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2008 Ford Escape Hybrid

--> My Escape Hybrid Test Drive
--> Buying a New or Used Hybrid Escape

2008 Ford Escape hybrid

Escape Hybrid          -->>Hybrid Buyers Club

The World's First Hybrid SUV

--> Ford expands interest-free hybrid vehicle loans

The 2006 Escape hybrid was the first commercially available Hybrid SUV, as well as the Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2005. 

Not long ago, the hybrid Escape was also named the 11th Greenest Vehicle - a first for an SUV.

Recently, Ford announced that the Escape hybrid will be completely redesigned for the 2008 model. The 2008 Escape hybrid will offer a tougher look, more airbags and Ford's new Ice Blue dashboard lighting scheme, in addition to seats made of recycled materials.

As for 2007, it will be interesting to see what happens to Ford Escape hybrid sales when Toyota hybrids run out of tax credits, especially if gas prices continue to rise.

And things look good for the Escape hybrid. According to a recent Edmunds study, the Escape hybrid can now recover its hybrid costs in just 3 years.

How the Escape hybrid does it.

Combining two electric motors - one to drive the wheels and one to turn over the gasoline engine - with the standard Escape 2.3-liter four-cylinder gas engine, the Escape Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) is achieves almost 35 mpg and performs as well as the 200-hp V-6 version.

The hybrid Escape's gasoline engine has been modified to run on the Atkinson cycle, unlike the standard Escape, which like all conventional automobiles, runs on the Otto cycle.

This cycle runs more efficiently, using less air and fuel, but also reduces engine horsepower, and that's when the electric motors kick in.

One motor drives the wheels on the Escape hybrid, the other starts the engine and manages the transmission's ratio. 

Electric motors improve fuel economy in city driving, allowing the vehicle to be powered by electric power only, and also by capturing energy more efficiently.

And, yes, you still have to keep gas in the hybrid Escape.

Ford created a number of new technologies developing the Escape hybrid, and the automaker hopes to receive more than 100 new patents from Escape hybrid production.

Similar to other hybrids, the Ford Escape utilizes a variable transmission system, called an Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission or eCVT. This allows the distribution of power between the gasoline engine and the electric motor to be determined by driving conditions, allowing the gas engine to shut off when the electric engine can provide enough power to run the hybrid SUV.

This feature allows the Ford Escape hybrid to significantly increase fuel-efficiency.

The Escape also uses regenerative braking, allowing the vehicle to recapture some of the vehicle's kinetic energy to recharge the hybrid's battery pack.

How Does the Hybrid Escape perform?

Most important, the Ford Escape Hybrid can perform at any level, on-road or off-road, as well as, if not better, than the standard Escape. 

O.K., that's not totally true. The Ford Escape hybrid, like the Prius, can have problems with mountain driving, or very steep hills. Combined with the wind resistance caused by the square design of SUVs, and sluggish performance can occur, but such conditions are rare in a daily commute.

For those that have to have an SUV, but feel guilty about purchasing a gas-guzzling SUV, the Escape Hybrid is the perfect solution.

The biggest downside of the Escape hybrid is cost. The hybrid components of the Escape add about $3000.00 to the cost of the hybrid versus the conventional Escape. Additionally, Ford is often packaging the Escape hybrid with lots of extras.

Top Escape Hybrid Stories

-- Escape hybrid is an Intellichoice Best Buy of 2006

-- Buying a New or Used Ford Escape hybrid

-- Escape Hybrid Test Drive

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> Army Converting Escape hybrid into hydrogen hybrid 

> Hybrid Escape one of the hottest Cars In America 

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> Ford shows of ethanol Escape hybrid at Chicago Auto Show

> What happens when the Toyota runs out of tax deductions? An Escape hybrid explosion

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> Ford Escape hybrid will not qualify for the California carpool lane exemption

> Escape hybrid will qualify for new clean vehicle tax credits

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> Ford Escape hybrid the 11th Greenest Vehicle

> Ford Escape Hybrid Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show

> Hybrid vehicles: Full versus Mild?

> Hybrid vehicle production slowed due to battery shortage

> Test driving the Escape Hybrid

> Ford Escape Hybrid SUV leads Detroit

 > Economist Magazine calls Ford Escape Hybrid SUV groundbreaking

 >> More Hybrid Car Information

Some people have been bothered by the hybrid Escape's drive-by-wire brake and accelerator controls, as well as the electric power steering, claiming less responsiveness, but I didn't notice this much on my test drive.

> Test driving the Escape Hybrid

Essentially, Ford isn't offering the Escape hybrid as an alternative to a base 4 cylinder Escape, but rather to a fully loaded V6.

Unfortunately, the hybrid Escape is not quite as fast as the conventional V6 Escape.

Nonetheless, the move also makes Ford the leader in U.S. hybrid technology, providing the first full hybrid by one of the American Big 3, in addition to the first hybrid SUV

Ford plans to sell about 20,000 of the hybrids in 2005. As of January, about 3000 Escape hybrids had been sold.  Ford was prepared to produce as many as 45,000 of the SUVs this year, but such plans have been hampered by limited hybrid battery components. 

Next story,  Ford Escape Hybrid Test Drive.

If you would like to receive future information on the Ford Escape SUV, please Click here.

Read about the Toyota Highlander hybrid, the Escape hybrids closest competitor.

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Ford Escape Hybrid
Testimonials


"How you drive plays a VERY important role in your MPG. I have a 2wd Escape Hybrid and live at altitude near Denver. When I was "green" I got 34 MPG right from the drive home. Now, with practice and experience, I can get 45-54 MPG around town ( speeds under 35 MPH ) and up to 41 MPG over the highway ( speeds up to 65 MPH )."

(More Escape Hybrid Testimonials)

 

Hybrid Car Buyer's Guide

> Not sure if the Escape hybrid is the best for you? Use our hybrid buyer's guide. (more)

Also > Robbed: Buying a hybrid car today

Hybrid Costs

-> 2006 Tax deduction for the Escape hybrid

-> The Ford Escape Hybrid costs about $3000 more than a conventional V6 Escape.

-> But you'll save around $5500 in fuel over the life of the vehicle. 

EPA Fuel Efficiency Estimates & Hybrids
Don't buy into the negative press regarding hybrids like the Escape hybrid (More)
Hybrid Car Buyer's Club

Interested in buying an Escape hybrid SUV, or another hybrid car?

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