A team led by a NASCAR racer and the guy who coined the term "hypermiling" spent 69 hours and $37 driving a bone-stock Ford Fusion Hybrid 1,445.7 miles on a single tank of gas, a feat Ford says sets a new record for fuel efficiency
Hypermiling king Wayne Gerdes and NASCAR driver Carl Edwards were among the drivers who averaged 81.5 mpg during a three-day run that started Saturday and saw them double the 700-mile range Ford claims for the Fusion Hybrid. Ford says that's a world record for gasoline-powered mid-size sedans, but Guinness wasn't there to certify it.
The team's impressive distance fell just short of the hypermiling distance record John and Helen Taylor of Australia set in 2002 when they covered 1,459.16 miles in a Peugeot 406 HDi diesel.
Ford dreamed up the "Ford Fusion 1,000 Mile Challenge" to show people that simple tricks like smooth acceleration, following the speed limit and limited your use of the heater and air conditioner can significantly boost your fuel efficiency. The automaker was quick to say it doesn't condone some of the riskier things hardcore hypermilers do - drafting 18-wheelers comes to mind - and says such tactics aren't necessary.
The Fusion Hybrid is pretty thrifty out of the box, and the EPA says it's good for 41 mpg and 36 on the highway. The tank carries 17.5 gallons of gas, and Ford says it's got a range of 700 miles. The Challenge crew doubled that by, among other things, keeping the car below 47 mph whenever possible to maximize all-electric driving, accelerating and braking smoothly, keeping the windows up to reduce drag and coasting to a stop at traffic signals.
The team spent three days driving a route in and around Washington, D.C. that included elevation changes, the George Washington Parkway and a three-mile stretch of road marked by 30 traffic lights. The drivers spent two or three hours behind the wheel before handing the car off to the next guy. Edwards arrived after his spectacular crash Sunday on the final lap at Talladega and drove the car past the 1,000 mile mark.
Edwards called the experience "exciting" and said he is so impressed by the Fusion Hybrid that he bought one.
Above: The Fusion Hybrid's "SmartGauge" tells the tale early on in the challenge, when the car was averaging 80 mpg and had more than 600 miles left in the tank. The crew ended up hitting 81.5 mpg and squeezing more than 1,445 miles from the car's 17.5 gallon fuel tank.
Average Lifespan: Hybrid batteries typically have a lifespan of 100,000 to 200,000 miles. Warranty Coverage: Most hybrid car manufacturers offer warranties that cover the hybrid battery for up to 8 years or 100,000 miles.
Hybrid vehicles have a much higher miles per gallon rating than gas cars. For example, the 2022 Honda Insight, a popular hybrid, has an estimated combined MPG of 52. That means one tank of gas should get the average driver about 728 miles, which would be $0.08 per mile.
Ford's Fusion Hybrid uses a similar strategy as the Toyota and Lexus systems, and will allow about a half-mile of driving on the propulsion battery after the Fusion runs out of fuel.
According to U.S. News, Edmunds, MotorTrend, and Cars.com, the answer is yes, thanks to its sporty features and intuitive infotainment package. This vehicle also includes a long list of standard features designed to keep you comfortable and connected.
The Fusion enjoyed a successful run, consistently ranking among the top-selling mid-size sedans in the United States. However, the growing popularity of SUVs and trucks, coupled with Ford's strategic shift towards these segments, ultimately led to the Fusion's discontinuation in 2020.
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is the most fuel-efficient Ford model, delivering up to 320 miles of range on a single charge. The 2022 Escape SE Hybrid and SE Plug-In Hybrid are next in line with 44 city mpg and 37 highway mpg.
The Ford Maverick HEV has an estimated total range of 511 miles, according to the EPA. For comparison, the compact SUV Toyota RAV4 Hybrid range is 580 miles.
If you do a lot of highway driving, your Distance to Empty warning may give you an earlier alert of up to 80 miles of remaining fuel. If you are towing a trailer or idling for extended periods, your Distance to Empty feature may alert you at 35 miles or less.
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