2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid: Seamless Transition

Now, with the great mileage the FFH gets, I'd be REALLY excited to see what the same system mixed in with the next gen Focus would be like, both to drive and mileage.

if it's anything like the hyper-eco Fiesta's across the pond, WANT. I'm a professed lover of hp and torque, but I'd happily give that up for an economical but fun to drive vehicle.

My driving habits (mostly highway) and my fondness for torque make me more predisposed toward diesels than hybrids. Leaving aside the fact that the Fusion is a bit larger, how does the ride&drive of the Fusion Hybrid compare to the comparably priced (i.e., fully loaded) Jetta TDI?

@texases, please explain to me how hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are pointless?

I think if I could have a 2nd car something like the Fusion would be it, but otherwise I like power too much not to give up my current truck or my dream truck for that matter.

I am glad this car is something that you all can appreciate, since that means that hybrids can be interesting and more or less normal.

What I would like to see next is a diesel-generator-electric-drive car, kinda like a locomotive. :)

hondaacura4 - hydrogen fuel cell cars are both extremely expensive to make, and require a fuel that is, for the most part, unavailable and will require an extremely expensive infrastructure. That what I mean by "economically speaking". $100,000+ cars with multi-billion dollar infrastructure requirements are pointless, economically speaking.

"hydrogen fuel cell cars are both extremely expensive to make, and require a fuel that is, for the most part, unavailable and will require an extremely expensive infrastructure. That what I mean by "economically speaking". $100,000+ cars with multi-billion dollar infrastructure requirements are pointless, economically speaking."

@texases, I'm sure people said the same thing when the IC engined vehicle replaced the horse drawn carriage. Think beyond the box. Any new technology has to start somewhere and is usually very expensive in its first stages however with further refining the associated costs are reduced substantially.

While you can argue that there are complexities and cost issues associated with a fuel cell vehicles, none of them are deal breakers, either technologically or cost wise. We've already seen sizes reduced by 1/2 several times in terms of fuel cells, and power output and operating range have increased along the way. Given that modern manufacturing techniques (thin films, etc.) are being used, further reductions in size and increases in efficiency will be easier to find versus old-school discrete mechanical options. None of these issues didn't have analogs in the development of the IC engine, not to mention the comparable issues that exist even today.

Now, what is really critical for hydrogen fueled vehicles of any sort is the infrastructure, and this is where Honda really has a chance to change the world. They've already given us a taste with the Phil concept, but even with that setup there was a requirement for a NG feed from your local utility. But with a solar powered concept, as long as you had water, you needn't be dependent on anyone save a maintenance man for fueling your vehicle. This idea of widely distributed fueling sources, progressing on even further to independent power generation, would be a revolution. The kind of freedom and independence such a paradigm shift would generate would be incredible. I can certainly see how some folks wouldn't like such a thing, but I doubt you can show me many "average joes" who wouldn't jump at the chance to go off the grid or be able to avoid gas stations most of the time.

Such a system would also be inherently more robust than centralized distribution of oil, electricity, etc. Its really a win-win for the consumer and whoever develops it.

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100127005524&newsLang=en

Solar-powered H2? Why not just charge up your PHEV/EV, or put it straight into the grid and shut down some coal-fired powerplants? Can H2 power a car? Sure, but there seem to be several better options out there. And remember, I said 'for years to come', maybe 10-20 years from now H2 will make sense.