2004 Ford Escape Hybrid
What's Special About It?
It was hardly news when Ford division president Steve Lyons predicted that in the next 100 years the internal combustion engine would be replaced with hydrogen fuel cell technology. And there was an audible sigh of disappointment from the gathered crowd of auto journalists and industry insiders at the Ford press conference when he whisked the sheet off the vehicle concealed behind him. It was just a Ford Escape with a big "Hybrid" decal on the side. The body is not what interests us, though. The Ford Escape Hybrid, which will go on sale in the second half of 2004, is the automaker's first hybrid, and initial fuel economy estimates are an outstanding 35 to 40 miles per gallon during city driving. It meets California Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle standards and achieves a nearly 50 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
The Escape Hybrid's powertrain includes a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine which will work in concert with a 65 kilowatt electric motor and a 28 kW generator to charge a 300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery. The system allows the vehicle to run on gasoline or battery power. "It's a totally seamless transmission between gasoline and battery power," boasts Lyons, who was also excited by the fact that the Hybrid's acceleration performance is equal to that of the standard Escape's internal combustion 201-horsepower V6 engine.
Lyons also proudly pointed out that this vehicle is different from other hybrid vehicles (i.e. Toyota Prius and Honda Insight) because it eschews weird styling and cramped interiors. The only difference between the Escape Hybrid and the regular Escape will be the powertrain. "It's a no-compromise vehicle," he said.
Why Should You Care?
With worldwide oil resources diminishing and pollution increasing, changes to the fuel sources for our modes of transportation are not only economically and practically necessary but environmentally critical. While Lyons may be no Nostradamus, he is most certainly correct in predicting that hydrogen power is the future of automobiles. Keep in mind, however, that this is the third time Ford has announced the imminent production of the Escape Hybrid so until there's a confirmed production date you'll have to settle for the "weird styling and cramped interiors" of its already available competitors.— Neil Dunlop.
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