- Ford’s new hybrids can save business customers as much as 45 percent in operational costs
- Ford expects to double hybrid vehicle production as companies procure Fusion and C-MAX for their company fleets, and as model year market share, according to R.L. Polk, has grown 13 percent since 2012
- Ford C-MAX Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid have been purchased by a variety of companies including
Con-way, Esurance, Quest Diagnostics and AT&T for fleet use since their introductions last fall
- Fleet operations teams can put an average of 24,000 miles annually on a vehicle throughout its service; durability, resale value, technology and cost savings are all major factors in purchase decisions for companies as they evaluate fleet options
Ford’s fuel-saving Fusion
and C-MAX hybrids are attracting new commercial buyers searching for
ways to save money at the pump.
Con-way, Esurance, Quest Diagnostics and AT&T are among the
newest companies to purchase Ford hybrid vehicles for their national
fleets. Many of their regional employees drive more than 24,000 miles
annually.
“New commercial fleet customers are turning to Ford as they look
for fuel-efficient, durable vehicles that can withstand the daily use
and duty cycles of their businesses,” said Jon Coleman, Ford commercial
fleet sustainability and technology manager. “Ford’s Fusion Hybrid and
C-MAX Hybrid give them the tools they need to get the job done,
including leading EPA-estimated fuel economy, technology, great quality
and durability.”
Many companies are seeing the value in replacing gas fleets with
new offerings from Ford’s hybrid lineup, and the savings can be
significant – cutting total operational costs by as much as 45 percent.
At the same time, hybrid vehicles typically retain higher resale values
than their gas counterparts. Resale value is an important factor when
companies calculate total operating costs for their business fleets.
Ford has seen rising demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, especially
hybrids among fleet customers. These buyers are increasingly choosing
Ford’s Fusion Hybrid and C-MAX Hybrid – both introduced last fall – as
they look to further their sustainability efforts and reduce operating
costs in their national fleets.
Con-way, a transportation and logistics services company with
nearly 500 locations in North America, is adding just more than 1,000
Fusion Hybrids to its national fleet this year. The cars are deployed
with operations and sales personnel at the company’s Con-way Freight,
Con-way Truckload and Menlo Worldwide Logistics operating units.
Collectively, Con-way expects to save more than 1 million gallons of gas
annually while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 45
percent using Fusion Hybrid as its primary fleet car.
After an extensive selection process, San Francisco-based Esurance
chose 50 Fusion Hybrids for its national claims fleet to provide the
latest technology, while also saving fuel and reducing carbon emissions.
Esurance expects to save more than 69,000 gallons of gas over the next
few years, which translates to a savings of more than $255,000, at a
national average of $3.71 a gallon.
Commercial fleet customers continue to move toward more
environmentally responsible vehicles to support their sustainability
efforts, while providing the latest technology and safety features for
their drivers. Ford technology such as SmartGauge® with
EcoGuide provides valuable hybrid driving information, including the
amount of energy captured through regenerative braking, most efficient
trip suggestions for frequently traveled routes, and instant feedback on
a driver’s green score via leaves earned for each segment driven.
“Besides the obvious benefits of improved fuel efficiency and
reduced carbon emissions, the advanced technologies in Fusion Hybrid are
just as important,” said Mitch Plaat, Con-way vice president of
procurement. “Ford’s technology suite – which includes lane-departure
warning, adaptive cruise control, backup cameras, navigation system and
the SYNC® hands-free system – helps Con-way reduce accidents
and improve highway safety for employees, their families and other
motorists.
“The hybrids’ reduced carbon emissions also complement our
sustainability mission and contribute to our efforts to be a good
steward of the environment,” Plaat added.
Randy Mullett, Con-way vice president of government relations and
public affairs, selected the 2013 Fusion Hybrid for his company car.
Mullett is impressed by its fuel economy and advanced safety features.
“My Fusion’s advanced technology features, lower emissions, reduced fuel
consumption and superb styling all combine for a great car that is
inexpensive to operate and embodies the professional image we want to
present for our customers,” he says. “It serves as a tangible sign of
Con-way’s commitment to sustainability.”
Quest Diagnostics recently added 150 C-MAX Hybrids to support its
national logistics requirements. “As the leading diagnostic information
services company, we maintain a significant national logistics operation
for transporting millions of patient specimens each year for testing at
our clinical laboratories,” said Clete Lewis, director, environmental,
health and safety, Quest Diagnostics. “Given our scale, the type of
vehicles in our fleet can really make a difference to the environment
and our business costs.
“The environmentally conscious C-MAX Hybrid is much more fuel
efficient and produces less pollution than standard automobiles,” Lewis
added. “It is a smart addition to our fleet because it will promote
lower fuel costs while also helping us to empower better health in the
communities we serve.”
Ford now offers five electrified vehicles:
- C-MAX Hybrid: EPA-estimated rating of 47 mpg city, highway and combined – up to 7 mpg better than Toyota Prius v – plus 50 more horsepower and 12 class-exclusive technologies
- C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid: Best EPA-estimated combined miles per gallon equivalency of any plug-in hybrid, Ford’s first production plug-in hybrid vehicle has an EPA-estimated city rating of 108 MPGe and 21 miles of all-electric range – more than triple Prius plug-in’s six miles – and an EPA-estimated gas plus electric range of 620 miles. C-MAX Energi’s “real car” performance includes 195 horsepower (versus Prius plug-in at 134 horsepower), engaging driving dynamics and a quiet interior – all with a leading electric-only speed of 85 mph, more than 20 mph above the Prius
- Fusion Hybrid: EPA-estimated rating of 47 mpg city, highway and combined, up to 6 mpg better than the Toyota Camry Hybrid
- Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid: EPA-estimated gas plus electric range of 620 miles, electric-only range of up to 21 miles, and EPA-estimated rating of 108 MPGe city, 92 MPGe highway and 100 MPGe combined
- Focus Electric: One of America’s most fuel-efficient compact cars, with an EPA-estimated rating of 110 MPGe city, 99 MPGe highway and 105 MPGe combined
Article and image courtesy of Ford News.
