kostby

My Personal Subheading: A move certain to thrill electric vehicle manufacturers, and enrage patent trolls... Source posting: http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/all-our-patent-are-belong-you Yesterday, there was a wall of Tesla patents in the lobby of our Palo Alto headquarters. That is no longer the case. They have been removed, in the spirit of the open source movement, for the advancement of electric vehicle technology. Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles, but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal. Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology. When I started out with my first company, Zip2, I thought patents were a good thing and worked hard to obtain them. And maybe they were good long ago, but too often these days they serve merely to stifle progress, entrench the positions of giant corporations and enrich those in the legal profession, rather than the actual inventors. After Zip2, when I realized that receiving a patent really just meant that you bought a lottery ticket to a lawsuit, I avoided them whenever possible. At Tesla, however, we felt compelled to create patents out of concern that the big car companies would copy our technology and then use their massive manufacturing, sales and marketing power to overwhelm Tesla. We couldn’t have been more wrong. The unfortunate reality is the opposite: electric car programs (or programs for any vehicle that doesn’t burn hydrocarbons) at the major manufacturers are small to non-existent, constituting an average of far less than 1% of their total vehicle sales. At best, the large automakers are producing electric cars with limited range in limited volume. Some produce no zero emission cars at all. Given that annual new vehicle production is approaching 100 million per year and the global fleet is approximately 2 billion cars, it is impossible for Tesla to build electric cars fast enough to address the carbon crisis. By the same token, it means the market is enormous. Our true competition is not the small trickle of non-Tesla electric cars being produced, but rather the enormous flood of gasoline cars pouring out of the world’s factories every day. We believe that Tesla, other companies making electric cars, and the world would all benefit from a common, rapidly-evolving technology platform. Technology leadership is not defined by patents, which history has repeatedly shown to be small protection indeed against a determined competitor, but rather by the ability of a company to attract and motivate the world’s most talented engineers. We believe that applying the open source philosophy to our patents will strengthen rather than diminish Tesla’s position in this regard.

http://ford.to/1mNr9hV This Ford page shows the new compensation amounts when you select your vehicle, model, year, and engine info. It doesn't ask for VIN, so I can't really verify that they ARE or ARE NOT mailing a check to early adopters for a second time.

