The First SUV Hybrid: Ford Escape

First of Its Kind

In 2004, the Ford Escape was the first SUV hybrid to be released in the market. The original gasoline-powered counterpart was sold in 2001. The new hybrid engine is gasoline-electric housed in the compact SUV. The first models were built in Kansas City, Missouri with other Ford divisions also creating more variations in limited production.

In total, the company has made 17,000 Ford Escape Hybrids by the end of 2004 with boosted sales and increased value. However in 2006, other companies like Toyota have also produced hybrid SUVs which outperformed the Escape. Ford kicks back by developing the Hybrid Escape E85 which promises to run on 85% ethanol flexible fuel which is cleaner and more cost-effective than gasoline.

The Hybrid System

The Ford Escape is a full hybrid featuring an all-electric system. It can automatically switch systems between a pure gasoline engine power source, a pure electric battery power source or a combination of the two. Performance and speed are significantly improved through the recent changes.

The hybrid incorporates regenerative braking whenever the vehicle stops or slows down. The motor instantly conserves energy to double as a generator during momentum, saving electric energy to be stored in the battery. Compared to the gasoline-powered V6 Escape, the hybrid version almost has the same acceleration performance with 155 horsepower (116 kW).

Performance

The Ford Escape Hybrid has a gasoline engine with 133 horsepower (99 kW) and an electric motor with 94 horsepower (70kW) combined to equal the performance of the 200-horsepower (150 kW) V6 engine of the conventional Ford Escape. Using the Hybrid for city driving will surely improve its gas-conserving capability and mileage since idling is not commonly practiced and the braking regenerating mechanism instantly works when stopping on traffic lights and parking.

The Escape SUV is 75% more efficient having 33 to 36 mpg or 6.5 to 7.1 liters every 100 kilometers in city traffic and 29 to 31 mpg or 7.6 to 8.1 liters every 100 kilometers on the highway. A 16.5 gallon tank of gasoline when driven solely in the city can cover 400 to 500 miles. Emission performance has also improved a lot and passed SUV standards well.

The Electric Advantage

Acceleration on the electric batteries can go as fast as 39 miles per hour. The SUV can cover a distance of 1.5 to 1.8 miles before the batteries automatically discharges spurring the gasoline engine to take over. During deceleration, the gasoline will automatically shut down while continuing to give enough momentum for the vehicle to move.

The electric capabilities of the car however do well in hotter climates. 50 degrees F and below will tend to adversely affect the performance of the Escape. More developments are underway as Ford collaborates with Southern California Edison or SCE to upgrade the electrical energy system.

Specifications

The Escape SUV Hybrid has a square body and tough appearance. There are also outside options to be added like moon roof, running boards and roof rack. Despite the rugged exterior, the instrumentation has a very modern feel including new stereo, DVD and navigation system controls. The 2.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine still comprises the powertrain system with two electric motors and one CVT or continuously variable transmission that can be electronically controlled but works just as well as any normal automatic transmission.