2013 C-MAX Energi

 2013 C-MAX Energi

So how bad could driving an electric car be? They have won races, they are changing the way we look at the environment, and well, they even have become status symbols in places. We could look at what companies like Fisker and Tesla have done to make electric cars sexy, but why? We can’t all be the super-wealthy crowd. Most of us commoners can only think of practical things. There are companies making electric cars practical for the masses, and Ford is one of the leaders in this charge!

Let’s take the C-MAX Energi for example. Start out with a compact car that can fit five comfortably, then make sure it has some room to haul some extras when needed. Then out of anyone’s sight hide some high-tech goodies like a battery pack, a charger and an electric motor to make it all go. Top it off with incredible visibility, a great chassis and excellent reliability and you have got yourself a C-Max Energi!

Now I can tell you this would not be a car that girls would be throwing themselves at you in, but it is  a car that a small family could own or just a nice runabout. If you are looking to save some money on your gas bills, this would be the way to go.

With a 38km range on straight battery power it won’t get you far, but when you couple it with the gas engine it comes with, the fuel mileage takes a good jump.  I was not able to do better than 5.0L/100km but it is rated at 4.5L/100km and I could see it doing that especially if you chose to go straight electric and charge after each trip.

It takes 8 hours to recharge fully with the plug in for home, but you can get a 240 volt Leviton charging station installed and it will cut the charge time to three hours. The electricity required is said to run around $25 a month so factor that into your fuel bill.

This car has some other great features that will help you drive it as efficiently as possible.  The SmartGuage with EcoGuide will help you to tailor your driving to get peak fuel economy. With your EV status on one side and your efficiency leaves on the other you will know exactly what is working for you and where you need to work on your heavy foot. 

One more feature in the C-Max Energi is the EV Mode Button. It gives options like electric only(EV MODE), gasoline only (EV LATER), or a radical combination of both (AUTO EV).

I enjoyed driving this car as it  did everything very well and I would recommend it to people who want the EV experience without the massive EV bill. This is a very affordable way to get your feet wet in the market. Who knows? You might fall in love with the ease of operation and change the way you look at cars all together!

Disclosure: This vehicle was provided by Ford Of Canada