Auto Trader NZ
Published 3 September 2020
Ford says it more than doubled the estimated range of 700 miles per tank, and was able to travel 1445.7 miles (2327 kilometres) on a single tank of gas in a standard 2010 Fusion Hybrid.
Driven by NASCAR racer Carl Edwards, eco-motorist Wayne Gerdes, and several Ford engineers, the test took more than 69 hours to complete.
The Ford Fusion gave a fuel economy average of 81.5 mpg, and was enough to set a world record for the longest distance traveled on a single tank of gas in a gasoline-powered midsize sedan.
The team of drivers employed some mileage-maximising techniques during the challenge, which Ford says can be used in any vehicle to improve fuel economy.
They include:
- Slowing down and maintaining even throttle pressure
- Gradually accelerating and smoothly braking
- Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and anticipating traffic conditions
- Coasting up to red lights and stop signs to avoid fuel waste and brake wear
- Minimize use of heater and air conditioning to reduce the load on the engine
- Close windows at high speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag
- Applying the “Pulse and Glide” technique while maintaining the flow of traffic
- Minimize excessive engine workload by using the vehicle’s kinetic forward motion to climb hills, and use downhill momentum to build speed
- Avoiding bumps and potholes that can reduce momentum.
