Test-driving a Ford Escape Hybrid
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 09.23.08
Ford Canada has a media program where they lend cars out to writers; I don't drive a lot (and our car guy Mike was too far away) but had never been in a hybrid so took them up on their offer of a 2008 Escape hybrid.
My first reaction was that IT'S BIG! I asked Marketing Manager Sarah McGrath why they put such an energy efficient package in such a big car, and was informed that a) the Escape is Ford's smallest SUV, and b) that is where they thought the market would be. They are putting the drive train into other conventional cars as well.
Sarah McGrath explains some of the features of the Hybrid
The Escape is a full hybrid, so it switches between electric power (it can run on that up to 48 km/hr) or both gas and electric together. The gas engine is an Atkinson cycle engine that cranks out 133 horsepower.
Atkinson Cycle animation from Wikipedia." The Atkinson engine is essentially an Otto-cycle engine with a different means of linking the piston to the crankshaft. It was originally designed to compete with the Otto engine, but without infringing on any of Otto's patents."
That's the same kind of engine in the Prius; Atkinson cycle engines are "designed to provide efficiency at the expense of power" and burn very cleanly.
In the back, a 330 volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack runs a 94 HP electric traction motor. Combine the power of it with the Atkinson, and you get a satisfactory shot of accelleration when you press the pedal. But you rarely do floor it; there is something about being in a hybrid that makes you want to squeeze every drop out of it, and we tended to drive it carefully and follow all of Mike's rules for responsible, fuel efficient driving. It paid off.
Other green features are special low resistant tires, and an Interface upholstery fabric that is using 100% post-industrial waste. For those concerned about the durability of the car, Ford offers an 8 year warranty, but it only runs for 160,000 kilometers (100,000 miles), which sounds awfully low if someone is buying a hybrid because they drive a lot.
Since I rarely drive in town it sat in my driveway for a week, until I piled my wife, the kids and the new puppy in for something I had never done in my life- a day trip in a car, to Prince Edward County to visit a cheese factory.
I don't drive a lot and have never driven a midsize SUV before so I am perhaps not a good judge, but I was impressed at it's quiet interior, the smoothness of the ride, and the fabulous gas milage, hitting 50 miles per gallon for the week, far greater than I get on my little four-banger in my 2000 Subaru. About the only real complaint I had was the dreadful instrumentation; there was no way to really tell how good you were at squeezing out the mileage, and what is the point of a tachometer on a car with a continuously variable transmission? I really would have preferred that they take up its space with some feedback on instantaneous fuel consumption. (all the information on the 2009 Escape indicates that they have fixed this)
I must admit that I was impressed. It isn't very expensive at C$34,000 (a new Subaru costs more), seemed well built, and really sipped fuel. Perhaps we are all too critical of Ford and GM and their ability to retool and address our changing circumstances; let's see what else they can do.
Previously in TreeHugger on the Escape:
Now That's Sexy: LA County Lifeguards Get Ford Escape Hybrids
Now That's Sexy: LA County Lifeguards Get Ford Escape Hybrids
::Green Basics: Hybrid-Electric Cars
::Popular Support For Hybrid Cabs in NYC
Superbowl Ads: Ford Escape Hybrid & Toyota Camry Hybrid
Follow @TreeHugger on Twitter & get our headlines with @TH_rss!
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- Is the Cash for Clunkers Program Right for You?
- Your Broken or Missing Gas Cap May Be Costing You Money
- Does Your Car Qualify for the Federal 'Cash for Clunker' Program?
- 7 Steps to a Greener Road Trip
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Another happy Treehugger SUV driver, where will it all end?
mjo
Were you testing the FWD or AWD version?
Triple the battery size and make it a PHEV, then we'll talk. Right now you have not given a valid reason to be driving such a large and still inefficient vehicle.
@ Willy Bio,
I don't think Lloyd's advocating everyone buy this vehicle so much as he's commenting that it's a step in the right direction by Ford.
yeah, another HUGE pig of a car on the streets of the US. (And this is the SMALLEST model!!!) The days of these cars are OVER! hybrid or not, this car is a pig and should be turned into bacon!
You must have been driving in the city all the time to get 50 mpg and that is STILL not good compared to our average small diesels in Europe. Time to die!
50MPG is great....That is more than most Hybrids in the States. Plus you can carry all you want. STOP CRYIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ecobore
What is the average small diesel MPG?? And is it clean/CO2 free?????
Big cars are not less efficient. Heavy cars are less efficient.
Light cars are not less safe. Small cars are less safe.
A big light car can be safe and efficient. I'm not saying the Escape is efficient or not safe or not, but I know that I used to have a knee jerk reaction against big cars, when the science did not support that attitude. The culprit is not big cars, it is heavy cars.
The Rocky Mountain Institute 100 MPG car is an SUV. It is big, light and efficient.
I can't believe that the most OBVIOUS information is lacking.
The Ford Escape Hybrid uses the Generation-1 Toyota Prius HSD technology, scaled up a bit.
Toyota designed the HSD to use the Atkinson cycle, a crankshaft that is offset to be in optimum downwards position at firing time, the dual electric motor system, the PZEV exhaust.
In my mind, of all the American owned car manufacturers, Ford did the best choice licensing from Toyota the technology for it's hybrid.
