When I launched the MPGomatic.com website back in 2007 and the MPGomatic YouTube channel the following year, my friends asked me, “why put in all that time on the topic of gas mileage? Do people really care about it that much?” As time went by, and the price of gasoline rose, they nodded their heads and said, “hey, maybe you’re right, after all.” When the price of gas dropped, they became skeptical again. But with the petroleum markets being the roller coaster that they are, it was only a matter of time until prices climbed the next hill. Rest assured, conventional petroleum will never be inexpensive again. The coaster may rise and fall, but the overall trend is up up up … with worldwide demand set to increase by staggering proportions.
gas mileage
2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid Gas Mileage Testing Notes
I’m in the midst of an extended two-week test of the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid. Given all the brouhaha in the press lately, I decided to post our fuel economy testing notes, with details on each of the driving segments.
I picked up the C-Max in New York City on the evening of Monday, December 3. The first test run left Manhattan through the Holland Tunnel to the New Jersey Turnpike South to Route 78 West to Route 287 North to Route 202 South, before hitting local streets. I didn’t discover the EcoCruise setting until the highway segment was complete.
1) 12/3 NYC -> Home / Evening – approx 60 miles, 41.8 MPG HVAC on driver + 2 passengers EcoCruise off Target Speed 68, mix of cruise/no cruise, headlamps
The next day, I set out to replicate the high MPG back road/small town cruise that scored exceptionally well with the 2012 Prius C earlier this year. I was able to echo those results.
Using Grill Blockers to Improve Winter Fuel Economy
If you live in an area where temperatures plunge well below freezing, you might already know that grill blockers improve winter fuel economy a bit by keeping ultra-cold air out of the engine compartment. While cold weather presents challenges, we can fight back against Old Man Winter by taking simple measures to stabilize temperatures under the hood. Take a look at the trucks in any random parking lot; it’s no secret that engines are most efficient when run at an optimum temperature. Jury rigged apparatus abound at this time of year – from slabs of zip-tied quick-and-dirty cardboard on up to the most aerodynamic and weather-resistant designs. But you won’t find an off-the-shelf bolt-on product at AutoZone, PepBoys, or Costco. It’s all about the D-I-Y …
Why Does Gas Mileage Get Worse in the Winter?
It’s no secret that the fuel economy of any given vehicle will be worse in the winter. It’s not just about the extended warm up time, as some might think. While it’s easy to blame it all on Old Man Winter, there’s a range of specific reasons why we experience lower MPGs at this time of year.
As luck would have it, I’m driving a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid this week. When the news hit the wire today about Consumer Reports failing to hit the official gas mileage estimates, I took it all with a grain of salt. They had similarly poor results with the Prius C earlier this year. Part of the reason why they fared even more poorly with the C-Max may have to do with the time of year. (I’ll address the Consumer Reports issue in a subsequent post.)
The Ford C-Max Hybrid: An Ideal Taxi?
While I’ve seen plenty of Prius taxis in New York City, they always seem to be greatly outnumbered by the traditional Ford Crown Victoria. Landing on the other coast last month proved to be an eye opener. I was taken aback by the sheer number of Toyota Prius taxis gliding about the streets of San Francisco. They were everywhere. Now I’ve never thought of the Prius to be well suited to taxi work from a passengers standpoint, but it’s easy to see the appeal from the fleet owner’s perspective. It comes down to dollars and cents. The drastic improvement in fuel economy between a gigantic sedan with a V8 engine and a (relatively) smaller and lighter vehicle with a hybrid drive train is undeniable.
