Sony sound system, and still not bought Active Park Assist.  It's a separate option.  So yes, you are complaining about an option you bought and didn't need.  You also could have bought a Titanium without the Driver Assist package if Lane Keep isn't something you were interested in.

 

Also, had you done your research, you would have discovered that with your commute your payback with the plug in would either never happen, or take longer than the car would last.  

 

It sounds like you have a lot to learn about a car that you already dropped 46 grand on.  

[Brad Schuck]

So far:

1:) The driver assist was a 'glitch' . What we in the software world refer to when we don't have a clue. It now operates ( or doesn't operate) as it should so I'm told.

 

2:) The jury is still out on the EV battery issue.

 

[Energized]

So far: 1:) The driver assist was a 'glitch' . What we in the software world refer to when we don't have a clue. It now operates ( or doesn't operate) as it should so I'm told. 2:) The jury is still out on the EV battery issue.

 

They probably turned off the MyKey setting. 

 

If MyKey is activated, Lane Keeping will always turn itself on.  

 

If a MyKey® is detected, the

system is defaulted to on and the Alert

mode is automatically selected.

 

If a MyKey® is detected, pressing the

button will not affect the on/off status of

the system.

[Energized]

You're absolutely right. Having to break in brakes in order for them to "let go" would be a flaw in a design. A dangerous flaw. And ridiculous for your dealer to suggest is the case. I think you should try to get your dealer to elaborate and if they continue on this line, you need a new dealer. I can tell you my brakes are not and never have been engaged in the least when I let off the gas. Now, that is physical friction brakes. Regenerative braking WILL engage at release of the accelerator, but I'm sure you knew that. And the drag that those cause during coasting would be nothing close to a friction brake dragging. It is not designed in to have the friction brakes drag during beak-in. So, if you truly are experiencing this, you ARE experiencing a defect. The norm for regen braking/coasting drag is equal to that of a conventional ICE's drag. Since an Atkinson cycle ICE mated to an eCVT does not provide this drag when running, let alone when not, they have programmed the regen brakes to provide this drag to forward motion, and boost to battery. Hopefully your dealer was referencing THIS drag and maybe there is some sort of firmware tweak to modify this normal behavior to be more to what you're used to. Again, I hope your dealer follows through and can make it right.

 

Yes, the system goes into regen immediately upon release of the throttle.   Some may feel this is brake drag, but it is not.

 

To see an extreme version of this "brake drag", test drive a Tesla S.  In the Tesla, regen is only handled by the accelerator, not the brake pedal.

 

Unlike the Tesla, the Fusion handles regen via BOTH the accelerator pedal AND through the brake pedal. 

 

It's a more expensive and complicated system than the Tesla's regen but it works very well and is very efficient.

[Energized]

What you're saying makes sense for sure, but then, since we know there IS a 12v battery in the car, try to account for those who can go for weeks, months, or a year without the ICE kicking on. How are we charging the 12v battery then? We know Ford has accounted for this lack of use of the ICE on the fuel side as they have programmed in a "fresh fuel cycle." There is no "top off 12v battery" cycle for the ICE.

 

I am sure there IS a dc-dc converter, for the specific purpose of keeping the 12v system charged and healthy. There is the obvious lack of storage on the 12v side with only a dc-dc converter and no battery, that would cause other problems and make the hybrids (plug-ins or straight hybrids) an altogether different animal than a conventional car. Something I am sure they're not willing to do for cost/trim/model line continuity reasons.

 

Yes, there is a DC to DC converter that provides 12V power to various vehicle accessories including the headlights.