Ford Escape Hybrid
The Ford Escape Hybrid, launched in 2004, is a gas-electric hybrid powered version of the Ford Escape sport utility vehicle developed by the Ford Motor Company. Built in Kansas City, Missouri, it is the first hybrid SUV to hit the market. A similar vehicle, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid is sold by Ford's Mercury marque, and a third variation, the Mazda Tribute Hybrid, was released by Mazda in 2006. As of 2006, the Escape hybrid system is one of the most advanced available on the market. It is a "full" hybrid electric system, allowing the system to switch automatically between electric power, gasoline engine power, or a combination of both, giving maximum performance and efficiency at all speeds and loads. Ford's hybrid system also includes regenerative braking which helps reduce momentum and store electricity in its batteries. The Hybrid Escape with 155 total horsepower has nearly the same acceleration performance as the conventional 200 hp V6 Escape.
In response to the strong consumer demand of the Toyota Prius, Ford built 17,000 Escape Hybrids in the second half of 2004 - four times as much as they had originally planned to build. Ford then planned to produce 4,000 Mariner Hybrids and 20,000 Escape Hybrids for 2006, along with a few Mazda Tribute Hybrids. Moreover, the Hybrid Escape is the first to offer an alternative fuel capability - running on E85 (85% ethanol / 15% gasoline).
Development of the Escape Hybrid system was based on similar technology used in Toyota's Prius, but with no technical assistance from Toyota. Its components came from different manufacturers, such as Aisin AW (a Japanese automatic transmission manufacturer belonging to the Toyota group) which supplied the hybrid transaxle, and Sanyo of Japan which built the battery pack.
Performance-wise, the Escape Hybrid has a 133 horsepower (99 kW) gasoline engine and 94 hp electric motor which provides the same acceleration as the 200 hp V6 engine commonly used in the regular Escape. It is said to have approximately 75% greater efficiency, with an average of 33-36 mpg in city traffic and 29-31 mpg on the highway. Additionally, it meets both California's SULEV and PZEV standards, allowing for tailpipe emissions better than 90% less than the average 2003 new car and zero evaporative emissions.
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