Link to source document: https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2014/06/12/ford-motor-company-lowers-fuel-economy-ratings--for-six-vehicles.html FORD MOTOR COMPANY LOWERS FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR SIX VEHICLES Ford identified an error with fuel economy ratings for certain vehicles through its internal testing and notified the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Ford worked with EPA as the agency retested the vehicles, which resulted in lower fuel economy ratings for Ford’s 2013- and 2014-model year hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as most 2014-model year FiestasThe company apologizes to its customers, and will make goodwill payments to owners of the approximately 200,000 affected U.S. vehicles for the difference between the previous and revised ratingsFord reviewed its entire line up to determine the vehicles that required further testing and revised the fuel economy ratings for the affected vehicles. No other fuel economy ratings adjustments are plannedFord Motor Company announced today it is lowering the fuel economy ratings for its 2013- and 2014-model year hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as most 2014-model year Fiestas. Ford identified an error with fuel economy ratings on certain vehicles through its internal testing and notified EPA. The company worked with EPA as the agency retested the vehicles to determine the correct fuel economy ratings. “Ford is absolutely committed to delivering top fuel economy and accurate information,” said Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO. “We apologize to our customers and will provide goodwill payments to affected owners. We also are taking steps to improve our processes and prevent issues like this from happening again.” Ford reviewed its entire line up to determine the vehicles that required further testing and revised the fuel economy ratings for the affected vehicles. No other label adjustments are planned. “This is our error. When we see an issue, we address it,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “That is why we notified EPA and lowered the fuel economy ratings for these vehicles.” Fuel Economy Testing Fuel economy testing involves many factors. Ford’s error was specific to a factor called "Total Road Load Horsepower", or TRLHP. TRLHP is a vehicle-specific resistance level used in vehicle dynamometer testing that determines fuel economy ratings. TRLHP is established through engineering models that are validated through vehicle testing, including physical track tests referred to as coastdown testing. Use of these engineering models is a common industry practice, consistent with EPA regulations. These models normally are more reliable and consistent than physical vehicle tests, which can exhibit variability. As an ongoing practice, Ford conducts tests on production vehicles to validate its engineering models. Based on coastdown testing of the Fusion Hybrid, the company found the TRLHP did not match the values used for the dynamometer testing. Upon further testing, Ford also discovered an error specific to how we correlate wind tunnel results into the TRLHP model. Ford’s error was the result of a recent process change, which the company has since corrected. Ford has now validated through physical vehicle testing the TRLHP for the vehicles affected by this error and also has instituted enhanced validation tests for future vehicles to prevent reoccurrence of this error. New Fuel Economy Ratings and Customer Information Ford has communicated to its dealers that new fuel economy labels will be available in approximately six days and that dealers may continue selling the vehicles until the new labels are received. Ford estimates that approximately 200,000 of these vehicles have been sold or leased to customers in the United States. Affected Ford and Lincoln owners and lessees in the United States will receive a goodwill payment for the estimated average fuel cost of the difference between the two fuel economy labels, as shown in the table below. Affected U.S. fleet owners and affected owners outside of the United States will be contacted by their local Ford representatives. Customers with questions can contact the Ford Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332 or visit:www.ford.com/mpglabel and www.lincoln.com/mpglabel. U.S. EPA-Estimated Fuel Economy Label Ratings and Goodwill Payments* Model Year Vehicle Powertrain Revised (City, Highway, Combined) Previous (City, Highway, Combined) Lease Customers Purchase Customers2014 Fiesta 1.0L GTDI M/T 31 / 43 / 36 32 / 45 / 37 $125 $200 1.6L A/T 27 / 37 / 31 29 / 39 / 32 $150 $250 1.6L SFE A/T 28 / 38 / 32 30 / 41 / 34 $275 $450 1.6L M/T 28 / 36 / 31 27 / 38 / 31 Combined MPG not affected Combined MPG not affected 2013-14 C-MAX Hybrid 42 / 37 / 40 45 / 40 / 43 $300 $475 Fusion Hybrid 44 / 41 / 42 47 / 47 / 47 $450 $775 MKZ Hybrid 38 / 37 / 38 45 / 45 / 45 $625 $1,050 Model Year Vehicle Powertrain Revised** (Charge Sustaining, Charge Depleting, EV Range) Previous** (Charge Sustaining, Charge Depleting, EV Range) Lease Customers Purchase Customers2013-14 C-MAX Energi Plug-in Hybrid 38 mpg / 88 MPGe+ / 19 mi EV range 43 mpg / 100 MPGe+ / 21 mi EV range $475 $775 Fusion Energi Plug-in Hybrid 38 mpg / 88 MPGe+ / 19 mi EV range 43 mpg / 100 MPGe+ / 21 mi EV range $525 $850 *Bolded figures in the above chart represent the values used to determine the customer goodwill payment. ** Combined numbers only. Revised EPA-estimated ratings: 40 city, 36 highway MPG; 95 city, 81 highway MPGe. Charge depleting range is 20 mi. Previous EPA-estimated ratings: 44 city, 41 highway MPG; 108 city, 92 hwy MPGe. Previous charge depleting range was 21. +MPGe is the EPA equivalent measure of gasoline fuel efficiency for electric mode operation. EDIT - the table didn't paste well at all, please view the source document to make sense of it. EDIT 2 - Original numbers were 47/47/47, revised in August 2013 to 45/40/43, and today, June 12, 2014, to 42 City/37 Highway/40 Combined Bottom line, 2013 and 2014 C-MAX buyers get $475, $300 if you're leasing. Luckily, my C-MAX, built April 2013 can't read, so it still "thinks" it should get higher EPA numbers!

I know homestead's dislike is ages old, but 'Gear' is clearly displayed and illuminated right under the speedometer instead of on the shifter console. Homage to the days when automatic gearshift levers were located on the steering column perhaps?

How big is the kayak, and how patient are you? The C-MAX 12v Tire Mobility Kit includes that small compressor and one adapter. The compressor does shut down automatically when it gets warm after about 5 to 7 minutes of continuous (auto tire) inflation. Once it cools off, it will run another 5-7 minutes.

Welcome! Isn't the State of Confusion one of those offshore dictatorships run by their military leader General Disorder and his underlings, Major Disaster, Corporal Punishment, and Private Parts?

So I guess the word 'RESOLVED' should be added by one of the Site Admins to the title of this thread. And despite delays, once the issue was posted in this forum on May 15th, the resolution took just over 3 weeks, and seemed to center around a delivery-company problem, NOT Ford itself. That's certainly NOT the 'worst customer service ever in ford'!!!

