Ford to Offer Free MPG Boost to 2013 Hybrid Owners

Ford will begin offering a free software update in August to improve the fuel economy of the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid, 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid.
Ford says the software update will improve its hybrids’ real-world fuel economy. “We believe these actions will provide our customers enhanced on-road fuel economy satisfaction,” says Raj Nair, group vice president of global product development at Ford, in a press release.
According to Ford, the software update will increase the electric-only top speed from 62 to 85 mph, reduce engine warm-up time, decrease aerodynamic drag using Ford’s active grille shutters, reduce engine cooling fan speed and optimize the climate control system.
“Customers should see the most improvement at highway speeds, during air conditioner use and operation in colder climates,” says Nair. He expects the mileage improvements to vary based on the way people drive. “Just as individual mileage can vary based on driving styles and environmental conditions,” he says, “we expect fuel economy improvements will differ from customer to customer depending on individual driving habits.”
Ford’s announcement Tuesday comes amid criticism that the company has inflated the fuel economy numbers of hybrids like the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid. Reuters reports that “Ford faces a number of class action lawsuits that claim the No. 2 U.S. automaker overstated the gas mileage on its hybrids.”
According to Business Insider, one plaintiff, who owns a C-Max Hybrid, averaged aproximately 37 mpg in combined driving, which is less than the EPA's 47 mpg combined estimate.
Consumer Reports tested the car last year and also reported 37 mpg combined.
Like other automakers, Ford uses the EPA's fuel economy estimates in its advertising. Organizations such as Consumer Reports have recently questioned the EPA’s testing methods, saying that the EPA’s tests don’t reflect real world driving and can result in inflated fuel economy numbers, especially for hybrids. The EPA last addressed concerns about its fuel economy tests in 2008, when it changed its methods to better reflect real world driving. It included faster acceleration, air conditioner use and colder outside temperatures in its tests, and average fuel economy numbers dropped.
Autoweek reports that the software updates should take a half day, and that Ford encourages 2013 hybrid owners to make an appointment with their dealer.

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2014 Honda Accord Hybrid Expected to Get 47 Combined MPG

(American Honda Motor Co., Inc.)

Honda released initial fuel economy estimates for its all-new 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid Wednesday. The EPA hasn’t announced official ratings yet, but Honda says it expects the Accord Hybrid to get 49/45/47 mpg city/highway/combined.
The Accord Hybrid’s fuel economy is better than the 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid’s ratings (43/39/41 mpg city/highway/combined), as well as the fuel economy of the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid, which both get 36/40/38 mpg. The 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid (47/47/47 mpg) gets worse city fuel economy, but does better on the highway, though its combined rating is the same. The 2013 Toyota Prius gets a higher 51/48/50 mpg rating.
The 2014 Accord Hybrid is expected to go on sale this October. Pricing in the U.S. has not been released yet, but Bloomberg reports that Honda priced the Accord Hybrid 20 percent higher in Japan than the Toyota Camry Hybrid because of its better fuel economy. This has created speculation on whether or not the same will be true for the Accord Hybrid in the U.S. Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, told Bloomberg that the pricing tactic is smart since consumers are looking for the best balance of cabin size and fuel economy. Bloomberg says that 2013 Honda Accord sales have already increased 23 percent so far this year, and Toyota Camry’s sales have fallen by 5.5 percent.

(American Honda Motor Co., Inc.)

Its main rivals, the 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid and 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid, start at $26,140 and $27,200, respectively.

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NEMPA/MIT Conference Looks at Fuel Economy and Vehicle Weight

The challenge of balancing vehicle weight with fuel economy was the central topic at a New England Motor Press Association and Massachusetts Institute of Technology conference last Thursday. Panelists representing auto manufacturers, academia and government affairs spoke about the impact of increased fuel economy standards on new car construction, materials and price.

The Cadillac ATS uses aluminum to save weight and fuel. Graphic courtesy of General Motors.

