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Ford Points To A Strong Future With New Escape Hybrid Suv

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#1 ·
Ford Motor Company is highlighting its commitment to hybrid vehicles at this week’s New York International Auto Show. The company is showing the Escape Hybrid SUV – which 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 Escape Hybrid is just one way we’re delivering on our ‘better world’ promise,” said Ford Division president Steve Lyons, referencing Ford Motor Company’s vision of great products, a stronger business and a better world.


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
At the heart of the Escape Hybrid is a compact hybrid transaxle linking Ford’s efficient 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, 65-kW electric motor, 28-kW generator and the drive wheels.


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)
This “full” hybrid functionality is packaged neatly in place of the standard transaxle and is powered by a 300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack located beneath the rear load floor. Since the battery is charged while braking and cruising, the Escape Hybrid does not need to be “plugged in” like battery-electric vehicles.


Escape Hybrid Show Vehicle
The Escape Hybrid show vehicle is Ice Blue with silver lower body cladding. Differentiating it from production Escape models are its 18-inch, 8-spoke alloy wheels; a new front fascia with integrated stylized skid plate and circular fog lamps; quad headlamps and silver honeycomb grille insert. Hybrid graphics with Ford’s road-and-leaf logo further set the Escape Hybrid apart. The rearmost window on the left side is split to accommodate an air extractor for the cooled hybrid battery pack beneath the load floor. The vehicle also has the innovative No Boundaries Rack System available on today’s Escape.


Inside, this Escape Hybrid is trimmed in light ivory leather with leather-and-sisal woven inserts in the seats and door panels. The floor mats also are made from natural woven material. The leather-wrapped steering wheel frames chrome-ringed, satin-white gauges showing the state of the hybrid battery. The tachometer includes an area indicating electric-only mode when the engine is temporarily switched off to save fuel.


A new center console with a leather-wrapped floor-mounted shifter is featured. A single liquid-crystal display in the center console serves as the audio system interface, a navigation system and a real-time “power path” visual indication of the operating state of the hybrid system. It shows, for example, if the battery is being charged or discharged, if the vehicle is recovering energy during braking or if the electric drive is providing additional power. A painted ivory bezel surrounds the LCD screen.


The Hybrid Principle
Hybrid vehicles use smaller engines that easily meet the cruising needs of the vehicle, while relying on an electric motor or other assistance to provide the extra power necessary for acceleration and hill climbs. The result is better overall efficiency, without a performance penalty.


Hybrids are designed to recover energy during braking. In traditional vehicles, the energy used to accelerate the car is lost as heat when the driver applies the brakes. Hybrids, on the other hand, can be engineered to recover a substantial portion of what would otherwise be “lost energy” and store it temporarily for use while accelerating again.


The Escape Hybrid is a “full” hybrid, meaning it has a relatively large storage battery and has the capability of driving on electric power alone. Mild hybrids, by contrast, are distinguished by relatively small battery capacity and the inability to propel the vehicle in an electric-only drive mode.


When the driver calls for maximum acceleration, the gasoline engine and the electric motor work in parallel, providing the launch performance of a powerful V-6 engine. In less demanding situations, the Escape Hybrid can run on its electric motor alone, its gasoline engine alone or the most efficient combination of the two.


While cruising on the highway, for example, the gasoline engine is used. But for low-speed driving, such as bumper-to-bumper traffic, the electric motor can be the sole power source and can propel the vehicle without the assistance of the gasoline engine.


An electric power steering assist system remains functional even when the engine shuts down and provides greater efficiency than traditional hydraulic systems.



Ford Escape, A Top-Selling Compact SUV
Introduced as a 2001 model, the Ford Escape provides fun and responsive ride and handling, an outstanding interior package, fuel economy and low emissions in a small, rugged SUV. Available in front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations, the Escape is designed to appeal to customers who want sporty and durable transportation.


The Escape is designed for maximum comfort, convenience, passenger roominess and cargo flexibility. Escape has four doors and a rear lift gate with flip-up glass for access to the cargo area. The cargo area, with the seats down, offers a maximum cargo capacity of 69.2 cubic feet.


Escape has room to carry five adults and their cargo comfortably. Its low step-in height and wide door openings allow good access, while its unibody design provides outstanding handling and ride comfort.
 
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#2 ·
USA: Ford to debut virtually production-ready Escape Hybrid SUV at New York Auto Show

Ford will show off its new Escape Hybrid SUV at this week’s New York International Auto Show and will begin low-volume fleet buyer production at year’s end followed by production for retail customers in the second half of 2004.

Ford claims its Escape will be the “first true no-compromise hybrid SUV”, combining the cargo capacity and go-anywhere capability of the sport-utility vehicle with the fuel economy and emissions benefits of a “full” hybrid system.

