Could you manage with an Energi?

[Taiwwa]

For the Cmax Hybrid owners out there, do you think you could do the same things you do with an Energi? I'm looking at used models, and some Energi models are significantly cheaper than regular hybrid models. 

[WNY]

I haul a lot of stuff and we travel a lot, so the extra trunk space of the Standard Hybrid works better for us. you loose a little trunk space with the larger battery of the Engergi. 

[plus 3 golfer]

NO, cargo space is too limited in the Energi.

 

I want a fuel efficient vehicle for trips.  There isn't enough cargo space in the Energi for our black lab, 2 adults, luggage, and so forth.  I won't obstruct the rear mirror view with stuff that blocks views out the glass.  I barely have enough room in our Hybrid.  The Energi with the raised hatch floor was a dealer killer.

 

Also, I've carried several items like an LG front load washer and a 55" LCD TV (secured in a HomeDepot moving box) in a my Hybrid.  These items wouldn't fit in my Rogue nor would they fit in an Energi.   Headroom is the issue in both.

Edited November 22, 2015 by Plus 3 Golfer

[ptjones]

+1  I also agree I needed the extra space. :)

 

Paul

[raadsel]

To disagree, a bit, with the posts ahead of mine, only you can decide. As the posts above mine point out, you will lose a pretty fair chunk of cargo space -- particularly the amount of space that can fit under the cargo cover behind the back seats. Only you know what your wants/needs are for cargo capacity, so you'll have to decide if that lack of space is something you care about.

 

Beyond that, the Energi has a slightly different final gear ratio than the Hybrid, so you'll use more energy at freeway speeds. It is believed this is to help protect the electric engine at those higher speeds while in EV mode, since the electric motor does not provide as much power as the ICE. I don't think this is anything to really be concerned about, just something to realize.

 

The Energi has an electric heater so that the car can be heated in EV mode without needing the ICE -- the hybrid requires the ICE for heating. The Energi has an electric transmission pump for cooling while the Hybrid uses a pump attached to the ICE -- not sure this is an issue for the hybrid, but the electric pump is needed on the Energi when running Electric only. Again, likely not anything you need to worry about for buying, just a difference to be aware of.

 

Where the Energi has a huge advantage is in short trips, such as if you are going to a store close to your home on a quick errand or have a short commute. The Energi can do the drive electric only, so long as the battery is charged. By contrast, the hybrid will use mostly gas -- the ICE typically stays on until warm, and on a short drive that can last a good portion of the errand, particularly on cooler days. The Hybrid, on short trips, typically doesn't do much better than a comparable non-hybrid car. OTOH, in hybrid mode, the hybrid will get slightly better fuel economy than the Energi (about 10% or so) because the Energi has a couple of hundred extra pounds in battery.

 

So, again, a lot depends on if you need the storage room. The other consideration is the types of driving you will do (length of commutes and other trips) and how frequently you will charge the battery on an Energi. The last is merely which car you prefer and which you feel is the best deal for you.

[Taiwwa]

Yeah, I do plan on using it for things like hauling bikes, hauling building supplies.

 

Then again, $3k is a sizeable amount of savings. And I could geek out on the energi part of it. And for 90% of uses the extra battery wouldn't be a problem.

 

If for the same price, or a premium for the energi, the hybrid would be more attractive. But the energi is 3k cheaper. 

[Taiwwa]

NO, cargo space is too limited in the Energi.

 

I want a fuel efficient vehicle for trips.  There isn't enough cargo space in the Energi for our black lab, 2 adults, luggage, and so forth.  I won't obstruct the rear mirror view with stuff that blocks views out the glass.  I barely have enough room in our Hybrid.  The Energi with the raised hatch floor was a dealer killer.

 

Also, I've carried several items like an LG front load washer and a 55" LCD TV (secured in a HomeDepot moving box) in a my Hybrid.  These items wouldn't fit in my Rogue nor would they fit in an Energi.   Headroom is the issue in both.

The Nissan Rogue looks like it ought to be bigger. Interesting. 

 

Headroom should be the same for both cars, eh? The battery only reduces trunk space. 

[plus 3 golfer]

The Nissan Rogue looks like it ought to be bigger. Interesting. 

 

Headroom should be the same for both cars, eh? The battery only reduces trunk space. 

2008 Rogue - The Hybrid hatch opening is taller by an inch or so.  Volume is likely more in the Rogue.

 

Yes, headroom should be the same in the Hybrid and Energi and the larger Energi HVB reduces rear cargo volume. 

[Marc Smith]

Have taken my C-max on 2500 miles road trips.  I'm not sure an energi would have done well for me in that capacity based on what I carried.  but for 90% of the rest of my driving an energi would have worked perfectly.

 

We also have a Saturn Vue Green Line.  which means  if the Cmax  would not suit my needs,  the Vue  could easily substitute.

 

10,000 or so of my miles that I drive each year is too and from work.  15 miles each way.   with the ability to plug in at work.  I could, in theory, get lots of free miles...

 

I guess you juts need to evaluate why you would want/need the energi over the cmax.  Ie  pros/cons

 

if storage space is a huge issue, Ie something you need often,  then  its any easy choice.  if storage is a minor concern.  then keep in mind that the 3000 in savings  would go a long way to renting a truck from Home depot, or paying for home delivery of what ever you are purchasing.  or renting a van for small trip in place of the energi.

 

also keep in mind the if you have a lot of short trips  think of all the fuel savings from the energi

 

http://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/c-max?engineconfig_id=&bodytype_id=&submodel_id=1873

[scottwood2]

I liked the idea of the plug in but storage was the issue for me too.  The higher cost was part of this too but it sounds like it is cheaper for used Energy models now?   Seems strange? 

