Dec 21 2006 Ford Motor Company highlighted its commitment to hybrid vehicles when it unveiled the Escape Hybrid SUV. The company will begin low-volume fleet production at year?s end and retail production in the second half of 2004.
As the first true no-compromise hybrid SUV, it combines the cargo capacity and go-anywhere capability of the Ford Escape sport-utility vehicle with the fuel economy and emissions benefits of a "full" hybrid system.
The Ford Escape Hybrid will be among the most advanced hybrid vehicles on the road when it debuts. The hybrid system has been uniquely engineered by Ford for the Escape.
Among the breakthrough technologies on the vehicle is an advanced thermal management system that will result in longer battery life.
Other benefits will include better acceleration performance when the vehicle is in pure electric mode and more efficient powertrain operation during highway driving.
"The Ford Escape Hybrid significantly improves the power density of the hybrid drive system to meet the power demands of an SUV in available space," according to Ford Hybrid Technology Chief Engineer Prabhakar Patil. "Applying hybrid technology to an SUV clearly presents a challenge. You simply have to get more out of the same type of powertrain package that to this point has only been asked to propel a smaller car."
As the first true "no-compromise" SUV, the Escape Hybrid will offer:
- A "full" hybrid system, including a 300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery, allowing the vehicle to run on either the gasoline engine or battery power alone 35-40 miles per gallon fuel economy in the city driving cycle
- Extraordinarily low emissions under the California SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) and PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicle) standards, with 97 percent fewer hydrocarbon emissions than permitted by the national Tier 1 standard and virtually zero evaporative emissions
- Nearly a 50 percent reduction in CO2 emissions in city driving
- Significantly extended driving range between fuel stops
- Acceleration performance comparable to the 201 horsepower Escape V-6 engine
- Cargo capacity and off-road capability equal to the base Escape, with optional 4WD
This hybrid system, co-developed by Ford, Volvo and Aisin AW, gives "full" hybrid benefits, including:
- Engine stop/start (automatically stops engine while idling and instantly restarts as necessary)
- Electric assist (supplements the 2.3-liter gasoline engine when accelerating/passing)
- Regenerative braking (recovers energy typically lost as heat through braking friction, storing it for the next acceleration)
- Electric drive (in city driving, the gasoline engine may be off as much as 40 percent of the time)
As the first true no-compromise hybrid SUV, it combines the cargo capacity and go-anywhere capability of the Ford Escape sport-utility vehicle with the fuel economy and emissions benefits of a "full" hybrid system.
The Ford Escape Hybrid will be among the most advanced hybrid vehicles on the road when it debuts. The hybrid system has been uniquely engineered by Ford for the Escape.
Among the breakthrough technologies on the vehicle is an advanced thermal management system that will result in longer battery life.
Other benefits will include better acceleration performance when the vehicle is in pure electric mode and more efficient powertrain operation during highway driving.
"The Ford Escape Hybrid significantly improves the power density of the hybrid drive system to meet the power demands of an SUV in available space," according to Ford Hybrid Technology Chief Engineer Prabhakar Patil. "Applying hybrid technology to an SUV clearly presents a challenge. You simply have to get more out of the same type of powertrain package that to this point has only been asked to propel a smaller car."
As the first true "no-compromise" SUV, the Escape Hybrid will offer:
- A "full" hybrid system, including a 300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery, allowing the vehicle to run on either the gasoline engine or battery power alone 35-40 miles per gallon fuel economy in the city driving cycle
- Extraordinarily low emissions under the California SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) and PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicle) standards, with 97 percent fewer hydrocarbon emissions than permitted by the national Tier 1 standard and virtually zero evaporative emissions
- Nearly a 50 percent reduction in CO2 emissions in city driving
- Significantly extended driving range between fuel stops
- Acceleration performance comparable to the 201 horsepower Escape V-6 engine
- Cargo capacity and off-road capability equal to the base Escape, with optional 4WD
This hybrid system, co-developed by Ford, Volvo and Aisin AW, gives "full" hybrid benefits, including:
- Engine stop/start (automatically stops engine while idling and instantly restarts as necessary)
- Electric assist (supplements the 2.3-liter gasoline engine when accelerating/passing)
- Regenerative braking (recovers energy typically lost as heat through braking friction, storing it for the next acceleration)
- Electric drive (in city driving, the gasoline engine may be off as much as 40 percent of the time)
Source...