The C-Max Hybrid is part of a dedicated family of electrified vehicles as Ford plays catch up to Toyota’s Prius line.
Ford Motor Company said today that it is lowering the C-Max hybrid fuel-economy label after being challenged by customers, the EPA and numerous independent automotive media sites, including AutoInformed. The revised 2013 C-Max label shows 43 mpg combined, 45 mpg city and 40 mpg highway. Ford’s previous wildly optimistic ratings were 47 city/47 highway/47 combined mpg.
When the C-max numbers were originally announced, we instantly raised the potential mileage disparity issue by writing, “The all-new Ford C-Max Hybrid that goes on sale this fall is now EPA-certified at 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway and 47 mpg combined. This makes it the first hybrid car without a window sticker that lists a decline in highway fuel-economy ratings. Whether this is real or the product of carefully calibrating the C-Max to the EPA test cycle awaits independent verification.” (Read AutoInformed on Ford C-Max Hybrid EPA Rated at 47 MPG in all Categories)
Ford Motor previously responded to AutoInformed’s query on mileage with the following statement: “Early C-Max Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid customers praise the vehicles and report a range of fuel economy figures, including some reports above 47 mpg. This reinforces the fact that driving styles, driving conditions, and other factors can cause mileage to vary. For those customers who are more focused on optimizing their fuel economy, Ford’s new hybrid SmartGauge with EcoGuide eco-coaching <forgive the marketing babble, Ford routinely issues statements in this garbage jargon> technology features even more ways – such as ‘Brake Coach’ and an ‘Empower’ gauge for more efficient stopping and acceleration – to help our customers achieve higher mileage.”
After a year of denials about gaming EPA tests, Ford now says it is changing the way it tests and labels the 2013 C-Max Hybrid for fuel economy. Ford is doing so to “improve customer satisfaction.”
Not mentioned in the prevaricating release was an EPA investigation about Ford’s mileage claims. (EPA to Review Consumer Reports Data Claiming Ford C-Max and Fusion MPG Claims are Bogus in Real World Driving) Previously Ford testing of the Fusion Hybrid was used to generate fuel economy labels for a family of vehicles, including both the Fusion Hybrid and C-Max Hybrid, which is a completely different model based on a European design. The result was the same fuel economy label for both vehicles. The Mexican-built Fusion is based on a Mazda 6 platform. Ford has not responded to AutoInformed’s requests for further information and clarification about what appears to a deliberate attempt to exploit EPA rules.
EPA tested the C-Max after receiving consumer complaints that the vehicle did not achieve the label values of 47 miles per gallon (mpg) for highway, city, and combined driving. Fuel economy estimates are found on the Fuel Economy and Environment window sticker of new vehicles, as well as on www.fueleconomy.gov, the U.S. government source for fuel economy information. (Read EPA Announces Revised Fuel Economy Label Estimates for 2013 Ford C-Max; Initiates Effort to Update Labeling Procedures to Keep Pace with Industry Trends
The Prius family has sold almost 144,000 hybrids year-to-date, compared to Ford’s hybrid sales of 23,000 C-Max hybrids. (Ford doesn’t break out Fusion hybrid sales from the full line numbers.) Current C-Max Hybrid owners will receive an unspecified in Ford’s pres release “goodwill payment” for the mileage shortfall. Buyers will get $550 and people who leased $325.
Why Ford C-Max Hybrids are getting low MPGs analysis? I have posted my report here: http://www.winonarenewableenergy.com/blog.html My math substantiates my test condition findings. Should I have made a mathematical error, please let me know. If I hear nothing then I can assume it must be correct. I reiterate, the C Max should be getting around 61 mpg at 60 mph…the math proves it. Ford…if your reading this…please lower my RPMs in the next firmware release!I will also volunteer to test your beta version for free.
Ken Zino Replies:
Tim: You raise a couple of provocative issues, and are leading us both into a fuel economy swamp that has customers up to their necks in, well, alligators if they do not understand the technicalities. Interesting data, but steady state is not representative of an actual driving cycle. Ford gamed the system. See excerpts below.
When the C-max numbers were originally announced, we instantly raised the potential mileage disparity issue by writing, “The all-new Ford C-Max Hybrid that goes on sale this fall is now EPA-certified at 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway and 47 mpg combined. This makes it the first hybrid car without a window sticker that lists a decline in highway fuel-economy ratings. Whether this is real or the product of carefully calibrating the C-Max to the EPA test cycle awaits independent verification.”
First, EPA is promoting and advertising fuel economy via its fuel economy guide.Second, it is natural that automakers want the best ratings possible as a marketing ploy. Third, EPA tests are based on driving cycle assumptions that are not universal, subject to wide variability, and easily manipulated, to put it politely. It is entirely possible that the Toyota ratings are as bogus as the Ford C-Max ratings. EPA is caught in a mess here, and has only hinted in the best “cover your butt bureaucratic way” that there is a sensitivity to the ratings that EPA was willing to let slide in the past.