We followed the first C-MAX I've seen up close on the road since our purchase in late March, a Sterling Grey hybrid, traveling westbound on SR 26 in Lafayette Indiana around 6 pm on Friday evening, June 6th. I've seen one other C-MAX 'visiting' in our neighborhood, and several going the opposite direction on various Hoosier interstates. They're still relatively rare around here. The vast majority of C-MAXes I see are aging gracefully on dealer lots. :headscratch:

Passenger Airbag on/off button is on the center dash. On my 2013 SE it's the button on the far left of the center stack, located beneath the climate controls. Page 48 in the 2013 user manual, 3rd printing. Traction Control is turned on/off from the Left steering wheel control, under Settings. Setting Traction Control on/off is covered on Page 125 in the 2013 user manual, 3rd printing. Download the pdf manual for your year and model here: http://owner.ford.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Owner%2FPage%2FOwnerGuideSearchPage Once downloaded, the pdf manual is easily searchable for a single word, and much better than trying to use the table of contents or index.

Welcome to ownership. First, don't be discouraged! It is disappointing to come out to your brand new car and find it "DOA". The malfunctioning clock is one of the things that can happen when the 12-volt battery is discharged. In some C-MAXes (including ours, once) there are apparently computer-connected devices that don't always shut down properly when the car is turned off, but left unlocked. So, based upon advice in these forums, lock your car every time you park it, even in the garage.Locking the car seems to "encourage" everything to shut down properly, and not drain the 12-volt battery. If your car was at the dealership for a long time before it was sold, it's possible that the 12 volt battery was discharged, and did not get fully recharged before you purchased it. If you have a 'trickle' charger, connecting the car overnight certainly won't hurt. It's a good idea to keep careful records of any problems encountered, including dates, times, mileage, weather, the corrective actions taken by the dealership, as well as the names of people contacted (Dealer, Service Advisor, Ford Service 800#, Ford Roadside Assistance) and so on. Accurate records can help the Service department diagnose and correct problems. In addition, accurate records are essential should your car turn out to be a 'lemon' (every manufacturer builds a few), and after multiple failed attempts (as defined by state law) to correct the same problem, you want to use your state's 'Lemon Law'. Ashley, a Ford employee, has the username FordService http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/3310-official-ford-service-rep/, and is another helpful resource here. As a new user in these forums, you need to post 5 forum messages before you are able to post a "PM" Private Messages to another user.

For us, the 'Most Ecological' option always says "walk" ;)

The 'Lifetime' stats feature was eliminated in July 2013. Those of us with the cars built prior to that have it. Cars built since then do not have it.

RE: Salsaguy 05-June-2014 2:21 am post Quoting from the second document I linked above on 12 April 2014, 2:39 pm, my italics, and my emphasis http://www-odi.nhtsa...14V164-8361.pdf "On March 24, 2014, Ford's Field Review Committee reviewed this concern and approved a field action. 573.6 © (8) - Service Program Ford will notify dealers to stop demonstrating or delivering the affected vehicles until the seatbacks are replaced. Ford will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealer for seatback replacement. There will be no charge to owners for this service. Mailing of owner notification letters will occur during the week of May 19, 2014. Initial notification to dealers will occur on April 2, 2014."

I notice you own an SE. Our 2013 SE (built April 2013) does exactly the same thing. Is it possible that the /Power on/AC on/high fan speed/ setting combination you describe is different for the SEL, versus the SE, or between 2013 and 2014 models?

How about the opposite function? Anyone ever parked with the HVB indicator showing about 'half full', and then, the next day, it shows absolutely no charge? Had this happen yesterday, for the second time. Thinking back, the first was on the first test-drive of the car in March, when the HVB was blank, but at the time I didn't know how the displays worked, so it didn't seem abnormal. This was after driving about 2 miles from home near another frequent destination, thus the EV+ indicator. Car unlocked and started normally, so the 12V Battery functions seem OK. Noticed no charge in the HVB. Drove a mile or so with ICE on, because the car had been parked for several days. HVB still showed nothing. Turned the car completely off and back on at a 4-way stop, just to see if there was a change. No change. HVB still showed nothing. Drove about 10 miles in the interstate. The car went in and out of EV, showing the symbols above and below the HVB charging and discharging, but the HVB remained blank. Parked the car. Returned an hour later, and the HVB indicator now showed about 95% full. Ideas?