The other American hybrids do electric assist only - meaning the ICE runs 100% of the time, using gas. At best these hybrids perform like a V6 with a V4+electric.
If Ford would obtain the Generation 2 or 3 from Toyota, the Ford Escape would increase it's MPG range.
"Big cars are not less efficient. Heavy cars are less efficient.
Light cars are not less safe. Small cars are less safe."
I must disagree.
A light V12 Aston Martin is not efficient. A tiny SMART Plus 2 city car is very safe.
If everyone drove small light cars with smaller engines they'd use less fuel and be just as safe as everyone around them. The problem is people believe the advertising hype that bigger means safer and so we suffer the green placebo of Hybrid SUVs.
Ford also make a small, light, safe, fuel efficient non-hybrid in the form of a 65mpg diesal Fiesta. No nasty battery construction, and much friendlier! http://autos.aol.com/article/general/v2/_a/65-mpg-ford-fiesta/20080919094409990002
I bought a Ford Escape Hybrid about a month ago, now. I live in Alaska and really do need a 4 wheel drive vehicle, and SUVs style vehicles come in handy for camping and driving on snowy back roads. While I know it's not the most efficient vehicle, it's the most efficient one that best serves my needs.
I'm happy to be able to get 30+ MPG now. The best I'd ever been able to do before was 22 MPG, because of the need for AWD or 4x4. I'm very glad that car companies are making greener options for those of us who need more than a tiny FWD car that gets the maximum energy efficiency.
That's really the point here. A Prius isn't for everybody. A 1L car isn't going to be practical for everyone. People will always need a variety of vehicles, depending on their lifestyles and environments. We should be supportive of all efforts to make more fuel-efficient, greener, cars for all people.
Mark,
A lot of inaccuracies in your statement.
Ford developed their own hybrid in-house, then licensed the technology from Toyota when it was deemed too similar to Toyota's patented system.
Remember that the Escape is now in it's 2nd generation and rated 34/30 vs. the first generation rated at 31/29, The Hybrid drivetrain is also in at least its second iteration, for MY2009 it uses a 2.5L Atkinson and is rated at 34/31.
By the way, 'PZEV exhaust' is not a licensed technology. It is a Cali emissions rating based on SULEV exhaust, zero evaporative emissions, and a 15yr/150k mile emissions control warranty.
Also, GM and Chrysler both have two-mode hybrids that do not run the gasoline engine 100% of the time. Perhpas you meant the 'mild hybrid' used in the Malibu and Vue, but even that engine turns off while the vehicle is at rest - thought it runs 100% of the time when the car is accelerating.
Thanks for the corrections Filibuster1.
What I meant also is that Toyota's HSD includes the exhaust system, from the bladder to the exhaust. All work in tandem to give the best economy and lowest pollution.
Ford's system is a near carbon copy (hence the licensing agreement due to patents) and scaled up.
Of all SUV with 4x4 capability, the Escape Hybrid is the best choice, even over Toyota's own hybrid SUV's. I find Toyota's SUV's still way too big.
The animation above is not correct. It is of a true Atkinson cycle. The Escape and Prius use a modified Atkinson cycle that uses a conventional crankshaft and delayed closure of the intake valve to shorten the compression stroke.
"Ford developed their own hybrid in-house, then licensed the technology from Toyota when it was deemed too similar to Toyota's patented system."
This is correct. Additionally, the license agreement included a technology exchange in which Toyota licensed use some of its hybrid technology to Ford , in exchange for some of Ford's diesel and direct-injection tech.
Mark, the company that you are thinking of that just licensed Toyota's hybrid tech instead of developing their own is Nissan.
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0508/08/A01-272872.htm
According to yahoo auto:
2009 Ford Escape Hybrid 34/31 mpg
i can't see this suv getting the same mileage as a prius.
are you sure you calculated your mileage correctly?
I prefer the Saturn VUE Hybrid. Per Consumer Reports, With everything taken into account, it will save you $4,550. in 5 years, haul all your kids and stuff, is good for the environment and looks cool. The Fords Escape Hybrid saves only $2970, the Prius only $2000. and won't haul all your stuff.
I will be very interested in seeing how the new two mode VUE (NOV ?) compares as its mileage will be even better.
nice post there dude,,;with a nice car beside!!!!!
I like that SUV. looks decent. But I'd still choose a bike for everyday city commute. I'm 21. I don't have stuff to haul around, except maybe a passenger...
I don't understand some of the people who have a very negative reaction towards an SUV.
yes the purely fuel driven ones sucked a lot. but the newer hybrids like this ford give a very acceptable range. Thats just a lot of prejudice talking when people go against cold facts stating that the SUV has a performance that nearly matches that of the Prius.
What I don't get is, Prius is a small car compared to the Escape. then did Ford upgrade the Toyota electric drive to suit the Escape?? If they used a similar system delivering the same performance as the one installed in the Prius, did Ford upgrade the IC engine??
can someone explain this if they know?? thanx
Sid,
Yes, the Escape has a larger ICE and electric drive than the Prius. The Escape currently uses a 133 hp ICE and 70 kw electric drive. The Prius uses a 76 hp ICE and 50 kw electric drive.