The 2017 Ford Fusion Energi puts an end to range anxiety

Interested in making the switch to a plug-in hybrid, but worried about potential range limitations? We’ve already covered a few reasons why car owners are getting charged up over Ford’s hybrid and electric vehicles – now let’s talk about why the 2017 Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid is a great option for those who need to go further distances than currently possible with an all-electric vehicle. In short, the Fusion Energi solves one of the challenges typically associated with electrified vehicles: range anxiety.

Ford’s new 2017 Fusion Energi is designed to alleviate feelings of range anxiety by going further in every sense of the word. In a recent survey, we asked drivers how far they think the Fusion Energi can go on one tank and a full charge. They guessed 420 km.* In reality, the Fusion Energi blew right by their expectations with an estimated combined gas-plus-electric range of 982 km. Feeling a little less anxious yet?

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The 2017 Fusion Energi is a plug-in hybrid; that means it uses both an electric battery and a gas-powered engine. In normal use, you can drive the Fusion Energi in all-electric mode until the battery is depleted, at which point the gas-powered engine takes over to get you to your destination provided you’ve got gas in the tank of course. And given that 83% of Canadians say that fuel economy is important to them***, it’s clear that the Fusion Energi is ideal for maximizing distance travelled between fill-ups.

With changes to the hybrid powertrain software and regenerative braking, the Fusion Energi features an estimated total range of 982 km**. Fusion Energi’s all-electric range is 35 km, while the gas engine adds another 947 km of range (based on Government of Canada approved test methods.)

According to Kevin Layden, Ford’s director of electrified powertrain engineering, Fusion Energi gives drivers both the freedom to go gas-free for shorter trips and the fuel efficiency of a gas engine and regenerative braking for longer trips, all at an affordable price. With provincial incentives also available in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, there’s never been a better time to get into a new Fusion Energi.

Here’s to having your cake, and eating it too.

 

*Source: Ford-commissioned Nielsen survey. This survey was conducted online in the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Ford Motor Company, March 22-30, 2016, among a nationally representative sample of 1,052 people ages 18 and older.  

For complete research methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Chris Terry at cterry34@ford.com. 

** Fusion Energi has a fuel consumption rating of 2.4 Le/100 km (116 MPGe) (electricity+gas) city/hwy combined, an all-electric driving range of up to 35 km and a gas-plus-electric driving range of up to 982 km. Fuel consumption ratings based on Government of Canada approved test methods. Actual fuel consumption will vary. 53-litre fuel tank. Le/100 km is the Government of Canada equivalent measure of gasoline fuel efficiency for electric mode operation. Based on Government of Canada range calculation guidance. Actual driving range varies with conditions such as external elements, driving behaviours, vehicle maintenance and lithium-ion battery age.

***Source: Ford-commissioned H+K Strategies Perspectives Survey. H+K Strategies conducted a national survey of 845 Canadians from across the country between July 22 and 31, 2016.

The sample for the survey was drawn from H+K Perspectives, an online panel developed and maintained by H+K Strategies Canada in order to support our clients. The methodology we used to recruit the panel was designed by leading panel experts and is maintained by the Research + Analytics Group. 

Final survey data were weighted according to Census figures based on age, gender and region in order to obtain a representative sample of the Canadian population. For comparative purposes, a random sample of 845 respondents would yield a margin of error of +/- 3.37%, 19 times out of 20.