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Who has a Hybrid and an Energi to give me a MPG comparison?


Recumpence
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Hello All,

 

My beloved C-Max hybrid has 65,000 miles on it. This is a work car (appliance repair). I plan on trading it in this spring and getting an Energi. 

 

The reason for this thread is to ask those who have (or have had) both cars, tell me what their MPG is on the Energi. I know the EV mode increases the overall MPG. But, I am curious if the hybrid running mode decreases it? I have heard rumblings on-line that the Energi has a different gear ratio and weighs 300 pounds more, thus reducing the gas engine mpg. Is the true? The reason I ask is because I drive 130 miles per day for work. If the engine only running is lower than my hybrid by any measurable amount, that may kill any increased mpg I would get from the first 25 miles or so running EV. (I hope that makes sense).   :)

 

Anyway, does anyone have any first hand info for me on this?

 

Matt

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IMO, I'd use the EPA unadjusted FE data for comparison with the Energi operating in Hybrid mode.  This should be the raw data from dyno runs before adjustments are applied. Since IIRC, your driving is mostly city / suburban, the City might be a good comparison. The Energi gets about 4% less MPG in the City test.  This makes sense because of the additional weight and lower (numerically higher) gear ratio of the Energi.

 

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Edited by Plus 3 Golfer
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There's a recent thread about recording breaking mileage on one tank which got me to thinking about what I've been able to do with my NRG on one tank of gas:  oh.... about 5,000 miles. ;)    I don't know what my second tank would have been because I quit buying gas by the tank as I don't really need to carry around all that extra weight.  I usually pop for ten bucks at a time which typically last me weeks.  

 

Matt, my lifetime in my NRG is around 90MPGe which accounts for electricity from the battery but that doesn't account for losses/charging overhead from the wall (approx.10% loss on 240v).  I was in the lower 40's with my hybrid before giving it to the wife for highway commuting.   It really depends on your driving needs.  Some folks drive them nearly all highway (many to get HOV access) and get about the same mileage as the hybrid or slightly higher (50's-60's).

 

The NRG can do better in hybrid mode than the hybrid Cmax because the larger battery will allow it to store more kinetic energy (regen braking, downhills, etc) once you learn how to "trick it".

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I average 57 mpg in summer and 44 in winter. My lifetime mpg is 50.0 exactly right now even with bad Illinois winters.

 

Since I am approaching trade in time with my car, I would love the EV experience. I have considered the Volt too.

 

Matt

Edited by Recumpence
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I average 57 mpg in summer and 44 in winter. My lifetime mpg is 50.0 exactly right now even with bad Illinois winters.

 

Since I am approaching trade in time with my car, I would love the EV experience. I have considered the Volt too.

 

Matt

That is excellent MPG's I don't know why you want to trade it in. IMO I can't see how you could make up the difference in cost of getting a NRG. :)

 

Paul

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The added cost would just barely be covered by the added savings.

 

I want to trade my car in next year before it has 90,000 miles on it. The only reason I would consider an Energi is for the fun factor.

 

I am considering a Volt as well.

 

Matt

Edited by Recumpence
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The added cost would just barely be covered by the added savings.

 

I want to trade my car in next year before it has 90,000 miles on it. The only reason I would consider an Energi is for the fun factor.

 

I am considering a Volt as well.

 

Matt

Can you carry your stuff around in a Volt? CMAX is roomier. :)

 

Paul

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If you can plug it at work (especially for free), and the car will be mostly for commuting purposes, you might want to give the Volt a serious look. I have both (Volt, NRG) and the NRG meets my commuting needs almost perfectly (17 miles RT). But if you have a 130 mile daily commute and can plug in at work, you'd probably be able to drive at least 75-80 miles of your commute on battery alone in a Volt. Plus the Volt is eligible for the Illinois EV rebate, while the NRG is not. If you don't mind the smaller interior cabin space of the Volt, it may make more fiscal sense compared to a NRG.

 

The next gen Volt is supposed to be announced in January, so I would advise you to wait until then if you are considering a Volt.

Edited by bro1999
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After seeing the trunk space I bought a Hybrid.  Funny thing is my daily commute is right at 9 miles each way.  If I had bought an energi I would still be on my first tank of gas.  But I don't have a usable garage so did not consider it over a minute.

What does a garage have to do with it? I park mine outside the garage and run the cord through the door. Or do you have an apartment?

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