In any event, thanks for the honest discussion.
Ford Lowers C-Max Hybrid Mileage Claims
After a year of denials about gaming EPA tests, Ford now says it is changing the way it tests and labels the 2013 C-Max Hybrid for fuel economy. Ford is doing so to “improve customer satisfaction.” Not mentioned in the prevaricating release was an EPA investigation about Ford’s mileage claims. (EPA to Review Consumer Reports Data Claiming Ford C-Max and Fusion MPG Claims are Bogus in Real World Driving) Previously Ford testing of the Fusion Hybrid was used to generate fuel economy labels for a family of vehicles, including both the Fusion Hybrid and C-Max Hybrid, which is a completely different model based on a European design. The result was the same fuel economy label for both vehicles. The Mexican-built Fusion is based on a Mazda 6 platform. Ford has not responded to AutoInformed’s requests for further information and clarification about what appears to a deliberate attempt to exploit EPA rules.
EPA statement to AutoInformed, excerpted:
EPA tested the C-Max after receiving consumer complaints that the vehicle did not achieve the label values of 47 miles per gallon (mpg) for highway, city, and combined driving. The new fuel economy estimates for Ford 2013 C-Max are 43 mpg combined, 45 mpg city, and 40 mpg highway. Fuel economy estimates are found on the Fuel Economy and Environment window sticker of new vehicles, as well as on http://www.fueleconomy.gov, the U.S. government source for fuel economy information.
Developed in 1977, EPA label regulations allow, but do not require, vehicles with the same engine, transmission and weight class to use the same fuel economy label value data, since, historically, such vehicle families achieve nearly identical fuel economy performance. Ford based the 2013 Ford C-Max label on testing of the related Ford Fusion hybrid, which has the same engine, transmission and test weight as allowed under EPA regulations. For the vast majority of vehicles this approach would have yielded a more accurate label value for the car, but these new vehicles are more sensitive to small design differences than conventional vehicles because advanced highly efficient vehicles use so little fuel.
To date, most high-efficiency hybrids have been used in a single vehicle design and therefore do not have this issue. The Ford hybrid family is one of two examples in the industry where advanced technology vehicles with the same engine, transmission and hybrid components are used across multiple vehicle designs. EPA regulations allow but do not require automakers to generate a label for each design in this circumstance. With the new Ford C-Max label, each vehicle design within the two high-efficiency hybrid families now has its own label.
As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) commitment to ensuring consumers are given accurate fuel economy values, the agency is revising estimates for the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid, and announcing plans for updating its fuel economy labeling regulations to ensure that the requirements keep pace with industry trends and innovations in advanced high-efficiency vehicles. Ford is voluntarily re-labeling the vehicles with these new values.
EPA tested the C-Max after receiving consumer complaints that the vehicle did not achieve the label values of 47 miles per gallon (mpg) for highway, city, and combined driving. The new fuel economy estimates for Ford 2013 C-Max are 43 mpg combined, 45 mpg city, and 40 mpg highway. Fuel economy estimates are found on the Fuel Economy and Environment window sticker of new vehicles, as well as on http://www.fueleconomy.gov, the U.S. government source for fuel economy information.
Developed in 1977, EPA label regulations allow, but do not require, vehicles with the same engine, transmission and weight class to use the same fuel economy label value data, since, historically, such vehicle families achieve nearly identical fuel economy performance. Ford based the 2013 Ford C-Max label on testing of the related Ford Fusion hybrid, which has the same engine, transmission and test weight as allowed under EPA regulations. For the vast majority of vehicles this approach would have yielded a more accurate label value for the car, but these new vehicles are more sensitive to small design differences than conventional vehicles because advanced highly efficient vehicles use so little fuel.
To date, most high-efficiency hybrids have been used in a single vehicle design and therefore do not have this issue. The Ford hybrid family is one of two examples in the industry where advanced technology vehicles with the same engine, transmission and hybrid components are used across multiple vehicle designs. EPA regulations allow but do not require automakers to generate a label for each design in this circumstance. With the new Ford C-Max label, each vehicle design within the two high-efficiency hybrid families now has its own label.
Looking forward, EPA expects to see greater use of common high efficiency systems across multiple vehicles by manufacturers in order to improve quality and reduce manufacturing costs. EPA welcomes this emerging trend and will be working with consumer advocates, environmental organizations and auto manufacturers, to propose revised fuel economy labeling regulations to ensure that consumers are consistently given the accurate fuel economy information on which they have come to rely.