Over the past 30 years, cars have become heavier. A 1983 Honda Accord has a curb weight of 2,300 pounds. The 2013 LX sedan model with an automatic transmission weighs 3,254 pounds. The growth in vehicle weight comes as a result of demand for larger cars with more entertainment and safety equipment.
While everyone likes a safe, comfortable car, automakers are facing the fact that increasing vehicle weight decreases fuel economy. In 2012, the federal government mandated that all automakers must reach a corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standard of 54.5 mpg for cars and light trucks by 2025. That means that the average fuel economy for all cars and light trucks that an automaker sells must be54.5 mpg or more. Automakers must now find a way to meet the fuel economy standards while still building safe cars that have the features consumers expect at a price they can afford.
Dave Leone, executive chief engineer, GM Global Performance Luxury Cars, said that while General Motors and other automakers are working to reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel economy, the result is that vehicle costs are rising. He pointed out that roughly 4 percent of the new car market is made up of hybrid and electric car sales, on which most car companies lose money. "We can afford to do that because of [profit] margins on other products," he said. However, shrinking profit margins on all cars means that prices will rise. "Cost will go up," as a result of higher fuel economy standards, he added.
Mike Stanton, president and CEO of Global Automakers, an industry lobbying group, agreed, but pointed out that the increased fuel economy standards would lower total ownership costs. "The initial purchase price is growing, but the total cost of ownership is going down, particularly as cars last longer," he said. His concern is that with higher purchase prices, not all consumers would be able to qualify for new car financing, since car loans don't take total ownership costs into account.
Anders Tylman-Mikiewicz, general manager, Volvo Monitoring & Concept Center, U.S., said that Volvo is working to reduce its costs by creating interchangeable platforms for its entire model line. By reusing engines and platforms for different models, Volvo says it will be able to reduce research and development costs and pass those savings on to consumers.
While automakers are working with lighter materials, such as aluminum and carbon fiber, and saving research dollars, they are also developing alternative fuel powertrains to help meet the vehicle standards. Professor Tomasz Wierzbicki, director of MIT's Impact and Crashworthiness Lab, said that the new fuel economy standards are "ambitious, but achievable." Two major factors in helping automakers reach the new CAFE standards, he said, are hybrid and electric cars. However, he pointed out that battery technology can be quite heavy and brings additional safety concerns. Today's lithium-ion batteries, he said, need to be able to "accept more abuse." He said that because there has been no "spectacular accident" in an electric car, the battery industry has been slow to build batteries that can handle being in a crash with little risk for short circuit or fire.
The panelists agreed that meeting the new CAFE standards is possible.  However, the new technology and materials needed to build lightweight, fuel-efficient cars that are safe, will cost more, and those costs will be passed on to consumers. The panel estimated that the new CAFE standards will result in new car price increases of anywhere from $1,800 to $4,000 per model. However, they also agreed that the long-term savings in fuel and other ownership costs should help consumers offset the higher sticker price.

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Technology Boosting Both Fuel Economy and Horsepower

2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 (Photo courtesy of Ford)

With concerns about greenhouse gases, importing foreign oil and the government’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirement of 54.5 mpg looming, fuel economy is getting unprecedented attention from automakers and consumers. It may seem surprising, then, that while fuel economy is rising, so is the horsepower rating of many cars.
Paul Eisenstein of The Detroit Bureau noticed this phenomenon last month at the New York International Auto Show. He noted that alongside hybrid models such as the Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid and Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid stood cars like the 500-horsepower Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and 950-horsepower Ferrari LaFerrari.
Eisenstein credits the rise in horsepower and fuel economy to “powertrain breakthroughs such as eight- and nine-speed gearboxes, direct injection and turbocharging.”
One example that shows how technology is giving us the best of both worlds is the Ford Mustang. The 2010 V6 Mustang has 210 horsepower and achieves an EPA-estimated 16/24 mpg city/highway with an automatic transmission. The V8-powered GT has 315 horsepower and achieves 17/23 mpg city/highway. The Shelby GT500 has 540 horsepower and gets 14/22 mpg city/highway. For 2013, horsepower and fuel economy on all models have increased. The V6 model has 305 horsepower and achieves 19/31 mpg city/highway with an automatic transmission, while the GT has 420 horsepower and gets 18/25 mpg. The GT500 has 662 horsepower and gets 15/24 mpg city/highway.

2013 Hyundai Sonata (Photo courtesy of Hyundai)

The technology that is allowing for more power and better fuel economy isn't just limited to muscle cars, though. From 2010 to 2013, the base Hyundai Sonata with an automatic transmission jumped from 175 horsepower and 22/33 mpg city/highway to 198 horsepower and 24/35 mpg. The 2010 V6-powered Sonata has 249 horsepower and achieves 19/29 mpg city/highway. Hyundai redesigned the Sonata in 2011, and in the process, dropped the V6 option in favor of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The current Sonata Turbo has 274 horsepower and achieves 22/34 mpg city/highway.
The BMW 3-Series also follows this trend. The 2010 BMW 335i, with a turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine has 300 horsepower and achieves an EPA-estimated 17/26 mpg city/highway. The 2013 model has the same engine and horsepower, but with two extra speeds in its automatic transmission, achieves 23/33 mpg city/highway.
“The good news,” according to Eisenstein, is that today’s cars are “both faster and more powerful than ever while still meeting tougher emissions and mileage mandates.” Better fuel economy, of course, also saves owners money at the pump.

