Ford’s in trouble once again for exaggerating fuel economy ratings, this time on 6 automobiles. According to a company audit subsequently verified by the Environmental Protection Agency, Ford is lowering mileage estimates on all of its hybrids and plug-in hybrids from 2013–2014—meaning the Fiesta, Fusion hybrid and Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, and C-Max hybrid and C-Max Energi, as well as the Lincoln MKZ hybrid are included—plus most 2014 Fiesta models.
When engineers track-tested the Fusion hybrid to validate the EPA numbers, Ford said they identified discrepancies with the car’s “total road load horsepower,” or the quantity of engine energy necessary to preserve the car at a steady speed on a specified surface, when measured on a dynamometer. (Preserve in mind that most automaker and EPA fuel-economy testing takes location in controlled environments, not on actual roads.) That error was partially the outcome of errors with Ford’s wind tunnel benefits, which are fed into the load figure. Ford doesn’t elaborate on how the other cars’ fuel-economy figures had been discovered to be erroneous, but given the business blames a approach alter for its wind-tunnel testing, we’re betting the initial errors stemmed from a equivalent set of issues.
As for the revised EPA figures, the Lincoln MKZ hybrid requires the worst hit, with its 45-mpg city and highway ratings sliding 7 mpg and 8 mpg, respectively, to 38/37. The Fusion hybrid’s 47/47 rating plummets to 44/41, and the C-Max rating—which Ford currently reduce down from 47/47 in August final year—has been cut once more, this time from 45/40 to 42/37. Each C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid models are now certified for only 19 electric-only miles as an alternative of 21. Even the vaunted 1.-liter EcoBoost Fiesta, which we recently tested, has had its 32/45 EPA rating (“tops amongst non-hybrids,” we said) has been downgraded to 31/43. Embarrassingly for Ford, the Fiesta’s downgrade now tends to make the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage tops among non-hybrids.
After the organization “reviewed its whole lineup,” it discovered no other troubles and “has instituted enhanced validation tests for future vehicles.” About 200,000 clients are impacted and will be paid by Ford’s “goodwill.” Depending on the car and the distinction in between the new combined EPA rating and the old, payments variety from $ 125 on a leased Fiesta EcoBoost to $ 1050 for a bought MKZ hybrid. In all likelihood, customers accepting the payment will waive their appropriate to sue Ford for additional damages. Interestingly, these who drive a 2014 Fiesta with the 1.6-liter engine and manual transmission get squat despite a dent to their cars’ city and highway mileage, the 31-mpg combined rating didn’t change.
This latest mileage-related blunder piles on prime of lawsuits and EPA scrutiny Ford has faced with the C-Max and Fusion hybrid considering that at least December 2012, when Consumer Reports published a story blasting their combined EPA estimates for “being off by a whopping 10 and 8 mpg.” In August, Ford downgraded the 2013 C-Max and admitted it hadn’t tested the C-Max and Fusion Hybrid separately. Instead, it utilized an EPA loophole from 1977 that let automakers use the exact same rating on cars with the “same engine, transmission and weight class.” In that same month, Ford presented a powertrain update for the 2013 C-Max, Fusion Hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid to permit larger electric-only speeds and other refinements. Contrary to popular belief, the EPA does not test each and every single automobile it “rates” and as an alternative relies on manufacturer information, only checking 15 percent of new cars itself in a given year.
Ford Fudges EPA Numbers Again, Hybrids and Plug-Ins See Fuel Economy Downgrade
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