What is it?
Ford Escape HEV Concept Vehicle
What's special about it?
C'mon, admit it. Even as you're relishing the storage capacity, high seating position, four-wheel capability and sheer trendiness of your SUV, there's still a little, nagging voice inside you that makes you feel guilty about squandering precious fossil fuels. It's causing sleepless nights, anxiety, heartburn, and downing the Pepto.what's a truck-lovin' environmentalist to do?!
Rest easy, the Escape HEV concept is here. Ford gets kudos for creating the first hybrid-powered SUV, with a four-cylinder engine that works with an electric drivetrain enhanced by regenerative braking. The Escape will garner you about 40 mpg, with a range of about 500 miles on a single tank, yet deliver performance similar to that of a V6. And think of this - the Honda Insight is an ultra-low-emission vehicle (ULEV). The Escape will be SULEV-rated; the S is for super. It probably emits less emission than Dom DeLuise.
The hybrid system utilizes a 65-kilowatt magnetic electric motor and 28-kilowatt generator with an Atkinson cycle variant of the Zetec four-cylinder engine. And it'll be a true hybrid - it can run on electricity alone. Mated to an automatic tranny, it'll be available in a 2WD or 4WD configuration for off-pavement excursions.
Why should you care?
We love the idea of environmentally friendly vehicles. However, we've found that our long-term Honda Insight, while high on the techno-wizardry factor, is limited in everyday utility. The Toyota Prius is an actually livable car, and we think that the Escape HEV will further increase the appeal of hybrid powerplants to a great degree. Maybe it'll even undo the damage wreaked upon the electric car industry by Ed Begley Jr. A production Escape HEV will be available next year as a 2003 model.
Ford Escape HEV Concept Vehicle
What's special about it?
C'mon, admit it. Even as you're relishing the storage capacity, high seating position, four-wheel capability and sheer trendiness of your SUV, there's still a little, nagging voice inside you that makes you feel guilty about squandering precious fossil fuels. It's causing sleepless nights, anxiety, heartburn, and downing the Pepto.what's a truck-lovin' environmentalist to do?!
Rest easy, the Escape HEV concept is here. Ford gets kudos for creating the first hybrid-powered SUV, with a four-cylinder engine that works with an electric drivetrain enhanced by regenerative braking. The Escape will garner you about 40 mpg, with a range of about 500 miles on a single tank, yet deliver performance similar to that of a V6. And think of this - the Honda Insight is an ultra-low-emission vehicle (ULEV). The Escape will be SULEV-rated; the S is for super. It probably emits less emission than Dom DeLuise.
The hybrid system utilizes a 65-kilowatt magnetic electric motor and 28-kilowatt generator with an Atkinson cycle variant of the Zetec four-cylinder engine. And it'll be a true hybrid - it can run on electricity alone. Mated to an automatic tranny, it'll be available in a 2WD or 4WD configuration for off-pavement excursions.
Why should you care?
We love the idea of environmentally friendly vehicles. However, we've found that our long-term Honda Insight, while high on the techno-wizardry factor, is limited in everyday utility. The Toyota Prius is an actually livable car, and we think that the Escape HEV will further increase the appeal of hybrid powerplants to a great degree. Maybe it'll even undo the damage wreaked upon the electric car industry by Ed Begley Jr. A production Escape HEV will be available next year as a 2003 model.
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