Ford Escape Hybrid

The Ford Escape Hybrid, launched in 2004, is a gas-electric hybrid powered version of the Ford Escape SUV developed by the Ford Motor Company. Built in Kansas City, Missouri, it was the first hybrid SUV to hit the market. A similar vehicle, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid is sold by Ford's Mercury marque. A third variation, the Mazda Tribute Hybrid, arrived in the fall of 2007 as a 2008 Model Year vehicle with a limited production run for the California market.[4]

Hybrid versions can be identified by the "Hybrid" badges on the front driver's and passenger's doors as well as on the tailgate. In addition, the driver's side window in the cargo area is smaller in size in order to accommodate a ventilation slot for the high voltage battery. There was also a "Special Appearance Package" available as an option on the 2005-2007 Hybrid models. This package replaced the traditional lower cladding of the Escape with a silver finish (see picture).

The Escape hybrid is a "full" hybrid electric system, meaning the system can switch automatically between pure electric power, pure gasoline engine power, or a combination of electric battery and gasoline engine operating together, for maximum performance and efficiency at all speeds and loads. When braking or decelerating, the Escape's hybrid system uses regenerative braking, where the electric drive motor becomes a generator, converting the vehicle's momentum back to electricity for storage in the batteries. With 155 hp (116 kW), the Hybrid Escape has nearly the same acceleration performance as the conventional 200 hp (150 kW) V6 Escape.

Ford built 17,000 Escape Hybrids in the second half of 2004, four times as many as it had originally planned, and sales figures have remained steady. Starting in 2005 New York City and other cities in the world such as Mexico city began using the Ford Escape Hybrid as Taxicabs.

Development

The Escape Hybrid uses technology similar to that used in Toyota's Prius. Ford engineers realized their technology may conflict with patents held by Toyota, which led to a 2004 patent-sharing accord between the companies, licensing Ford's use of some of Toyota's hybrid technology in exchange for Toyota's use of some of Ford's diesel and direct-injection engine technology. Both Ford and Toyota state that Ford received no technical assistance from Toyota in developing the hybrid power train, but that some hybrid engine technologies developed by Ford independently were found to be similar to technologies previously patented by Toyota. Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd., a Japanese automotive components supplier belonging to the Toyota Group, supplies the hybrid continuously variable transmission for the Escape Hybrid. While Toyota produces its third-generation Prius transmission in-house, Aisin is the only supplier of hybrid transmissions to other manufacturers. Friction has arisen concerning Aisin's allocation of limited production capacity and engineering resources to Ford.

Sanyo Electric Co., which first produced hybrid car batteries in a joint venture with Honda,[11] built the 50 kg (110 lb),330V[12] 5.5 Ah (would make it 1.8kWh storage) , 250-cell nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack for the 2005 Escape Hybrid.

First Generation

Production : 2004–2007
Engine(s) : 2.3 L (140 cu in, 2261 cc) Duratec 23 I4 Atkinson cycle
Transmission(s) : Electronically controlled continuously variable
Wheelbase : 103.2 in (2621 mm
Length : 174.9 in (4442 mm)
Width : 70.1 in (1781 mm)
Height : 69.9 in (1775 mm) (w/roof rack)
Fuel capacity : 15.0 U.S. gal (57 L; 12.5 imp gal)

Second Generation

Production : 2008–present
Engine(s) : 2008: 2.3 L (140 cu in, 2261 cc)[2]
2009: 2.5 L (152 cu. in, 2488 cc) I4 DOHC 16-valve Atkinson cycle[3]
Transmission(s) : Continuously variable transmission
Wheelbase : 103.1 in (2619 mm)[3]
Length : 174.7 in (4437 mm)[3]
Width : 71.1 in (1806 mm)[3]
Height : 67.7 in (1720 mm)[3]
Fuel capacity : 15.0 U.S. gal (57 L; 12.5 imp gal)

Performance

The Escape Hybrid's 133 horsepower (99 kW) gasoline I4 engine and 94 hp (70 kW) electric motor combine to give performance similar to the 200 hp (150 kW) V6 engine commonly used in the regular Escape. The hybrid is said to give approximately 75% greater efficiency, with about 33 to 36 mpg-U.S. (6.5-7.1 L/100 km; 40-43 mpg-imp) in city traffic, (and has demonstrated it can travel 400–500 miles (644-805 km) on a single 16.5-U.S.-gallon (62 L; 13.7 imp gal) tank of gasoline in city driving), and 29 to 31 mpg-U.S. (7.6L-8.1 L/100 km; 35-37 mpg-imp) on the highway. Unlike conventional vehicles, hybrids often achieve better figures in the city because they do not waste power idling and can recover some power when stopping (by using regenerative braking) that would be wasted on a conventional vehicle.

The Escape Hybrid can accelerate up to approximately 30 miles per hour (63 km/h) on electric,[citation needed] with a gentle acceleration. A maximum distance of 1.5 miles (2.4 km) - 1.8 miles (2.9 km) can be performed on electric before the batteries will discharge and the gasoline will restart.[citation needed] When coasting, if the brake is gently tapped when passing below 30 mph (48 km/h), the gasoline engine will cut off, and the coast will continue with no gasoline being consumed.[citation needed] Electric mode does not perform as well when below 50 °F (10 °C), and performance degrades further as outside temperature drops further.[citation needed]

The Escape Hybrid gives a top speed of 102 mph (163 km/h).