Ford Escape Hybrid
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| Ford Escape Hybrid | |
|---|---|
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| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Production | 2004–present |
| Assembly | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Class | Compact SUV |
| Body style(s) | 4-door SUV |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
| Platform | Ford CD2 platform |
| Related | Mazda Tribute Mercury Mariner |
| First generation | |
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| Production | 2004–2007 |
| Engine(s) | 2.3L Duratec 23 I4 Atkinson cycle |
| Transmission(s) | Electronically controlled continuously variable |
| Wheelbase | 103.1 in (2619 mm) |
| Length | 174.9 in (4442 mm) |
| Width | 70.1 in (1781 mm) |
| Height | 70.4 in (1788 mm) |
| Second generation | |
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.jpg/250px-Ford_Escape_Hybrid_(pshot).jpg) |
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| Production | 2008–present |
| Engine(s) | 2.3L I4 |
| Transmission(s) | Continuously variable transmission |
| Wheelbase | 103.1 in (2619 mm) |
| Length | 174.7 in (4437 mm) |
| Width | 71.1 in (1806 mm) |
| Height | 67.7 in (1720 mm) |
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, is expected to arrive in the fall of 2007 as a 2008 Model Year vehicle with a limited production run for the California market.[1]
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:[2]
| Model | 2005 sales | 2006 sales | 2007 sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Escape Hybrid (FEH) | 18,797 | 19,228 | 21,386[3] |
| Mercury Mariner Hybrid (MMH) | 998 | 3,375 | 3,722[3] |
Purchasers of 2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids qualify for US income tax credits between $2,200-3,000.[4]
Toyota launched two hybrid SUVs in 2005, a version of their Highlander, and a Lexus-badged RX 400h, both of which outsold the Escape hybrid in 2006, their first full year of sales.[5] A number of Mazda Tribute Hybrids have also been produced.
Ford announced the development of a prototype Hybrid Escape E85, the first hybrid vehicle capable of running on 85% ethanol flexible fuel, although they have not announced any production plans.[6]
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[edit] 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.[7] Both Ford and Toyota state that Ford received no technical assistance from Toyota in developing the hybrid powertrain, but that some hybrid engine technologies developed by Ford independently were found to be similar to technologies previously patented by Toyota.[8] 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.[7]
Sanyo Electric Co., which first produced hybrid car batteries in a joint venture with Honda,[9] built the 50 kg (110 lb),330V[10] 5.5 Ah (would make it 1.8kWh storage) , 250-cell nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack for the 2005 Escape Hybrid.[11]
[edit] 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) in city traffic, (and has demonstrated it can travel 400–500 miles (644-805 km) on a single 16.5 gallon (62.4 L) tank of gasoline in city driving), and 29 to 31 mpg (U.S.) (7.6L-8.1 L/100 km) 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 39 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 40 mph (64 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 degrees 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).[12]
[edit] Emissions
The Escape Hybrid meets both California's SULEV and PZEV standards, with tailpipe emissions better than 90% less than the average 2003 new car and zero evaporative emissions.[citation needed]
[edit] Plug-in hybrids
Three companies have converted Ford Escape Hybrids to Plug-in under a contract with the NYSERDA and delivered them in 2007:[13]
- Electrovaya of Toronto Canada
- HyMotion also of Toronto Canada
- Hybrids Plus of Boulder Colorado USA
Ford has converted a Ford Escape Hybrid to Plug-in and delivered it to Southern California Edison (SCE) in December 2007 to examine the future of plug-in hybrids in terms of how home and vehicle energy systems will work with the electrical grid.[14] Under the multi-million-dollar, multi-year project, Ford will convert a demonstration fleet of Ford Escape Hybrids into plug-in hybrids, and SCE will evaluate how the vehicles might interact with the home and the utility's electrical grid. Some of the vehicles will be evaluated "in typical customer settings," according to Ford. [15] [16]
[edit] Technology
The Ford and Hybrids Plus conversions are similar: conversion involves the replacement of the original NiMH battery (on the floor of the trunk) with a larger capacity LiIon battery, in the same location and substantially the same volume as the original battery.
On the other side, the Electrovaya and HiMotion conversions retain the original battery, and augment it with a LiIon battery that occupies a significant portion of the trunk.
In all cases, the conversion also involves the addition of a charger and of a power plug.
[edit] See also
- List of hybrid vehicles
- Hybrid vehicle
- Ford Escape (regular non-hybrid version)
- Mercury Mariner
- Mazda Tribute
- Ford CD2 platform
- Ford Motor Company
[edit] References
- ^ 2008 Mazda Tribute Hybrid page at Mazda USA web site
- ^ Hybrid Sales Figures/Tax Credits for Hybrids Electric Drive Transportation Association. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
- ^ a b [http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=27548 Ford January 22, 2008 press release
- ^ [http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=176409,00.html 1/2/2008 Internal Revenue Service - 2008 Model Year Hybrid Vehicles.
- ^ Hybrid Car Sales Figures: Ford Hybrid Car Sales 2006 US (Commercial website). Hybridcar.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
- ^ Ford Develop's World's First Ethanol-Fueled Hybrid Marrying Two Gasoline-Saving Technologies. (Press release, corporate website). Media.ford.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
- ^ a b Tierney, Christine. Ford slams Toyota on hybrids: Detroit automaker may run short on parts from manufacturers affiliated with Asian carmakers. Detroit News, 2005-08-08. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
- ^ "Ford slams Toyota on hybrids", Detroit News, 08 August 2005. Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
- ^ Honda In Joint Venture With Sanyo To Produce Hybrid Car Batteries. 2002-04-20. Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
- ^ Escape specs. Ford.
- ^ 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid Electric Vehicle. HEV America, U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (2005). Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
- ^ Green Car Advisor - Ford's Plug-In Escape Hybrid Arrives for SoCal Test
- ^ NYS Governor Announces Winners for PHEV Conversions
- ^ Media.Ford.Com: Ford Delivers First Escape Plug-In Hybrid To Southern California Edison
- ^ EERE News: EERE Network News
- ^ Ford Motor Company - Press Release - Ford Motor Company And Southern California Edison Join Forces To Advance A New Transportation And Energy Vision
[edit] External links
- Ford's Escape Hybrid page
- Hybrid Federal Tax Credit.
- Escape Central: Escape/Mariner/Tribute Enthusiast site
- First Drive: 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid - At CanadianDriver.com
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