A few weeks ago, the family and I opted to go a little greener and test out the 2018 Ford Fusion Energi Plug-In Hyrbrid for a week, all the while learning more about our amazing universe and ways in which we can live a more eco-conscious way of life. This was all in celebration of Earth Day. Seeing as I have often wondered what it would be like to drive an electric vehicle, I felt this was the perfect opportunity to see how our family could incorporate an EV into our busy lifestyle. With more and more charging stations popping up, the idea of owning a Ford Hybrid is more intriguing than ever. But what I failed to realize is that the Ford Fusion Energi that was loaned to us by Ford Canada is an incredibly brilliant plug-in model that can be easily plugged into a standard 120-volt wall outlet using the convenience cord that is included. Not only does this help to maximize battery capability and allow you to operate longer in EV mode, it offers peace of mind knowing that I can plug in the vehicle before I go to bed and can wake up to a full charge. Plus, owners can easily monitor and schedule battery charging via the MyFord Mobile smartphone app. Say what?

When I first stepped into the Ford Fusion Energi Platinum model, I couldn't help but notice the luxurious premium leather interior with ample space both in the front and in the rear. Power windows, power locks, a power tilt steering column and a power moonroof are all standard specs on this model, along with rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry and remote start. But what impressed me the most was the incredible Quiet Start feature. Honestly, I didn't believe the car was really on the first time I started it. Thankfully, the display has a green light that indicates that the car is on and ready to go. The rest of the display, however, was full of gauges and display modes that were quite overwhelming at first. It took some getting used to, especially when a battery indicator would light periodically and I would slightly panic because I wasn't sure how long I could go before I had to recharge. But then I discovered the range meter and oh, yeah! It's a hybrid and it has a full tank of gas, I reassured myself. While I was used to the lane keeping system and the sensitive braking system from our Ford Edge test drive last fall, the Brake Coach was handy because is coaches you to brake in a way that maximizes the amount of energy returned through the regenerative braking system on the Ford Fusion. It made for a really smooth and enjoyable ride. The ability to drive in the HOV lane thanks to the Green Vehicle plates was an added bonus.

Throughout our week with the Ford Fusion, not only were we treated to a smooth, quiet ride while on the road, we also celebrated Earth Day by planting our very own organic herb garden at home thanks to a handy Sow & Grow kit provided by Ford Canada. It was a great activity for the whole family and, because the kit included herbs that we use regularly, we can continue to celebrate Earth Day every day with fresh, homegrown herbs.