<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Ford starts marketing campaign to emphasize fuel economy in new hybrid]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by biodiversivist http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/ Sun, 08 Mar 2009 11:51:43 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/1 Let the competition begin

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

]]> Let the competition begin

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

]]> Comment #2 by John Fish Kurmann http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/ Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:32:48 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/2 In fairness to Ford...

...the 2001 Prius, at 89 cubic feet of passenger space, was classified by the EPA as a compact car (the EPA classifications are based on combined passenger and cargo space). In contrast, the Fusion has 101 cubic feet of passenger space and the current Prius has 96 cubic ft. of passenger space, both being classified as midsize cars. I've read the redesigned 2010 Prius will be a bit larger.

I do agree that the Fusion Hybrid has significantly more combined horsepower than necessary. If they'd gone for ~160 combined horsepower instead of 194, Ford might've come close to matching the MPG ratings of the current Prius.

"You can never get enough of what you do not really want." - Huston Smith

]]> In fairness to Ford...

...the 2001 Prius, at 89 cubic feet of passenger space, was classified by the EPA as a compact car (the EPA classifications are based on combined passenger and cargo space). In contrast, the Fusion has 101 cubic feet of passenger space and the current Prius has 96 cubic ft. of passenger space, both being classified as midsize cars. I've read the redesigned 2010 Prius will be a bit larger.

I do agree that the Fusion Hybrid has significantly more combined horsepower than necessary. If they'd gone for ~160 combined horsepower instead of 194, Ford might've come close to matching the MPG ratings of the current Prius.

"You can never get enough of what you do not really want." - Huston Smith

]]> Comment #3 by John Fish Kurmann http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/ Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:42:59 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/3 Oh, and...

...the EPA actually does classify the Prius as a sedan rather than a station wagon even though it has a hatchback. It is on the lower end of the midsize sedan class at 112 cubic feet of combined passenger and luggage volume, while the conventional Fusion has 117 combined cubic feet.

"You can never get enough of what you do not really want." - Huston Smith

]]> Oh, and...

...the EPA actually does classify the Prius as a sedan rather than a station wagon even though it has a hatchback. It is on the lower end of the midsize sedan class at 112 cubic feet of combined passenger and luggage volume, while the conventional Fusion has 117 combined cubic feet.

"You can never get enough of what you do not really want." - Huston Smith

]]> Comment #4 by Pangolin http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/ Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:28:04 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/4 Stupid video displays do nothing useful

The big flashy video display in your Prius and now the Ford Fusion is there for one purpose; to break and force you to buy a new car. Or rather, to render the car undrivable after the warranty expires. Joe Romm was kind enough to point this out on this thread on Gristmill.

The nasty bit about a series hybrid vehicle is that once they are mass produced by a company the size of GM or Toyota they will be on the road forever. Electric motors are just THAT reliable and they turn cars from devices needing experienced mechanics to devices that can be maintained by anyone who can swap a hard drive.

While that might make cars a bit closer to sustainable transportation it would also kill business in the long run. Better to insert fragile widgets in the control system that cost more than a down payment on a new vehicle.

Put the Carbon Back

]]> Stupid video displays do nothing useful

The big flashy video display in your Prius and now the Ford Fusion is there for one purpose; to break and force you to buy a new car. Or rather, to render the car undrivable after the warranty expires. Joe Romm was kind enough to point this out on this thread on Gristmill.

The nasty bit about a series hybrid vehicle is that once they are mass produced by a company the size of GM or Toyota they will be on the road forever. Electric motors are just THAT reliable and they turn cars from devices needing experienced mechanics to devices that can be maintained by anyone who can swap a hard drive.

While that might make cars a bit closer to sustainable transportation it would also kill business in the long run. Better to insert fragile widgets in the control system that cost more than a down payment on a new vehicle.

Put the Carbon Back

]]> Comment #5 by Bob Wallace http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/ Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:41:07 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/5 That big, flashy video display...

Expensive because it must be expensive?

Or expensive because it is still low volume production?

It's a video monitor.  Mass produced, monitors sell for a hundred bucks or less.

]]> That big, flashy video display...

Expensive because it must be expensive?

Or expensive because it is still low volume production?

It's a video monitor.  Mass produced, monitors sell for a hundred bucks or less.

]]> Comment #6 by mihan http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/ Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:17:38 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/6 video...

is why I would never want a Prius. I want a car, not a computer; I certainly don't want a video game. Recently had the opportunity to drive a Civic hybrid (Zipcar), which I liked a lot better---tells you the usual info, plus when you're drawing from the battery or charging it. With bars, not some cute graphic.

]]> video...

is why I would never want a Prius. I want a car, not a computer; I certainly don't want a video game. Recently had the opportunity to drive a Civic hybrid (Zipcar), which I liked a lot better---tells you the usual info, plus when you're drawing from the battery or charging it. With bars, not some cute graphic.

]]> Comment #7 by amazingdrx http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/ Mon, 09 Mar 2009 02:35:08 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/7 Don't mix computers with cars

If you really want one on your battery electric vehicle to moniter the systems, use a laptop.  

The demise of the ICE car was signalled by the unwieldy ultra-costly melding of computers and combustion to arrive at a few percent more HP, they haven't been used to increase mileage.

Would you like to be stranded on the road as frequently as your PC has a glitch?  That's what you have with computer controlled internal combustion gas guzzling.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

]]> Don't mix computers with cars

If you really want one on your battery electric vehicle to moniter the systems, use a laptop.  

The demise of the ICE car was signalled by the unwieldy ultra-costly melding of computers and combustion to arrive at a few percent more HP, they haven't been used to increase mileage.

Would you like to be stranded on the road as frequently as your PC has a glitch?  That's what you have with computer controlled internal combustion gas guzzling.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

]]> Comment #8 by KenG http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/ Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:29:19 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/8 Computers

If you have a car less than 20 years old it is computer dependent. Surprisingly few are stranded by the side of the road. It is unlikely that any car, gasoline or electric powered, will be built in the future without almost complete computer control.

]]> Computers

If you have a car less than 20 years old it is computer dependent. Surprisingly few are stranded by the side of the road. It is unlikely that any car, gasoline or electric powered, will be built in the future without almost complete computer control.

]]> Comment #9 by drewtiss http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/ Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:59:49 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/Ford-inFusion/9 Well, they could start by redesigning some parts like fuel injectors, flywheel etc. Honestly, I really like Ford among the big 3. They are exerting efforts in increasing fuel economy and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

]]> Well, they could start by redesigning some parts like fuel injectors, flywheel etc. Honestly, I really like Ford among the big 3. They are exerting efforts in increasing fuel economy and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

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