2019 Ford Fusion Energi – Roadtrip

2019 Ford Fusion Energi – Roadtrip

After taking the 2019 Ford Fusion - Energi on an extended road trip around BC. Our conclusion; Ford is providing some much needed relief at the pump

The new Fusion Energi is projected to offer an electric-only range of 40 km, which is an almost 20% improvement on previous generations. Ford’s engineers have accomplished what all our bosses regularly ask of us; do more with less, in the form of a new 9.0-kilowatt-hour battery with higher energy capacity, and no change to the physical size of the cell.

With the highway robbery that happens at a gas station these days, it’s great to see manufacturers offering more fuel-efficient technologies. The week we had the new Ford Fusion Energi coincided with the unaffordable $1.60+ a litre gas prices in Metro Vancouver. So, we decided to put this car through the paces and take it on an extended road trip to put the fuel savings to the test. In our previous experiences, we have found that the PHEV, fits more closely with our lifestyle, as we often must use the vehicle beyond the capabilities provided by an all-electric car. (Unless you have access to the proper charging infrastructure) 

With the 20-degree weather, we had this spring; it was a perfect time to do an extended trip up the Fraser Canyon. Leaving the house with the sunrise, we left the valley and headed out to Hope. Here in the shadows of the mountains, we filled up the car and our stomachs to get ready for our little adventure. Driving north through the canyon is a sight that is quite amazing, with steep vertical mountain cliffs, twisting highways with dark tunnels, and lush wet green forests; you see the BC that I picture in my head.

Upon leaving the canyon, you exit the Trans-Canada and turn off on to the Cariboo highway leaving the mountains behind as the landscape slowly turns to the rolling pasture land for the cowboys. Much of this highway follows the route of the original Cariboo Wagon Road, which in the early 1800s was a critical part of BC’s gold rush history. There were many neat little historic markers dotted between the small rustic farming and logging communities. A sad thought throughout the trip was seeing the devastation caused by the recent terrible wildfire years.  There were many times where on one side of the highway was a green forest, and out the opposite window, the view was kilometers and kilometers of charred stumps with not much else.

Our first day ended in Williams Lake, which presented us with one of our most surprising insights of the trip. But to get that I should first start with, a few months ago, we were visited by some family from Saskatchewan. They loved seeing so many electric cars driving around Vancouver, but lament the fact that without the proper infrastructure, they couldn’t see many people in their community adopting to them anytime soon. When they said this, I agreed and thought that made sense, however now after this trip; I think I might disagree! Most Canadian cities provide access to power for their block heaters! When we parked at our hotel in Williams Lake, we were surprised to see each stall had a wooden post with 120v power access. Now while it won’t solve all the world’s problems at once, this does seem like something that might actually give those more electric resistant places a leg up in terms of charging infrastructure. The power required to start your cloud spewing diesel truck in the dead of winter, might also just help speed up the adoption of a greener alternative. In our situation, it provided us with a free 40kms! (one full charge of the Ford Fusion Energi).

After another day on the road and a night in Quesnel, we were on our way home. Having never driven the 99 through Lillooet, we decided to take the scenic route and turned west just before Cache Creek. Boy were we happy that we did that, Highway 99, must be one of the most beautiful drives in BC. I thought the canyon was stunning but, on the way home we were pulling over what felt like every 30 minutes to try and take in the breathtaking view. The twisting mountain pass must have also been one of the quietest, as we must have only seen a dozen vehicles as we drove through the emptiness between Lillooet and Pemberton. The only thing we regretted about the detour (and we did regret it at the time,) was after a late lunch in Whistler; we arrived in North Vancouver just in time for the horrible Friday rush hour traffic.

After all, was said and done, we had spent almost 24 hours and drove nearly 1500 km’s in the Ford Fusion. Having carefully tracked our fuel receipts, we calculated that we spent only $150 on the gas for the entire trip, stopping in 100-mile House both ways.  The onboard computer gave us a trip average of 5.7l/100km, which was pretty impressive real-world numbers.

