Archive for the ‘Hybrid mpg’ Category
We’re fresh into the new year and talk about 2010 models has surfaced. Indeed, the 2010 Mercedes GLK350 is already in showrooms while a number of new models from a variety of manufacturers will begin to show up over the coming months. It seems that the auto world just can’t wait for 2010!
The Ford Motor Company will soon be leading the charge to 2010 when the all new Ford Mustang makes its debut this Spring. That car will hit Ford showrooms just about the same time that the revived Chevrolet Camaro returns, one of three pony cars (including the Dodge Challenger) which will be available this year.
But it is Ford’s trio of midsize sedans which has all of the attention as the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ have been redone and will also show up in showrooms this Spring. Of the three, the Fusion is getting the most attention as it the volume leader, with the Milan sharing the same components. The Lincoln MKZ is the upscale version of the three, offering much more luxury and top of the line technology compared to the others.
Recently, Ford announced that the Fusion Hybrid received its fuel economy ratings from the Environmental Protection Agency, figures which show that the car will get 41 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. The city mpg or miles per gallon figure is most noticeable as it is a full 8 mpg higher than the competing Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Even more recently Ford announced that the standard four cylinder 2.5L DURATEC engine paired with a six speed transmission would return 23 mpg city and 34 mpg highway, the latter some 3 mpg better than the standard Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. Again, Ford has stolen the buzz away from the Camry, which is America’s most popular car.
“Take your pick: Whether you want a gas-powered or hybrid mid-sized sedan, the new Fusion offers the best fuel economy in America,” said Barb Samardzich, Ford’s vice president of Powertrain Engineering. “We promised to offer best-in-class or among the very best fuel economy with every new vehicle we introduce, and we are making good on that pledge with hybrids, new high-tech gasoline engines, new six-speed transmissions and other fuel efficient technologies.”
Clearly, Ford is going in the right direction with its all new Ford Fusion as well as with its Mercury and Lincoln twins. With the most fuel efficient models in the midsize car segment, Ford is once again showing leadership by raising the fuel efficiency bar.
Matthew C. Keegan
http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/2010-ford-fusion-takes-mpg-laurels-718107.html
I’m looking for an in depth answer, not an opinion. Thanks!
In general a gasoline vehicle is more efficient when it is moving slower. This is because of the operating characteristics of a gasoline engine and the vehicle suffers from more wind resistance at higher speeds. But it is also true that it costs more energy to start and accelerate a vehicle than to cruise at a constant speed. This is because a vehicle starting up has to overcome inertia. Many starts and stops ie, city driving, in a normal vehicle gives less gas mileage than highway driving because of the starts and stops even though the speed is slower. But mileage would be even better at a constant lower speed of around 35 to 40 mph.
A normal gasoline engine is most efficient only at a fairly narrow operating range. It only has a good amount of ability to move the car when it is racing along. This is why drag racers will rev up the engine before starting. A gasoline engine is at most about 30% efficient.
An electric motor has a wider range where it does well. It is particularly good at starting a vehicle from a standstill. An electric motor is about 95% efficient.
In a hybrid vehicle the best qualities of both engines are used when possible. From a start the 95% efficient electric motor overcomes inertia to get the car rolling. Once there is sufficient speed the gasoline engine also helps move the car when it is also more efficient. (In a parallel hybrid like the Toyota Prius but not in a series hybrid.)
Hybrid Cars also incorporate regenerative breaking in their systems. This is a way to recover energy from the inertia of the vehicle. In the city there are many starts and stops. This is usually very wasteful, but for a hybrid vehicle with regenerative breaking the starts are offset by the slow downs. Energy that is normally lost is recovered and this means that the gasoline engine will not have to run to charge the batteries by the amount recovered. This is another savings.
A hybrid vehicle uses its efficient electric system mostly for starts, stops and moving slowly. There is not enough stored battery power for highway driving. But for highway driving the hybrid can use a smaller gasoline engine because it does not have to be over-sized for starts and stops. The smaller engine is more efficient than a normal car’s necessary larger engine. So the hybrid can get good highway mileage. But this is still not as good as the very efficient electric motor combined with regenerative braking that is used in the city.
http://www.afstrinity.com
Aired: April 14, 2008 on FOX (KTBC) Austin News
Description: “A new hybrid-electric technology could be the car of the future… it is now touring the U.S. and is headed up east for Earth Day in Washington D.C.”
150 miles per gallon SUV.
Find out more at http://www.afstrinity.com
Duration : 0:2:38
We’re fresh into the new year and talk about 2010 models has surfaced. Indeed, the 2010 Mercedes GLK350 is already in showrooms while a number of new models from a variety of manufacturers will begin to show up over the coming months. It seems that the auto world just can’t wait for 2010!
The Ford Motor Company will soon be leading the charge to 2010 when the all new Ford Mustang makes its debut this Spring. That car will hit Ford showrooms just about the same time that the revived Chevrolet Camaro returns, one of three pony cars (including the Dodge Challenger) which will be available this year.
But it is Ford’s trio of midsize sedans which has all of the attention as the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ have been redone and will also show up in showrooms this Spring. Of the three, the Fusion is getting the most attention as it the volume leader, with the Milan sharing the same components. The Lincoln MKZ is the upscale version of the three, offering much more luxury and top of the line technology compared to the others.
Recently, Ford announced that the Fusion Hybrid received its fuel economy ratings from the Environmental Protection Agency, figures which show that the car will get 41 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. The city mpg or miles per gallon figure is most noticeable as it is a full 8 mpg higher than the competing Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Even more recently Ford announced that the standard four cylinder 2.5L DURATEC engine paired with a six speed transmission would return 23 mpg city and 34 mpg highway, the latter some 3 mpg better than the standard Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. Again, Ford has stolen the buzz away from the Camry, which is America’s most popular car.
“Take your pick: Whether you want a gas-powered or hybrid mid-sized sedan, the new Fusion offers the best fuel economy in America,” said Barb Samardzich, Ford’s vice president of Powertrain Engineering. “We promised to offer best-in-class or among the very best fuel economy with every new vehicle we introduce, and we are making good on that pledge with hybrids, new high-tech gasoline engines, new six-speed transmissions and other fuel efficient technologies.”
Clearly, Ford is going in the right direction with its all new Ford Fusion as well as with its Mercury and Lincoln twins. With the most fuel efficient models in the midsize car segment, Ford is once again showing leadership by raising the fuel efficiency bar.
Matthew C. Keegan
http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/2010-ford-fusion-takes-mpg-laurels-718107.html
