Test Spin With Ford- Part 2

Earth911 Assistant Editor Amanda Wills traveled to Washington D.C. to test the Ford 2010 Fusion Hybrid. This is a personal account of her trip and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of Earth911 nor is it endorsed by Ford Motor Company.

I landed in Washington D.C. on April 25, and a Ford rep immediately greeted me at the airport. In the 24-hour time span I would spend with Ford, I would test drive the Fusion Hybrid, meet and interview hypermiler Wayne Gerdes and have dinner with Jay Ward, Ford’s communication director for North America and David Finnegan, hybrid marketing manager.

Ford attempted to drive 1,000 miles on one tank of gas in its 2010 Fusion Hybrid. Photo: Ford Motor Company

When we pulled in to the hotel, I caught my first glimpse of the new Fusion. Outfitted in Ford green leaves decal, the sedan looked almost luxurious. It was certainly different than the small, simple car I had expected.

Granted the bells and whistles were aesthetically pleasing, but I had yet to get behind the wheel and really survey this car.

Hypermiling School

Anxious to get started, I quickly changed clothes and met Wayne (along with a camera crew) in the hotel lobby. Up first to drive the car was Donna Childress from WeLoveDC. I sat in the backseat and observed Wayne as he gave her a crash course in hypermiling.

We glided out of the parking lot and down the streets of Alexandria, Va. at 30 mph. Being the anxious lead foot that I am, I was constantly fearful of high speed traffic and flying obscenities from passing drivers.

But then something magical happened: No one seemed annoyed. In fact, people were interested. While the car’s shiny decals screaming about Ford’s attempt to go 1,000 miles on one tank of gas certainly made us stand out, it was something more that that. We were making a statement for the environment and people seemed to be listening.

A Mercedes convertible filled with a family enjoying a Saturday ride pulled up beside us. “One thousand miles but not that fast!” The woman passenger shouted jokingly.

Yeah, it does go fast, but we don’t have to gun it to make it from point A to point B. In fact, Wayne pointed out that although we were going slower than the traffic in order to stay in EV mode and not use gas, we were actually getting to the same points at the same time while saving energy.

So, instead of letting off the brake and gunning the car only to stop 40 feet at the next red light, we were simply coasting to the next stop without using any fuel. And would you believe it? We got there at the same time as Speedy Joe in the left lane. We were coasting at about 40 mph as Donna was officially getting an average of 71 mpg.

The Nitty Gritty

After an hour or so in the car with Donna as our driver, we returned to the hotel, and I prepped for my dinner with Jay Ward and David Finnegan. This was my opportunity to drill Ford about its production and eco-friendly practices. My first question for Jay was about Ford’s initiatives to go green. While some media outlets have accused Ford of not following through with the movement, Jay disagreed.

“Ford was actually one of the first car companies to announce that it would begin to incorporate eco-friendly cars,” Jay explained. “When Bill Ford Jr. made this speech, other car companies literally laughed at him.”

So, what about those gas-guzzling trucks that Ford is so famous for? Sure, Americans were hell-bent on buying the SUVs and trucks because “larger was safer” back in 2005 when gas prices weren’t through the roof. But times are different now. How can a car company appeal to the environmentalist that wants zero emissions and the power lover who wants a hemi? I asked Jay if this would ever be possible. His response: It’s already in the works.

While Ford’s Escape Hybrid has already been a success, the car company is planning on releasing more fuel-efficient trucks as early as next year. Starting in 2010, every Ford truck will be equipped with a new technology called “EcoBoost,” meaning consumers will enjoy a V8 power with a V6 engine. According to Jay, Ford’s goal is to build the best truck while keeping CO2 emissions in mind.

But the movement for a more efficient truck isn’t the only thing Ford is doing. Its LEED®-certified Rouge Plant could be called the greenest manufacturing facility in the world. Everything gets reused. Even smashed car parts make their way (safely) into another part of a vehicle. But the coolest part about the plant is its 10.4-acre “living roof,” filled with tens of thousands of tiny sedum plants that improve air quality by 40 percent and decrease energy consumption by 7 percent.

Finally, My Turn

After observing Wayne’s hypermiling techniques, I was finally able to put them into action that Sunday morning. Along with Gil Portalatin, Ford hybrid applications manager and hybrid team leader, we took a cruise along the Potomac River.

I thought I would have trouble applying the hypermiling techniques, but after getting behind the wheel and watching my gauges, it almost became like a video game to me. The more eco-friendly my driving was, the more I was rewarded with the electronic green leaves that crept across the dashboard. I was getting 45 mpg, then 48, until I finally hit 50 mpg. The truth is, I really wasn’t driving any differently than I normally do. I just used the road as my guide, letting off the accelerator and gliding when possible.

If you have a longer commute through the city, as I do, the car is excellent. Whereas other cars get the best fuel economy on the highway, the Fusion (and most hybrids for that matter) get the best fuel efficiency in the city. Now, I didn’t dread stopping at a red light because every time I stopped, I wasn’t using gas to idle.

It’s safe to say that I was finally cured of my lead foot.

Read Part 1 of Test Spin With Ford. Check back next week for the final installment of Amanda’s experience in the Ford Fusion Hybrid.