Purchasing a hybrid vehicle makes for a slightly different ownership experience than a traditional gasoline-only car.
There are always a few tips and tricks for owners to return the best mileage and range from electrified vehicles, and now a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid owner has shared his secrets.
Owner Paul Jones has prepared a detailed video to share the best tips on how to extract best overall energy efficiency from a C-Max and return the best range and fuel economy.
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Through the detailed process, the owner shows us the best times to engage the electric-drive mode and proper (mostly gentle) acceleration techniques.
Basically, Jones maintains in the 24-minute video, getting the C-Max battery unit to two bars is key in the driving process.
It keeps the electric driving mode charged enough during daily trips where it can continuously kick on and save gasoline.
2015 Ford C-Max Hybrid
Smooth acceleration and regenerative braking are also a big part of hypermiling the car.
This does require quite a bit of attention from the driver; hypermiling is not for the average driver.
Keeping track of the state of charge and the appropriate times to let the internal combustion engine power the C-Max are key.
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This can cause a bit of distraction during daily driving, but the results don't lie: mileage increases and the vehicle reaches peak efficiency.
While the video is lengthy, experienced hybrid owners are likely to recognize some of the techniques used to take best advantage of the powertrain.
There are a few other tips provided as well; Jones has installed a few aerodynamic pieces to increase efficiency.
2015 Ford C-Max Hybrid
Those include side skirts, wheel covers, and covers for the grille and fog lights to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the tall, boxy C-Max shape.
The owner also recommends increasing the tire pressure to 50 psi, which he suggests is within the safe limits for the low rolling-resistance tires fitted—and gave him 64,000 miles worth of tread life.
The video project came about because, Jones said, neither Ford nor the dealer where he bought the car ever provided any recommendations on driving habits or tips to get the most from the C-Max Hybrid.
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A big believer in the benefits of reducing fuel consumption and hybrid powertrains, Jones felt he had to fill the gap. Thus, this video was born to inform other owners.
While most owners aren't likely to add aero aids to their C-Max Hybrids, even incorporating a few of the tips provided could provide efficiency gains.
While the C-Max Hybrid was originally rated at 47 mpg combined, Ford had to reduce its EPA ratings not once but twice following negotiated settlements with the agency.
The ratings for a 2017 Ford C-Max Hybrid are 42 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, and 40 mpg combined.
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