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Chevrolet Spark EV Earns Better MPGe Rating than Honda Fit EV, Fiat 500e and Mitsubishi i-MiEV

U.S. News and World Report

The 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV has earned a 119 mpg-equivalent combined city/highway fuel economy rating from the EPA, Chevrolet says in a statement. The subcompact Spark EV is expected to travel 82 miles on a fully-charged battery.
The Spark EV edges out the 2013 Honda Fit EV, which has a 118 combined mpg-e rating, the 2013 Fiat 500e’s 116 mpg-e and the 2013 Mitsubishi i-MiEV’s 112 mpg-e, but is beaten by the 2013 Scion iQ EV’s 121 mpg-e.

Photo courtesy of Chevrolet.

Miles per gallon-equivalent of an electric vehicle is the comparable measurement of fuel economy to a gas-only vehicle. An electric vehicle’s range is how far it can drive on a fully-charged battery.
The Detroit Free Press reports that the Spark EV can go “seven miles farther than the Nissan Leaf.” The publication also says the all-electric Nissan Leaf has a 115 combined mpg-e rating.
Chevrolet says, “Spark EV will be the first vehicle on the market to offer as an available option the recently approved SAE combo charger for DC Fast Charging. The capability, available shortly after launch, will enable the Spark EV to recharge up to 80 percent of its capacity in approximately 20 minutes.” Chevy also says the Spark EV can be recharged through a 240-volt outlet in less than seven hours, or a 120-volt outlet, though Chevrolet did not specify how long it would take to recharge using the standard 120-volt outlet.

U.S. News and World Report

The 2014 Spark EV will come to dealerships in California and Oregon starting this summer. Chevrolet says it will have a base price of less than $25,000, which includes tax incentives.

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Better Fuel Economy Could Mean Worse Tires

A study released by J.D. Power and Associates last Thursday shows that car buyers are not happy with the run-flat and low-rolling resistance tires automakers use to improve fuel efficiency.
According to the study, run-flat tires, commonly used on performance sport cars and luxury vehicles, have about a 6,000-mile shorter life span than standard tires. These tires have to be replaced more often than conventional tires and often have to be replaced in pairs. This could make for a costly expense sooner than what owners had planned on.
USA Today says that “more automakers are equipping cars with run-flat tires, which can keep rolling for enough miles to get to a gas station or tire store, rather than putting a traditional spare tire to the trunk. The spare adds more weight to the car, which burns more gas.”
Brent Gruber, director, global automotive division at J.D. Power and Associates, says, “Automakers are trying to reach the next level of fuel economy, and are looking to their suppliers--in this case, tire manufacturers--to help them get there. The challenge is doing this while finding tires that meet customers’ expectations. Run-flat tires are not currently meeting those expectations.”
Customers are also hesitant about low-rolling resistance tires because of what they may have to give up for better fuel economy, according to the survey. Most of them are concerned that traction and the tire’s durability are worse on low-rolling resistance tires than standard tires.
"While the marketing of low-rolling resistance tires has primarily focused on fuel efficiency, tire manufacturers may also benefit from advertisements that help educate consumers about the traction and dependability of the tires," said Gruber. "Consumers don't fully understand the benefit of low-rolling resistant tires. They believe they are forfeiting important aspects of tire performance by opting for low-rolling resistant tires, yet don't know how much improvement in fuel efficiency they should expect in return."
In an interview with The New York Times, Goodyear says it supplies low-rolling resistance tires for the Toyota Prius and Chevy Volt among other fuel-efficient cars. Goodyear say the Assurance Fuel Max tires it uses for these vehicles improve traction and durability by 27 percent over the previous model of Assurance tires.
Michelin provided The New York Times with a graphic that explains how tire companies are making tires that perform well and help owners save on gas.
The New York Times also reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is updating labeling rules on tires that will help consumers choose the correct replacement tires. The labeling will add fuel-efficient grades, safety and durability. John Emerson, director of industry standards and government regulations at Michelin, tells The New York Times he expects to see these new rules mid-2013.
Before purchasing your new car, look to see what type of tires it comes with. If they are run-flat tires, expect to pay for some new tires sooner rather than later, and try to avoid scenarios that could result in a flat tire or blowout.

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