Fourth of July weekend means two things to most Americans. Also, it’s a long weekend and staggering gas prices. The regenerative braking or kinetic energy of a stopping car usually goes to waste. However, this important regenerative braking system of every Ford hybrid has changed that. Thereby recapturing enough kinetic energy to save customers. Yes, regenerative braking saves an estimated 100 million gallons of gas in the last 15 years.

Ford Regenerative Braking Gone Wild

I #love the @ford regenerative braking and driving scores for their CMAX energi plug-in hybrid EV and the Ford Focus electric car. Just purely and Totally awesome!!!

That’s enough gas to travel an estimated 2.5 billion miles – or drive around the world about 100,000 times. Most noteworthy, using power that otherwise would have had to come directly from fuel. Therefore, originating in either a gas pump or electrical outlet.

Ford Regen Braking System Saves 100 Million Gallons of Gas

And because Ford’s regenerative braking system captures up to 95 percent of the kinetic energy behind a stop. This aids and helps improve fuel efficiency by up to 30 percent. A simple tech that should be in every single car. I mean think about it. The amount of gas saved and miles generated as a result go up every time a Ford hybrid hits a stop sign or red light.

“More energy recaptured means reduced fuel consumption, engine load and wear on brake pads, along with a smoother braking process,” says James Castellano, manager, regenerative braking. “But the bottom line is actually the bottom line – less out-of-pocket costs for the owner because of the improved fuel efficiency.”

The recently-launched 2013 Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid is the fifth electrified vehicle from Ford with regenerative braking technology that can capture up to 95 percent of the kinetic energy produced during braking. Kinetic energy, which is converted to heat and lost with conventional braking systems, can be stored in the battery until needed to provide engine power. Further helping to improve fuel efficiency up to 30 percent.

Competing systems recapture as little as 30 percent of the kinetic energy and can improve fuel efficiency by 9 percent. The difference between Ford’s system and that of others can be seen in mileage estimates. Also, the Fusion Energi and as well the C-MAX Energi. These plugin hybrids also feature regenerative braking. Yet they are EPA-estimated to deliver up to 108 MPGe in the city.

In addition, Ford outperforms the competition by using a more powerful motor. In addition, they added an advanced lithium-ion battery that can store energy. Energy that’s faster than the nickel-metal-hydride batteries used in many rival hybrid and electric vehicles. Most importantly and so cool, it’s Ford proprietary software developed in-house by Ford engineers.

And while competing systems leave it up to the driver to guess the impact of his/her braking, Ford makes it easy through a brake coach feature – part of the SmartGauge with EcoGuide cluster in the instrument panel. When used, the regenerative braking system becomes a fun, “gamefied” feature that differentiates itself from competing systems by using video graphics to show the effectiveness of a driver’s braking practices.

In addition to Fusion Energi and C-MAX Energi, other vehicles from Ford’s electrified vehicle lineup that have regenerative braking are Fusion Hybrid, C-MAX Hybrid, and Focus Electric.
Based on sales volumes during the past 15 years and the average number of miles driven annually, engineers estimate that Ford vehicles with regenerative braking have recaptured and used enough energy to drive to the sun and back 13 times.

Put another way and also the equivalent of 100 million gallons of gasoline was saved. That is based on average car fuel economy of 24.6 mpg. This came from the University of Michigan and their Transportation Research Institute.

The gallons of gas and miles created through regenerative braking increase every time a Ford hybrid hits a stop sign or red light, as the company continues winning market share at a rapid pace. Ford had its best hybrid sales month ever in April, selling 21,080 units to reach an all-time-high 18 percent share of the electrified vehicle market, up from 3 percent last year.

The found generation
The first Ford to feature regenerative braking was the 1998 Electric Ranger.
Even before that, however, engineers began designing a system for future use during the Ford EcoStar experimental program – a fleet of about 100 electric vehicles launched in 1992.
The Electric Ranger launched with a parallel regenerative braking system – a standard regenerative braking system that involves just a few added components. The system was simple, but didn’t maximize efficiency.