Ford's Hybrid technology came with the purchase of Volvo, and they developed it from there. That said, they did the right thing mating the Hybrid drivetrain to a four clyinder ICE engine; and the MPG figures reflect that. I love driving the Hybrid Highlander/Lexus RX400H, but those V6's are just too much ICE engine under the hood. They only need a 2.2-2.4VVTI engine.

Dan

"Now - we have proved the hybrid model works very well in the Escape - so lets can the non-hybrid model - what do you think?"

Posted by: Mike L | Jul 12, 2007 11:50:34 AM

I'll vote for that! Auto companies could show their commitment best by taking non-hybrid SUV's completely off the market. They're luxury vehicles, after all.

"O.K.- now apply the lessons learned here to a streamlined passenger car/wagon. Anyone see a reason why Ford can't make a car/wagon to rival the Camry-Altima twins- or even the Prius?"

Posted by: DieselHybrid | Jul 12, 2007 1:20:02 PM

Aye, there's the rub. As I posted in another thread, Detroit continues to try to marry hybrid technology to the SUV chassis. Even when the percentage gain in performance is pretty good, as it is with the Escape, it doesn't sell well. It is clear that the consumers who CARE about gas mileage and will choose ON THEIR OWN to buy a hybrid vehicle are the same people who already buy cars, instead of SUV's.

An anomaly outside the brainless stupidity of the Big Three. Otherwise, I still want a 40MPG + Fusion damnit!

Diesel -

Ford was already beat out on the patent. They are putting hybrids in a part of the market that virtually everyone else just forgot about. There are a lot of tree-huggers that do not want to be stuck in a sedan b/c that is the only type of hybrids everyone makes.

"It's the fuel economy stupid!" I like that Roger.
"Turn the 110v around and use it to charge a larger
battery" Lad that works for me. How hard could that be? It's not like they have to invent new technology.
If Ford would make a hybird that would get you to work
and back on a battery charge they could not make them
fast enough to keep up with the demand.

John L.,

I think there are plenty of people who want to buy hybrid SUVs. Two years ago I bought a small SUV. At the time neither the Ford Escape nor the Toyota Highlander were available at the dealers, so I couldn't buy a hybrid version. In a couple more years there will be more choices for hybrid SUVs, and IMO they'll sell lots of them.

George,

I don't see how you can call the Escape an "oversize vehicle." Yes, it's bigger than a Prius, but it's also much smaller than a Tahoe. For me it's about the right size to haul 2-4 people plus mountain bikes & gear, or a couple of kayaks. I telecommute, so most driving is for recreation. And I seldom drive anywhere by myself.

I know there are a lot of SUV haters posting on this site. Many think the ONLY reason people buy SUVs is because of some kind of ego problem. There are those people, but there are others for whom an SUV is simply a very useful vehicle. If we can get them up to 30-40 mpg we'll save a lot of fuel.

And I agree completely that Ford did the right thing with the 4-banger. Toyota should put a smaller engine in the Highlander SUV, and they need a RAV4 hybrid. And Ford needs a hybrid Fusion. Heck, we need lots more choices for hybrids. IMO we'll see them within 2-3 years. I can't wait ... but I have to.

JJSpwan, heck that "tree hugger" nonsense. It's about fuel economy, nothing more, nothing less and you don't have to be a tree hugger to respect that.

hampde wireless:

WHAT IS THE REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BUYING WITH $$ AND CENTS OR WITH 'PATENT RIGHTS' or other non-monetary exchange?

Either way, Ford bought the right to buy and/or produce 100 000 Toyota synergy hybrid systems for their Escape.

Someone alluded to it so I'll just continue the thought. The total savings for fuel are higher with a larger vehicle. Most people who buy this SUV were going to buy a small to medium sized SUV in the 1st place. Few would-be Civic or Focus drivers will go to the Escape Hybrid.
Taking a 25 mpg SUV and making it into a 37 mpg SUV means the driver will get almost 50% better MPG. That's a bigger difference than the real world gas savings from a hybrid Civic.

