Ford Fusion Hybrid Car

Ford Motor Co and the other Big 3 automakers are breathing a collective sigh of relief after the recent government bail-out. Ford may have an even bigger reason to celebrate, however, as their new Ford Fusion Hybrid appears to be the winner in the quest for miles per gallon ratings.

Ford Motor Co.’s latest efforts at building an hybrid powered car is the 2010 Fusion Hybrid. After the success of the Ford Escape Hybrid, efforts have been turned to creating a sedan for the mass production market. And it appears that Ford has got it right. The new Ford Fusion will get 41 city miles per gallon and 36 mpg on highways. This is based on final certification figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This will be the best gasoline fuel economy of a family sized hybrid currently in production, topping the Toyota Camry by 2 miles per gallon. Independent tests have shown mileage numbers as high as 52 mpg for combined city and highway miles. Ford is hoping that these numbers will translate into a new surge in sales.

In addition to the gas mileage ratings, the new Ford Fusion Hybrid can run at speeds up to 47 miles per hour strictly on the electric motor. The Fusion’s new nickel-metal hydride battery is said to be lighter and able to produce 20 percent more power than the Ford Escape hybrid. It also devised a way to get 28 percent more power out of the battery cells, said Praveen Cherian, program leader for the Fusion Hybrid.

Additional improvements have been made to Ford’s regenerative braking system captures energy lost through brake friction and stores it for battery usage. Ford said 94 percent of brake friction energy is recovered in the new model.

Ford introduced the Fusion Hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show last month, along with the Mercury Milan hybrid. All in all the new Ford Fusion Hybrid appears to be a winner and should be available in the showrooms sometime in the new year.