2013 Ford C-MAX Energi is a 'Long-Distance Runner' with 620-Mile Range

Now you can drive from Detroit to New York City, or from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, on one tank of gas, according to the Ford Motor Company (News - Alert). In fact, the all-new 2013 C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid vehicle delivers up to 620 miles of range from a single stop at the pump and a fully charged battery – 80 miles beyond what is delivered by Toyota’s Prius plug-in.

The Ford C-MAX Energi delivers EPA-certified 108 MPGe city, 92 MPGe highway rating and 100 MPGe combined— estimated to save $7,000 in fuel costs over five years—as what the automaker claims is the “most fuel-efficient and affordable plug-in hybrid” utility vehicle in America.

C-MAX Energi also offers “real-vehicle” performance and technologies – including 15 class-exclusive features, such as the available hands-free liftgate, active park-assist, and SmartGauge with EcoGuide.

“From fuel efficiency to innovative technologies to the performance and price, everything we’ve done for the last 20 years in the area of hybrid vehicle technology has led up to this,” said John Davis, chief nameplate engineer, C-MAX Energi.

The new model has a range of 21 miles in electric mode only. With the average commute reportedly 20 miles one way – and the number of public charging stations growing rapidly – C-MAX Energi could feasibly handle a day of driving to and from work without using a drop of gas.

C-MAX Energi also has a feature called EV+ that enables the vehicle to stay in electric-only mode for longer durations by “learning” frequent destinations. The feature was developed in response to Ford research that found drivers prefer to have their vehicles be in electric-only mode whenever possible, Davis explained.

“C-MAX is Ford’s first hybrid-dedicated nameplate in North America, but the ability to offer features like EV+ indicates just how deep our level of understanding and expertise is when it comes to hybrids,” added Davis.

 In electric-only mode, C-MAX Energi uses an advanced 7.6-kWh lithium-ion (li-ion) battery pack that can charge in as little as 2.5 hours when using a 240-volt charging station – the same kind available at most public charging stations. A 240-volt station for home use and made by New York City-based Leviton is available for purchase through collaboration between Ford and the retailer Best Buy (News - Alert).

A LED-illuminated ring around the charge port, conveniently located on the front quarter panel of the driver’s side of the vehicle, makes it easy to determine the status of the vehicle’s battery charge: A fully lit circle means the battery is completely charged.

And it won’t slow drivers down. C-MAX Energi offers 195 net system horsepower with a fully charged battery – 60 more horsepower than the Prius plug-in – and a top speed in electric mode of 85 mph, which is 25 mph more than the Prius.

C-MAX Energi also gives the driver control over how the vehicle’s power is used through an EV mode button – conveniently mounted in the center stack – that switches vehicle operation among three modes. Drivers can opt for electric-only driving without gasoline engine power; normal hybrid mode , in which the powertrain melds electric and gasoline engine power as appropriate; or a battery-saving mode that reserves the pack power for later use.

To help drivers manage the battery of C-MAX Energi when they are away from the vehicle, MyFord Mobile is available for use via smartphone. MyFord Mobile allows C-MAX Energi owners to control select features of their vehicle from nearly anywhere, anytime, using the special app. For example, it can be set to send alerts when the battery is fully charged or even to take advantage of value charging – enabling customers to schedule charging at off-peak or other reduced rates based on local utility participation.

To monitor on-road power, C-MAX Energi offers the latest generation of SmartGauge with EcoGuide. It provides information, such as instantaneous fuel economy, that is displayed on one of two 4.2-inch LCD screens, helping drivers to more closely monitor how their driving behavior affects the vehicle’s efficiency.

C-MAX Energi is built at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan – the first facility in the world capable of building a full array of vehicles including gas-powered, electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid, all on the same production line. The MSRP for the vehicle is $29,995 (after a federal tax credit).

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