All-electric Mini Vs. Ford Fusion Hybrid

CNET's Martin LaMonica Test Drives Two "Green" Cars

(CNET)  CNET's green tech reporter Martin LaMonica test drives the all-electric Mini Cooper and Ford's hybrid Fusion

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It's not every day that you get to drive an all-electric
car and a brand new gas-electric hybrid. But that's just what I did last week when I took both the Electric Mini Cooper and 2010 Ford Fusion for a spin.

The two cars represent two technical approaches to gaining fuel efficiency through bigger car batteries.

Like the Toyota Prius, the newly released Ford Fusion is a gas-electric hybrid that drives primarily on the gas engine, supplemented by a nickel-metal hydride battery. By contrast, the Mini Electric, which will start to be leased to drivers next month as part of a trial, runs entirely on lithium-ion batteries, the latest battery technology.

The trade-offs of both approaches are pretty apparent. The Fusion gets over 40 miles per gallon and it's more or less like any other car you've driven: you fill it up with gasoline and it goes.

The Mini Electric, on the other hand, sacrifices the entire back seat for its battery pack. That allows it to go 100 miles on a charge--sufficient for most daily driving. But two of its advantages are that you never go to a gas station and there are no emissions from the car itself.

Meanwhile, there's yet another technology in the mix--what General Motors calls a range-extended electric vehicle or what engineers call a series hybrid (as opposed to a parallel hybrid). In that case, an internal combustion engine does nothing but charge the batteries that propel the car.

On the road

There's a lot of focus on how lithium-ion batteries are paving the way for cars with a longer range (although cost is still a serious concern). But in both the Ford and the Electric Mini, there are a number of other fuel-saving tricks at work.

The big one is regenerative braking, where the battery charges when the driver presses the brake. The Ford Fusion didn't feel very different from any other automatic transmission car. But the regenerative braking in the Electric Mini was different. When I took my foot of the accelerator, the car slowed significantly. It's noticeable but something that I got used within a few minutes of riding.


Automakers say a key component to mainstream electric car adoption is an in-board feedback system that lets drivers know how to maximize their efficiency. This is probably old hat to Prius drivers looking for ways to save on gas. But it becomes particularly important in all-electric cars, as automakers don't want drivers getting stuck with an empty battery and no place to charge.


The Ford's dashboard LCD shows when you're using the gas motor and when you're running on battery. The way to optimize for efficiency is to get to cruising speed and then tap the brakes to charge the battery, I was told. The car also has an on-dash rating system that displays a plant sprout. More leaves distinguishes the hypermilers from the lead-foots.

The Electric Mini feedback system is pretty simple: how much juice you have left is on the front dash while another meter shows whether you're drawing from or charging the battery.

How did these autos drive? For somebody with admittedly pedestrian taste in cars, I thought they both were great to drive.

If I had to pick, I'd say the Mini is more fun simply because it's a small car with a lot of pep. But then again, without a back seat to speak of, you're not going to bring your Saint Bernard to the beach in an Electric Mini.

Representatives from Ford and BMW were kind enough to hold the video
camera while I drove these cars around the block in California last week and to answer my questions about what's under the hood. You can see the Ford Fusion video here and the Electric Mini video here.

[dixxson]

With the Mini you get a Van with 2 Seats!
With the Ford Fusion you get a whole car!
The Mini will not even take you from Los Angelos California to Vegas.
The ford will take you coast to coast and Back again and again!
And if the ford is like other Hybrids, that runs primarially of the Battery first!
And the gasoline engine kicks in around 40 mph!
Then they are not giving you the straight "dope" on the Fusion!
The car could go for "THOUSANDS" OF MILES without refueling".

[FauxNews]

2 cars that you can't even buy.

