09-12-2005, 06:58 PM
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FEH Advocate
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Location: Ventura, CA
Hybrids: FEH 2005
Posts: 68
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FEH Fuel Economy Issues
I just got permission to post attachments, so I wanted to try a thread for fuel economy issues specific to Ford Escape Hybrid (FEH) with a reference document. Hopefully when others report back from the Ford Escape Hybrid Fuel Economy Experience: Learn to Optimize Your Fuel Economy with the Escape Hybrid Development Team, we may update this information. If this thread has favorable review, then it may be positioned with a "sticky" for easy reference.
Fuel Economy is perhaps the biggest issue that new hybrid buyers are concerned with. Note: EPA Fuel Economy Ratings listed on the window sticker are inaccurate (on as much as 90% of vehicles tested). See current article on this by Consumer Reports: "Fuel Economy - Why You're Not Getting the MPG You Expect" at http://cdn.consumerreports.org/static/0510fue0.html
For frequently asked questions about fuel economy see www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml
Some new FEH owners have complained that they don't get the EPA rating, especially for city driving. This is because the EPA tests do not reflect real-world driving. Generalizations (for all cars but more so for hybrids): If most of your driving is short trips, then your MPG will be lower than EPA. If you drive longer trips and at speeds averaging between 40-60MPH, then your MPG will be higher than EPA. Also, extreme temperatures, hot or cold, lowers hybrid vehicle fuel economy. Another thing to note is that the FEH gets better fuel economy, by several MPGs, after break-in period at about 3000-5000 miles.
GreenHybrid.com and Yahoo FEH Group both have real mileage databases that show FEH owners are getting slightly lower than EPA rating on average. These databases show better than what Consumer Reports tested, probably due to CR not taking into account that most hybrid owners drive in a manner to try to get good fuel economy; as well as the CR test vehicle being fairly new and not past break-in period.
Click on attachment below for viewing a document made to help coach FEH owners in getting good fuel economy.
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