Revised Fuel Economy Label
Estimates for 2013 Ford C-Max
What is the New 2013 Ford C-Max Fuel Economy Label Value
and How Has It Changed?
Ford Motor Company is voluntarily re-labeling the model year 2013 Ford C-Max
hybrid vehicle to match EPA's fuel economy estimates. Figure 1 compares the original
and revised label values for the 2013 Ford C-Max,
Figure 1. Original and Revised Fuel Economy Label Values for 2013 Ford C-Max
Original 2013 C-Max Label
mpg Values
Combined
City | Highway
47
47 47
New 2013 Label Values
Combined
City | Highway
43
45 40
Change in mpg
Combined
City | Highway
-4
-2 -7
These label values apply to all new 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrids, and would also be
appropriate for all 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrids that have been upgraded with new
software by Ford,
Why is the 2013 Ford C-Max Being Re-Labeled?
EPA tested the C'Max after receiving consumer complaints that the vehicle did not
achieve the label values of 47 miles per gallon (mpg) for highway, city, and combined
driving. EPA acquired a Ford C-Max hybrid, accumulated 4000 miles to break it in,
and performed fuel economy tests. Based on the results of these tests, EPA deter-
mined that the fuel economy performance of the C-Max was significantly lower than
the original label values.
SEPA
Why Did the Old C-Max Label Claim Higher Fuel Economy?
Developed in 1977, EPA label regulations allow vehicles with the same engine,
transmission and weight class to use the same fuel economy label value data, since,
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
EPA-420-F-13-044
August 2013
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historically, such vehicle families achieve nearly identical fuel economy performance. Ford
based the 2013 Ford C-Max label on testing of the related Ford Fusion hybrid, which has the
same engine, transmission and test weight as allowed under EPA regulations. For the vast majority
of vehicles this approach would have yielded an appropriate label value for the car, but these
new vehicles are more sensitive to small design differences than conventional vehicles because
advanced highly efficient vehicles use so little fuel.
In this case, EPA's evaluation found that the C-Max's aerodynamic characteristics resulted in a
significant difference in fuel economy from the Fusion hybrid.
What About the 2013 Ford Hybrid Software Upgrade?
In July 2013, Ford instituted a software upgrade for all of its remaining 2013 hybrids, including
C-Max hybrids. This upgrade is also available to all current owners of 2013 Ford hybrids through
a voluntary service campaign. Ford has stated that this software upgrade should increase fuel
economy.
The re-labeled 2013 C-Max values reflect this software change.
What About the C-Max Without the Ford Hybrid Software Upgrade?
As part of its evaluation, EPA also tested a 2013 C-Max without the software upgrade. Figure 2
shows the EPA test results for previously purchased C-Max hybrids that have not received the
voluntary software upgrade,
Figure 2. Original 2013 C-Max Label Values and EPA Values for C-Max Without Software Upgrade
Original 2013 C-Max Label
mpg Values
Combined
City
Highway
47
47
47
EPA Values Without
Software Upgrade
Combined
City
Highway
41
42
40
Change in mpg
Combined
City
Highway
-6
-5
-7
What About the Accuracy of Other Vehicle Labels?
This is a new and emerging issue caused by a combination of factors. Because high fuel economy
vehicles use so little fuel per mile, relatively small changes in fuel consumption can have a
surprisingly large impact on miles per gallon. Advanced manufacturing techniques are making it
much easier for automakers to produce vehicles with the same engine and transmission, but with
a wider variety of other design changes. The fuel economy of advanced technology vehicles,
which involve sophisticated designs and control mechanisms, can be particularly sensitive to
small design changes. All of these factors came together in 2013, which was the first year when
manufacturers began to market families of hybrid vehicles.
To date, most higlvefficiency hybrids have been used in a single vehicle, ensuring a unique and
accurate label for those advanced vehicles. The Ford hybrid family is one of only two examples
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in the industry where advanced technology vehicles with the same engine, transmission and
hybrid components are used across multiple vehicle designs. EPA regulations allow but do not
require automakers to generate a label for each design in this circumstance.
With the new Ford C'Max label, each vehicle design within the two higlvefficiency hybrid
families now has its own label.
Conventional vehicles often share the same engine and transmission across multiple products,
but are far less sensitive to the variations among these products and hence have nearly identical
fuel efficiency.
What Will EPA Do to Make SureThis Does Not Happen Again?
Looking forward, EPA expects to see greater use of common high efficiency systems across
multiple vehicles by manufacturers in order to improve quality and reduce manufacturing
costs. EPA welcomes this emerging trend and will be working with consumer advocates,
environmental organizations, and auto manufacturers to propose revised fuel economy labeling
regulations to ensure that consumers are consistently given the accurate fuel economy informa'
tion on which they have come to rely.
For Additional Information
For additional information contact:
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
Public Information Services Team
E-mail: otaq@epa.gov
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