[au_fait]

And by the way, my civic hybrid did not cost $30 - $40K and it gets 42 mpg combined highway/city when I'm driving with my usual leadfoot style. If I drive more conservatively, I get 50 mpg.
Posted by skeezix06 at 4:16 AM : May 3, 2009

i call shenanigans, we have the same model (3 of them) and lead footing brings the MPG down to 36. 50 MPG is correct though as a high. As for the price before the spike in gas you could pick a new one up for about 21K. Just pissed they did not offer leather or a sunroof (almost broke the deal for me)

[jonesjep]

2 cars that people do not want.

[Sky017]

Tesla Model S all-electric:

teslamotors.com/models/index.php

youtube.com/watch?v=HvzOdYVw6Pw


*BYD E6 *
(A huge battery maker now getting into cars. Warren Buffet has invested in this company.)

youtube.com/watch?v=IMl657r6DX4

The E6 will be a 5 seater with an acceleration of 0 to 100 kph of around 10 seconds. Top speed should be top speed of 160 kph (100 mph), and the battery pack, which is located under the rear passenger seats, will be based on BYD's own lithium-ion iron phosphate technology. Range per charge is expected to be 300 km (186 miles).

BYD projected the battery had a life of 2,000 cycles, for a lifetime range of about 600,000 km (373,000 miles).

*Bringing the electric car to the world:*
youtube.com/watch?v=OmOW0z__AMI

(Nissan and Renault have stated and committed to a future of electric vehicles. They are skipping hybrids, and they are not going into hydrogen or fuel cell cars.)

economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11332425

Final note:
The first laser printer was $10K. Should it NOT have been introduced?
Now you can get a laser printer for $250.
Like with EVERYTHING else... the first of anything is more costly, but the early adopters buy them. Then economies of scale and vendor competition kicks in and prices drop.

The naysayers also said the first iPod was 'nice' but expensive. And look at the proliferation of iPods now.

****

[sjc_1]

A Fusion hybrid here on the lots is priced at over $31k, you can buy a standard 4 cylinder automatic for about $21k. You would have to drive the hybrid more than 10 years at 15k miles per year with gasoline above $4 per gallon to pay off the price difference.

[growlll]

Coasting in netural is pretty much illegal here in the US though.

[daffy64]

One of these days, carmakers will finally! realize that women want an all-electric car/vehicle simply b/c it has fewer moving parts (to break down) and it's easier to maintain (no oil and gas irritations to bother with -- messy!).

The carmaker who does, will get most, if not all, of that business -- $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Guys -- and internal-combustion engine enthusiasts -- can still have their V-8's, etc. -- who ever said it had to be one or the other -- why can't we have both??

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I'll take the electric car. I don't rely on an internal combustion engine to define ma-chis-mo.

Besides, I can use the cash savings to buy more beer.

[ToolMangler1]

At 35 mph I get 40 mpg,
At 45 mph I get 55 mpg,
At 55 mph I get 60 mpg,
At 65 mph I get 58 mpg,
At 75 mph I get 52 mpg,

(and for those that are curious At 125 mph I get 30 mpg)
(The vehicle of choice is a 1994 "Bought new) Honda PC with 128000 miles on the Odometer)

[cs4466]

Electric's the way to go, mini wins, hands down.

[incog-nito]

The price differential between a Civic hybrid and a comparable regular gas Civic (automatic and AC), based on MSRP, is about $6000. This difference goes up for more expensive models, to as much as $10-15K or even more. Think about how many years you have to keep the hybrid just to break even. If hybrids are to be adopted by more people they have to make sense economically, and right now they don't.

[incog-nito]

And by the way, my civic hybrid did not cost $30 - $40K and it gets 42 mpg combined highway/city when I'm driving with my usual leadfoot style. If I drive more conservatively, I get 50 mpg.
Posted by skeezix06 at 4:16 AM : May 3, 2009

The 2009 Civic Hybrid ranges from $24,320 to $27,520 MSRP, not including tax, title and license, and it's one of the smaller hybrids. Most midsize or larger hybrids easily cost over $30K and quite a few approach $40K when you include options. This price range is correct when you look at the overall cost of hybrids, not just the smaller models.

[skeezix06]

What mileage does it get? That's the bottom line.

