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
