Considering a 2018 Fusion Energi for my new work commute of >50 miles...

[S1C EM]

So far, everything I'm seeing in my short time searching indicates this may not be the best choice.  I know the EV-only range is low, but figured it would still end up being a better choice over my 2011 Nissan Frontier.  But while that sounds like a no-brainer, my Frontier payment is $265 a month and my 100 mile a day commute, five days a week results in about two fill ups a week.  Going to the Energi, I'm going to be upping my payment by at least $100 a month, if not more.  So now I'm thinking the PHEV doesn't end up saving me any money in the end at all and if it does, very little.  It also has 66k miles, so longevity and degradation are concerns, too.  My truck only has 105k and runs like a top (a thirsty top, but a top nonetheless).

 

Is there something I'm missing?  

[theterminator93]

A PHEV is most advantageous with commutes 10 miles or so (ideally at low speed) each way, to avoid using any gas at all. A regular hybrid would make more sense for longer commutes.

 

Some states also impose higher taxes or registration fees for hybrids and/or EVs to help them recoup some of the lost gas tax revenue, so consider that as a hidden cost as well.

 

A 500 mile commute each week in an Energi, assuming 25 miles of EV range per day, would mean about 9 gallons of gas used per week. A regular hybrid would be closer to 12 - meaning an annual gas savings of about 150 gallons using the PHEV over the hybrid. Estimating the economy of your pickup, that's 23 gallons per week - so that's more than 2x the gas of the Energi and about 2x the gas of the hybrid. If your car payment is $100/mo more to get the Energi, gas prices need to stay above about $2.00/gal to make the Energi turn into a net savings over the truck. With a regular hybrid that would jump to about a minimum fuel price of $2.50/gal. Considering current fuel prices (let's assume $5/gal) that means you're saving $50-100/mo (even when factoring in electric costs and your higher payment) to ditch the pickup, just from using half (or less) the gas it does.

 

You'll need to consider your electrical utility rate (it's 6-7 kWh to fill the battery on an '18, depending on L1 or L2 charging and degradation) against the price of gas to determine fuel savings.

Edited June 4, 2022 at 04:50 AM by theterminator93

[S1C EM]

On 6/4/2022 at 12:46 AM, theterminator93 said:

A PHEV is most advantageous with commutes 10 miles or so (ideally at low speed) each way, to avoid using any gas at all. A regular hybrid would make more sense for longer commutes.

 

Some states also impose higher taxes or registration fees for hybrids and/or EVs to help them recoup some of the lost gas tax revenue, so consider that as a hidden cost as well.

 

A 500 mile commute each week in an Energi, assuming 25 miles of EV range per day, would mean about 9 gallons of gas used per week. A regular hybrid would be closer to 12 - meaning an annual gas savings of about 150 gallons using the PHEV over the hybrid. Estimating the economy of your pickup, that's 23 gallons per week - so that's more than 2x the gas of the Energi and about 2x the gas of the hybrid. If your car payment is $100/mo more to get the Energi, gas prices need to stay above about $2.00/gal to make the Energi turn into a net savings over the truck. With a regular hybrid that would jump to about a minimum fuel price of $2.50/gal. Considering current fuel prices (let's assume $5/gal) that means you're saving $50-100/mo (even when factoring in electric costs and your higher payment) to ditch the pickup, just from using half (or less) the gas it does.

 

You'll need to consider your electrical utility rate (it's 6-7 kWh to fill the battery on an '18, depending on L1 or L2 charging and degradation) against the price of gas to determine fuel savings.

Awesome response! Thank you!

I’ll have to check the power rate at home. I’d be starting out on a standard outlet for now, just charging in the evenings after work. I can also charge while at work as we have a bunch of charge point stations scattered around my parking deck (four right outside the entrance I use already). It appears those run .85/hr for the first three hours which would be plenty. I’d also get free use of our express lanes which I already pay for on occasion. There is about a $250 per year “tax” that you have to pay for that, but that’s really peanuts compared to actually using the normal pass.

 

I don’t really see gas prices retreating anytime soon, so maybe this could make some sense. We barely broke below $2.00 at any point over the last 15 years and when we did, it was short-lived. That said, how reliable are these Fusion Energi models? With it having 65k miles, how long can I reasonably expect it to last? While my truck is getting 19.7mpg on my work commute now (it used to just break 16mpg when I worked closer by and had more in-city driving to do), the big advantage is I know how it’s been cared for and I’d be pretty shocked if I couldn’t get 300k-400k miles or more out of it.

[theterminator93]

We got ours in late 2020, also used, with about 44,000 on it. It's just about to turn over 60,000. The only issue we've had (aside from a little bit of HVB degradation) was that the LED charge port ring died - though it wasn't working when we got it. It was an easy fix with a $100 part. There are a few folks here with cars over 100k who have said they've been reliable as well, though I can't quote one for you right now.

[muzicman61]

When I bought my 2017 FFE in 2017 I too had a round trip work commute of 100 miles.  I did not have the ability to charge at work yet still averaged over 40mpg.  On the highway I would turn EV off and only use EV in the city.  You really don't want to run in battery mode at 70mph.