And by the way, my civic hybrid did not cost $30 - $40K and it gets 42 mpg combined highway/city when I'm driving with my usual leadfoot style. If I drive more conservatively, I get 50 mpg.

[Yes_ABWH_Fan]

One other remark about neutral gear. The engine RPM's when in neutral (idle) are only about 1/3 to 1/4 those of your tallest cruising gear. That means if the engine is engaged while cruising, it is spinning 3-4x more often than when coasting. I call that type of cruising "sucking at the titty", which I speculate to be an intentional design by the car companies, at the insistence of the oil companies. Car engines ARE too powerful - the Evo version of my Lancer was the fastest production car made in 2004 (same block engine). The only thing ICE cars do efficiently is hard acceleration. Therefore, the only way to run them efficiently is to "power them" as briefly as possible, and idle them (ie. Neutral) as long as possible.

[Yes_ABWH_Fan]

nycsense, the Lancer I own (yes it IS smaller - outside!) actually has MORE interior room for passengers than your Escape does (I know, my son owns one), I am averaging 9 mpg better than your hybrid, and I paid at least $10,000 less for it. Stick shift gives YOU control over how much mileage is possible. As far as coasting with an ICE car, well, every time I push the clutch in, I am coasting, so yeah, it IS safe.

[Yes_ABWH_Fan]

Something I've NEVER seen explained with pure electrics is how they intend to keep my windshield frost-free, or the occupants warm, when driving in a raging ice storm or blizzard. With ICE's, engine heat is "throwaway energy". With electrics, that much heat would likely cut your possible range by -75% or more. Cooling an electric car may work with the rooftop solar method Toyota is developing, but no one seems to be talking about keeping the car warm in winter. I think this issue is being intentionally avoided.

[Yes_ABWH_Fan]

"D1234567890123456789", I drive a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer 5-speed. I routinely use the "burst driving" technique used in the long-mileage contests. I initially accelerate quite hard in a low gear to generate max power (something all the experts say "not" to do) with minimum time on the gas pedal, and make my "favorite gear" neutral, slowing to a stop naturally as much as possible, and minimizing braking. I also do the same acceleration, going halfway up hills, but try to slow as much as possible up & over the crest (making sure not to inconvenience those behind me). I am typically in a gear lower than what is "taught" - the gear that generates the most power with the least press on the gas. I average 37 mpg, tank to tank daily use, & 44 on long trips, in mountainous central Pa. What kills mileage is NOT acceleration - it is unnecessary braking, pure & simple. You get mileage from accelerating. You get *nothing* from braking, at least in an ICE.

[debinok1]

Here is my reasoning on this subject. We do not need cars that can go 150 to 190 miles an hour, here in the US we have speed limits, in most states that is 75. We do not need 300 horsepower motors that go from 1 to 60 in how ever many seconds. If we are at a dead stop chances are we are in town, the speed limit in the city limits is usually around 35. Make lower max speed, lower horsepower vehicles with improved mpg. Then those same vehicles can be enhanced with alternate power much easier.

[ToolMangler1]

When it comes to electrics, I have to ask, Compared to a Gas engined or Gas electric engined what does a pure Electric engined car cost per pound/mile driven. Somebody smarter than I am will have to figure that out.

[incog-nito]

Posted by nycsense at 1:59 PM : May 2, 2009

Another thing I should mention: Today's gasoline cars are much, much more efficient than they used to be, but instead of using that efficiency for better mileage, manufacturers use it for more horsepower. I used to own a Honda Accord a few years back with 150 hp that drove just fine. Today's Accord has almost 300 hp. Not to mention all those SUVs and musclecars out there. Do people really need that much? If the manufacturers dial back the horsepower a little they can get a lot more fuel efficiency even with bigger vehicles. Also, they already sell very efficient diesels in Europe that get 50-60 mpg that they can bring over here. Again, the problem is people here will keep buying the monster cars and keep talking about the exciting new stuff.

Believe me, I am all for conservation and have no problem buying a hybrid or electric if they make economic sense. Right now most don't.