Given the state of the art of series/parallel hybrid electric powertrains (Prius, Escape), here's a question for everyone to ponder:

If its true that the polar icecaps are melting and the penguins in Antarctica are complaining its too warm, why doesn't the U.S. Postal Service convert their mail delivery trucks to Prius/Escape-type hybrid powertrains?

FORD BOUGHT THE RIGHT NOT TO END UP IN SOME PATENT CASE. That is the difference.

BTW there is a company that makes a product called the electric wheel (not a wheel motor) that was after Toyota for patent infringement. Seems that HSD transmission is very similar to the system they use for power transmission.

For those who want a hybrid Fusion it is coming. I wish it were here now but because it is using a newer generation hybrid system I'd rather see them get it right and it be a success rather than a half baked also ran that might poison people on hybrids. I hope maybe it will scale to the Five Hundred/Freestyle now renamed Taurus/Taurus X.

Alex,

I think the reason is that Toyota and Ford couldn't make enough vehicles to meet the additional demand. But you're absolutely right. As soon as possible all government fleet vehicles should be hybrids.

Maybe there will be a recession and fuel prices will fall, causing the auto market to get soft. Then the USPS should step up to the plate and keep the production lines moving. I'm hoping within 3-5 years battery manufacturing capacity will be in place to build at least 10X the number produced today.

My Ford Escape Hybrid ( 2x4 ) gets 38 MPG now with 50/50 city and highway driving. That is my average for 39,000 miles, and I've had a couple tanks of all city that were about 45 MPG. A 40+ MPG version would be a drop in the bucket. Pretty much, a sure thing.

You wrote:
hampde wireless:

WHAT IS THE REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BUYING WITH $$ AND CENTS OR WITH 'PATENT RIGHTS' or other non-monetary exchange?

Either way, Ford bought the right to buy and/or produce 100 000 Toyota synergy hybrid systems for their Escape.
--------------------------
Again its common knowledge that Fords system is not Toyota's HSD . The exchange is a two way street that has no limits to the numbers on either side.

Here is more info:
http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/NussbaumOnDesign/archives/2005/11/is_ford_innovat_1.html

Toyota has OVER 300 PATENTS ON THE PRIUS, Ford had only to license only 21 of them.

Toyota's own press releases say Ford does not use Toyota developed technology on the Escape.

I saw one of these new Escapes recently--although I wasn't close enough to determine if it was the Hybrid version. They are nice looking and I was impressed with the new look. I currently have a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and just eyeing the 2 up, the Escape didn't appear to be a whole lot different in dimensions. I think a Hybrid version Escape would be on my short list if I was in the market.

Kudos to Ford for moving in the right direction.

Love the comments from y'all. Haven't bought yet; am still in the research phase. I've driven Fords over my life, and yes they have their weak points, but my current '97 escort just rolled over 191,000 miles, and it doesn't owe me a dime. Love the slightly larger interior, all the bells and whistles of the Mercury Mariner/Ford Escape hybrids, but am concerned about traction control. I live in Maine, and the winters can be tough. Any owners out there wiling to comment?

I would buy one in a minute if it had POWER ADJUSTABLE PEDALS, PASSENGER ASSIST HANDLE, AND DVD for the kids. I have found no green vehicle with these options. Add those and then you'd really have something!

I have an Escape Hybrid and I love it. It really does get 32mpg and has great feel to it. I have had it in town and on the highway and it is great on both.

I have an Escape Hybrid and I love it. It really does get 32mpg and has great feel to it. I have had it in town and on the highway and it is great on both. I hope Ford makes a Taurus Hybrid too.

What normal North American people do with trash is throw relatively clean supermarket food containers (packaging) in the trash and then dump“ dirty” food matter on top of it. The way this American ritual works is that the food containers get dirty because they are in the trash. My weird, economical countermeasure is to not put these items in the trash, rinse out these (soy) milk cartons and soup cans and put them in a separate recycling container. When you really want to freak your“ normal” American friends...