Figures lie and liars figure... http://insideevs.com/monthly-plug-in-sales-scorecard/ Subtracting the Plug-in Scorecard number of 742 C-MAX Energi models sold, 2091 C-MAX Hybrids were sold in May, 2014. Energi sales are up 64.8 % from a year earlier. C-MAX Hybrid sales down 35.9% from 3261 in May 2013, but still the best month since August 2013 when 2411 were sold, and the 12th best month of Hybrid sales since the car went on sale 21 months ago. Fusion Energi sales nearly doubled from April to 1342, outselling Tesla Model S for the first time ever, and making Fusion Energi the 4th-best-selling plug-in in May 2014. That $4000 price cut (from the 2013 MSRP) Ford brought to the 2014 Fusion Energi MSRP seems to be working! EDIT 10-02-2014 CHARTS AND SPREADSHEETS DELETED BECAUSE EACH NEW REPORT CONTAINS ALL PRIOR MONTHS DATA

European C-MAX and relatives likely don't use the same seat manufacturer (Mexico) as the North American-spec model assembled in Michigan.

"Welcome to Hogwarts Ford!" "We're exceedingly proud of our dealership at Kings Cross Station, just off Exit 9 3/4 on the New Age State Thruway" "Our Service Manager and all Service Department employees have taken advanced training in the Dark Arts of EV, HEV, and PHEV diagnosis and repair." "We also specialize in servicing older and imported Fords, such as Ford Cortinas with a history of flying…" ;)

Ford May 2014 sales release: https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North%20America/US/2014/06/03/may2014sales.pdf 2,833 C-MAX combined sales, no breakout between Hybrid and Energi models Total is still a 23.7% decline from May 2013 sales, but a 700-unit increase from last month. I'll let Plus 3 Golfer post updated charts, I'm out of forum 'space' for attachments.

For future reference, of the dozen or so left-hand screens of information displayed in Diagnostics mode, only the screen with the heading DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code) will have information related to the Check Engine Light. And it still might not have any codes you can locate with Google.

I've only filled up once since purchase (~10 weeks), but I figured it was normal for instantaneous MPG readout to fluctuate. I've noticed the fluctuation especially when meeting large trucks on 2-lane state highways, in gusty winds, and when passing or being passed by other vehicles on multi-lane interstate highways.

2015 Model Year update: Over on the C-MAX Energi forum, ice-capades posted this model changeover timetable for 2015 C-MAX: 09/14/2014 - 2014MY - Job Last Date06/13/2014 - 2015MY - Order Bank Open Date07/17/2014 - 2015MY Scheduling Begins09/15/2014 - 2015MY Job #1 Date So to answer fordfan82's original question, it should be possible to order a 2015 C-MAX in a couple of weeks. Original Energi discussion thread: http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?/topic/56540-2015-c-max-energi/

http://photosportsusa.com/Photos.aspx?moid=197307 Link to online photo of our C-MAX crossing the start/finish line from PhotoSportsUSA.com

Some validation what Smiling Jack said above: Both C-MAX and C-MAX Energi OEM Michelin 225x50r17 Energy Saver All Season Green X tire specs list the max load at 1433 lb per tire. The C-MAX specs I found list weight distribution at 57.7% front/42.3 % rear: http://www.edmunds.com/ford/c-max-hybrid/2013/road-test-specs1.html The maximum C-MAX Hybrid GVWR is 4641 pounds *.577 = 2677, or 1339 lb per tire, about 94 lb per tire under the 1433 lb max. I didn't find weight distribution specifics for the Energi model, though it would be logical to think that if the C-MAX SE and SEL were 57.7/42.3, then the Energi weight distribution could be closer to 54/46 because of the 250 pound heavier battery is located toward the rear. In any case, using the (likely high) 57.7% maximum and Energi GVWR of 4960 pounds *.577 = 2861 pounds for the front end load, or 1430.5 lb per FRONT tire, only 2.5 lb below the 1433 lb max at maximum load. That seems like a pretty slim margin for error after the Ford Explorer/Firestone tire debacle of 2000. Using the unproven, but more far likely weight distribution of 54% of Energi GVWR of 4960 pounds would be 2678 lb for the front end load, 1339 per FRONT tire, about 94 lb per front tire under the 1433 lb maximum load. Tire specs came from here: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Energy+Saver+A%2FS&partnum=25VR7ESAS&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Ford&autoYear=2013&autoModel=C-MAX%20Energi&autoModClar=&tab=Specs

Don't know what your Escape had, but the C-MAX has electrically-assisted steering with pull-drift and active nibble control: http://billbrownford.net/Vehicle-Orientation-Electric-Power-Assisted-Steering/ Also check the tire pressures. Mine was delivered with 32psi in each tire! First I tried 38psi, recommended on the door sticker, and it still seemed like the car was still 'waddling' within the tires. I've boosted it to 45 and the steering seems much less fussy on the highway, even in crosswinds. The tire sidewall says the max is 51psi, so there's still a safety margin and room to experiment.