 

The Hybrid was a nice compromise that worked for me. 

[Smiling Jack]

To the OP:

 

For a different perspective on this, try posting the question over on the fordcmaxenergiforum.com.

 

Most of those who have experienced driving on plug-in EV have fallen in love with it and would be green with envy toward anyone who bought an Energi of any age for $3k less than the comparable Hybrid.

 

A trip needs to be over a100 miles before the Energi uses more fuel than the Hybrid.

 

The actual loss of cargo space is about 5 cu ft, or about 10% of the total.  A significant part of the loss, however is a reduction in height of objects that can be loaded through the rear hatch; so check it out.  For your hauling needs that might be important,

[ptjones]

The height turned out to be the issue for me. I have had a number of times where I would be able to fit boxes in an NRG. It would be nice to charge up the HVB, but can't give up the height. :)

 

Paul

[stevedebi]

For the following, note that I chose an Energi:

 

It isn't the cubic size, it is where it's located - it really juts into the space. If you need a lot of space, the hybrid is definitely the way to go. However, I've seen a number of people fit a hitch to the rear and simply carry excess back there for long trips.

 

At the time I purchased, the cost of the Energi was within a couple of hundred bucks due to state and federal incentives. That varies by state, of course.

 

For LA commuting, the Energi gets the desired "green" stickers that allow single person HOV access. I believe the stickers have about run out now, but it was a major consideration for me.

 

I would probably not buy an Energi as my primary vehicle, but if you need a second commuter, it is a great choice, especially if your range needs fall within 25 miles or so, and doubly so if you can plug in at work.  All depending on the cost of gas and electricity; if you want to consider that, the Energi forums for the C-Max and Fusion have a couple of interesting threads on when it is better to drive ICE rather than charge.

[Adrian_L]

 

A trip needs to be over a100 miles before the Energi uses more fuel than the Hybrid.

 

The actual loss of cargo space is about 5 cu ft, or about 10% of the total.  A significant part of the loss, however is a reduction in height of objects that can be loaded through the rear hatch; so check it out.  For your hauling needs that might be important,

 

If the "actual loss" is really 10%, more folks would buy the car.  Since we don't hang stuff from the headliner or stack canned goods on the dashboard on our way back from Costco, you can't make that claim.   I think the car is great for a single person or a couple---but for a family of four?  No way.

[Smiling Jack]

If the "actual loss" is really 10%, more folks would buy the car.  Since we don't hang stuff from the headliner or stack canned goods on the dashboard on our way back from Costco, you can't make that claim.   I think the car is great for a single person or a couple---but for a family of four?  No way.

 

The lost space is about 5 cu ft. The Hybrid cargo space is about 50 cu ft with the seats down.

[plus 3 golfer]

The problem for me is the 5 cu. ft. needs to be compared with the rear seats up and with the ability to view approaching traffic from the rear.  

 

For me the loss of 5 cu. ft. of storage is significant as my guess is I will lose maybe 1/3 of my "usable" rear cargo area of the Hybrid in the Energi (say 6" out of 18" - will measure when car returns home :)).  The Hybrid cargo area behind the rear seat is IIRC around 24.5 cu. ft. (pretty sure that is floor to ceiling).  So, 5/24.5 is a loss of about 20%.    Couple this with the loss of height to carry larger items and the Energi doesn't work for me as a "trip" vehicle.

[Kelleytoons]

As someone here pointed out, only the person buying the car can decide because it's VERY personal.

 

I play tennis four or five times a week and couldn't fit my tennis bag (it's a twelve racquet bag -- think what the pros use on tour) in the back with an Energi and that alone would be a deal killer (I could toss it in the back seat but that's no where near convenient for me given how often I'm getting my stuff in and out).  And on our trips to Costco we need every single bit of space we have back there, even with the seats folded down -- again, no way the Energi would work for us.

 

I would have liked it for my short trips to the courts, though (even though my lifetime average is around 48mpg so I guess I'm doing okay with the hybrid).  I could see it as a second car for my wife, particularly at the price you're getting, but I would have been VERY unhappy with it myself.

 

But YMMV (literally and figuratively :>).

[stevedebi]

As someone here pointed out, only the person buying the car can decide because it's VERY personal.

 

I play tennis four or five times a week and couldn't fit my tennis bag (it's a twelve racquet bag -- think what the pros use on tour) in the back with an Energi and that alone would be a deal killer (I could toss it in the back seat but that's no where near convenient for me given how often I'm getting my stuff in and out).  And on our trips to Costco we need every single bit of space we have back there, even with the seats folded down -- again, no way the Energi would work for us.

 

I would have liked it for my short trips to the courts, though (even though my lifetime average is around 48mpg so I guess I'm doing okay with the hybrid).  I could see it as a second car for my wife, particularly at the price you're getting, but I would have been VERY unhappy with it myself.

 

But YMMV (literally and figuratively :>).

But think of all the money you'd be saving by not buying so much at Costco!

 

At the moment I'm only saving about $10 per month in gas costs by using electric in my Energi rather than running in Hybrid mode. Unless gas gets really expensive again, the difference is not that great. In my opinion, at the moment the hybrid is a better value, unless  you need the HOV lane access here in LA, or just love that EV driving experience.

 

Another thing to consider is that you don't have to drag the cable out nightly and plug in your hybrid C-Max.

 

I'm not really sure what I would do if I were in the market today. Probably it would depend on the deal I was offered.