HotLap

A while ago I was reading the stats on the growth of the entry level mid-size luxury sedan market in the US. Seems while this segment is growing at about 7% per year the Fusion is actually growing at about double that rate (14%). Which means Ford is taking market share from other manufacturers (Toyota? Chevrolet?). Given the continued growth of the Fusion platform, and the need for Ford to remain in a dominate growth position in this segment, I'm hoping Ford really steps back and decides to design the FFE from the ground up, with batteries integrated into non-used frame areas/floor, more batteries, etc. rather than just a minor upgrade (like the 2015 Volt with a minor upgrade in range from 38 to 50 miles). I think GM did a good job with the 2nd gen Volt, but it seems to me Ford is poised to leapfrog the Volt as the current gen FFE was more of adding plug in capability to an existing platform, (hence the battery pack in the middle of the trunk floor), and if Ford is serious the opportunity to be revolutionary not evolutionary, is with this next gen of the FFE...the same could be said for all of Ford's plug in models and the new F-150 shedding 500 - 700 lbs could easily handle say 300lbs of batteries...I'd bet most F-150 drivers rarely ever haul anything more than Home Depot fare and never take them off road! Or even the new mid-sized Ranger could fall into this category...imagine having a plug in mid sized truck with 50 mile electric range...sweetness!!

LOL, now that's more like it!! :clapping:

All, finally went to Santa Barbara for a stand up paddle boarding lesson and it was fantastic! Started in the marina then was out on the open ocean for an hour...great work out too! Anyway, I wanted to check back and let everyone know the Thule Aero Blade Load Bars worked great with the SUP Taxi attachments and my new SUP was rock solid the entire trip home. I kept it in the slow lane between 65 and 70mph and never had an issue. Thule makes several "board" kits for their load bars, but the SUP Taxi was the only system I could find that will fit the Aero Blade (non-square) load bars. Another thing I noticed was that the FFE handled the board just fine and it didn't seem to slow me down much at all. With the roof closed it was pretty quiet as well. I'm going to try and get a bunch of pics with it mounted this weekend and post...9'6" board and it didn't overwhelm the car at all...

Meyers, I know... was jut bored and being goofy!

EC, congrats on your new FFE, looks great and I like that color!! Had I been able to find the 2 tone interior (ceramic/black) I would have gotten that color or the black. Alas, only had it in the tri-white. Nice look, personally, I'd change out the 17's for Fusion 19's in the black chrome - would really make that color pop! Some day I'm going to wash/wax mine and figure out how to post pics here so everyone can check them out. I de-badged mine as well and (IMO) it looks much cleaner!

Just kidding, Moderators, please don't ban me :) Will somebody please post something/anything of interest??

High number of posts :)

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Rexracer, not alone in being sober while typing or working on MLK day or both :)

Wow, that's awful luck and sorry you are having to deal with this. I'd start to take the lemon law route and have Ford replace your brand new FFE with a similar car. Not acceptable to have had a new car for such a short period of time and 50% in the shop. Ford will do the right thing but you sometimes have to get a bit aggressive. Megan will help you as well. Good luck, this is a worry of mine, having an issue with such advanced technology and having to rely on a local dealer to diagnose/repair. Ford should consider regional "Advanced Technology Repair Centers" for their advanced technology vehicles...could serve to advise/train the local dealers and actually repair a vehicle if it's been at the dealer for over 2 weeks with no resolution in sight....

Nice EC, matching FFE's! Sounds like there may be a "His & Hers" 220v chargers in your future :) Pics please!

Based on the above it would appear the shutters are in the closed position (default position) and only open if needed for cooling, not to split hairs, but it would seem to make sense that having a primary position of being closed would be due to aerodynamic reasons and the only reason they would open would be when needed to cool, which would theoretically be worse for the aerodynamics? That and the fact that the Johnson valve is partially opened and interfaces with the thermodynamic coolant module that controls the hyperian valve when the spankel intake is open would increase the chances for aerodynamic stability during floxam maneuvers....just saying... And NO, I'm not drinking beers as I type this, just feeling goofy as I think I'm the only one working on MLK day!

Gary, hmmm from Seattle, you guys have an NFL franchise up there? Haven't heard much about them lately :)

You guys owe me BIG TIME!! I just went and drove down the block and back 2/10's of a mile in EV Mode) to verify the Trip Summary readings and my 2014 does indeed list the "Gals used 0.00" even when no gas is used! So there!

Wow, this is a smart charger and so simple and elegant looking...not to mention the decidedly smaller footprint than on my Clipper Creek unit, (which I must admit was a disappointment when it arrived at how large the unit was). That's the exact same set up I have with my Clipper Creek the 240V outlet below and to the side of the charger and a plug in charger. I'm keeping my eye on this one...anyone interested in a slightly used Clipper Creek 30AMP charger :)

My answer is mislead as almost all of my charges on any given day are partial charges, generally from 20% - 65% to full...so if we are talking FULL recharges probably just two to 3 for me....

After watching the video (thanks for the link by the way) the FFE wont be used for the actual pursuit vehicles, but for administration and detectives, i.e., those not likely to be involved in high speed driving. I like this smart usage of the FFE and there is a point that I think the article makes very well...but subtly. When I show my FFE to my friends first thing they ask is what's the range? When I tell them 22 miles they say oh sorry about that and that would never work for them. I make the point not to think it as driving a straight 22 miles then having to run on fuel, but more like around town for errands, I rarely go 22 miles (in town at one time) so when I get back home and plug in the 220W charger, next time I'm ready to roll it's fully charged again! So if you can manage your charging (first off you MUST get a 220W charger) and I'd imagine the Indy Police force is installing these in most of their administrative and police stations, you don't have to run out of battery. As an example the gentleman in the video has gone 1600 miles and still has 1/4 tank left. So (for me anyway) the worst fuel mileage situation usage (short trips around town) have been eliminated 95% of the time! Yes on longer trips it does have to run on the ICE, but to date, I'm at 84.5mpg and I regularly have to drive trips of 200+ miles. So, if you compare it to my previous vehicle which averaged between 12 - 14mpg - I'm way ahead of the curve!!

FE, thanks for posting that pic of your "Lifetime Summary"...I must have missed that only thought we had individual trip summary and Trip Meter summary that are from the point you reset trip meter A or B forward. Funny I was just scrolling thorough all the gauges/settings, etc. (sometime we tend to forget options we don't use much) and still didn't see the Lifetime Summary in there...

Jeff/Doug/JAT thanks for the info/links, I'm not very familiar with this "rebate" for the charging station, can I actually claim the full amount I paid for my Clipper Creek 240V charging station, and how about the electrician cost to wire it? thx - b

Agree with you guys and the worst is when you actually forget to plug it in! I've done both multiple times! If only charging were wireless and the car could sense when near an energy source and start drinking it up!

Plus, (unless you are in a heavy coal burning for electrical energy area), you are doing the environment good by emitting less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere!

LOL, one can always wish/hope :) Would be cool to have a car that looks current...shoot even motorcycles now have LED's in their headlight buckets!

Well put Meyersnole!