Lineup

  • Fusion SE
    • Starting at $24,090
    • 1.5-litre EcoBoost
    • 10/7L/100km
  • Hybrid SE
    • Starting at $29,695
    • 2.0-litre 188hp Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder
    • 5.5/5.6L/100km
  • Hybrid SEL
    • Starting at $30,890
    • 2.0-litre 188hp Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder
    • 5.5/5.6L/100km
  • Energi SEL
    • Starting at $32,590
    • Electric-only range of 40 km
    • 2.3/2.2L/100km
  • Hybrid Titanium
    • Starting at $34,540
    • 2.0-litre 188hp Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder
    • 5.5/5.6L/100km
  • Energi Titanium
    • Starting at $35,590
    • Electric-only range of 40 km
    • 2.3/2.2L/100km

Key Features

  • Ford Co-Pilot360™ Technology
  • Standard 17” Aluminum rims, with available 18
  • Electric power-assisted steering (EPAS)
  • SiriusXM® Radio with Traffic and Travel Link®
  • SYNC® 3 with 8-in. LCD touchscreen and Apple CarPlay™/Android Auto™
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2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – Automotive Review

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – Automotive Review

The SUV has come a long way from what we see today. Before they were called SUV’s we had the International Scout, Chevy Blazer, and the Ford Bronco. These were a great way to take your whole family four-wheeling, camping or on a family holiday. Like everything, things evolve, and improve in an attempt to make our lives better. The sky-high price of fuel has meant re-evaluating the length and cost of our outdoor adventures. Well not anymore, introducing the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, the world’s most technically advanced 4WD plug-in hybrid SUV.

Three models to choose from, SE S-AWC, SE S-AWC Touring and GT S-AWC.

The interior is very similar to the standard Outlander, it seats 5 comfortably and everything is well laid out. You can monitor your battery level and fuel consumption along with selecting phone and music options. Available in the Outlander PHEV are two AC power outlets located in the rear seat and cargo area. These standard plugs draw directly from the drive battery and provide 1,500 watts of electric power, perfect for any outdoor activity requiring a little power.

EV Drive Mode

In the EV Drive Mode, the Outlander PHEV is driven in a very eco-friendly performance mode by the two electric motors, with energy being supplied exclusively by the lithium-ion drive battery pack (100 percent electric-powered). This mode is excellent for running errands and performing daily family duties

Series Hybrid Mode

When the energy level remaining in the lithium-ion drive battery pack is low or when the need arises for a sudden and/or an additional degree of acceleration, the two electric motors are powered by the battery pack and provided additional electricity by the gasoline-powered generator hence, “hybrid” mode.

In this configuration, the gasoline-powered generator helps charge the lithium-ion drive battery pack and provides additional power to the pair of electric motors

Parallel Hybrid Mode

In this drive mode, the Outlander PHEV uses the gasoline engine to drive the front wheels; the front axle features a built-in clutch that switches the system to Parallel Drive Mode mainly for engine-powered travel at high speeds. The two electric motors positioned at the front and rear, operate seamlessly when additional power is required, such as driving uphill. The gasoline-powered engine/generator will feed any excess energy back into the lithium-ion battery pack.

Charging

The Outlander PHEV can be easily charged three ways. Standard at home 120V outlet (13 hours for 8 amps and 8 hours for 12 amps). Public or home 240V outlet (4 hours) or DC fast charging public charging facilities which will charge up to 80 percent capacity in less than 30 minutes.

Safety

Blind spot warning system, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning and multi-view camera system

Engine

280 hp electric motors offering 101 lb-ft of torque for the front axle and 144 lb-ft of torque at the rear

Warranty

  • 10-year or 160,000 km powertrain warranty
  • 10-year/160,000 km lithium-ion battery warranty
  • Five-year or 100,000 km comprehensive warranty.

Fuel economy

  • 5.1L/100 Kilometers
  • Full electric mode expect to see a 37 Kilometer range
  • Total combined driving range of approximately 50 Kilometers 

Verdict

When driving a hybrid or electric hybrid such as this you find yourself obsessed over saving fuel. It is almost like playing a video game, trying to beat your top score. I personally enjoy driving SUV’s because of the truck like feel and space for my family and things. Finally seeing a reliable PHEV option in an SUV like this Mitsubishi Outlander is something I am excited about, and fully support.

Price

Starting at $42,998 CND

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