Ford also claims the Escape Hybrid will be among the most advanced hybrid vehicles on the road when it debuts with a hybrid system uniquely engineered for this specific application.

Among the claimed ‘breakthrough’ technologies on the vehicle is an advanced thermal management system that will result in longer battery life. Other benefits are claimed to 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,” claimed 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.”

The Escape Hybrid will have a “full” hybrid system, including a 300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery, allowing the vehicle to run on either the petrol engine or battery power alone. It’s expected to return 35-40 miles per gallon fuel economy in the city driving cycle and qualifies as an extraordinarily low emissions under the California SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) and PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicle) standards, with 97% fewer hydrocarbon emissions than permitted by the national Tier 1 standard, and virtually zero evaporative emissions.

Ford is also claiming an almost-50% reduction in CO2 emissions in city driving, “significantly extended driving range between fuel stops” and acceleration performance comparable to the 201 horsepower Escape V6 engine.

With the optional 4WD system, the hybrid Escape has cargo capacity and off-road capability equal to the base petrol Escape.

The Escape Hybrid uses a compact transaxle linking a 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine, 65kW electric motor, 28kW generator and the drive wheels.

The system, co-developed by Ford, Volvo and Aisin AW, is claimed to give “full” hybrid benefits, including: engine stop/start (automatically stops engine while idling and instantly restarts as necessary); electric assist (supplements the petrol engine when accelerating/passing); regenerative braking (recovers energy typically lost as heat through braking friction, storing it for the next acceleration) and electric drive (in city driving, the petrol engine may be off as much as 40% of the time).

The hybrid drivetrain fites in place of the standard transaxle and is powered by a 300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack located beneath the rear load floor.

The Escape Hybrid show vehicle for New York is painted in Ice Blue with silver lower body cladding. Differentiating it from production Escape models are 18-inch, eight-spoke alloy wheels; a new front fascia with integrated stylised skid plate and circular fog lamps; quad headlamps, silver honeycomb grille insert and ‘Hybrid’ graphics with Ford’s road-and-leaf logo.

The rear side window on the left is also split to accommodate an air extractor for the cooled hybrid battery pack beneath the load floor. The show is also fitted with the ‘No Boundaries Rack System’ available on petrol Escapes.

Inside, the show car has light ivory leather with leather-and-sisal woven inserts in the seats and door panels and floor mats also made from natural woven material. The leather-wrapped steering wheel frames chrome-ringed, satin-white gauges showing the state of the hybrid battery. The tachometer includes an area indicating electric-only mode when the engine is temporarily switched off to save fuel.

A new centre console with a leather-wrapped floor-mounted shifter is featured. A single liquid-crystal display in the center console serves as the audio system interface, a navigation system and a real-time “power path” visual indication of the operating state of the hybrid system. It shows, for example, if the battery is being charged or discharged, if the vehicle is recovering energy during braking or if the electric drive is providing additional power. A painted ivory bezel surrounds the LCD screen.

Source: just-auto.com
 
#3 ·
Ford enters hybrids race

Automaker's SUV will have power train for multiple vehicles

By Mark Truby / The Detroit News

DEARBORN -- Ford Motor Co., fighting to keep pace in the race to produce fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles, is completing development of a gas-electric power train that can potentially be used in multiple car and truck models.

Ford will offer the hybrid technology first in its Escape sport-utility vehicle, which goes on sale later next year. The automaker hopes to sell 25,000 to 30,000 Escape hybrids annually.

Chairman Bill Ford Jr. and other Ford executives have said the next gas-electric powered Ford vehicle will be a family sedan.

Ford is expected to unveil the Escape Hybrid and outline its hybrid strategy this week at the New York Auto Show. The company originally hoped to begin selling the Escape hybrid later this year, but was forced to push back its debut to ensure the technology was perfected.

Depending on demand, Ford will be able to drop the hybrid power train -- a 2.3-liter four-cylinder internal combustion engine mated to a 300-volt battery -- into other model lines.

"We are going to put (the Escape Hybrid) out there and see what happens," Ford President Nick Scheele said Monday. "Where will we go? We will let the marketplace tell us that. We can then move pretty darn quickly."

Hybrid vehicles are fast becoming a battleground among major automakers, with a growing number of consumers willing to pay for such technology.

Many experts now believe gas-electric hybrids have a chance to become the first alternative-powered cars to gain mainstream success.

U.S. consumers bought 36,000 hybrids last year, a number that's expected to grow to some 58,000 hybrid sales this year, according to the research firm J.D. Power & Associates. And while that's a small fraction of the overall car market, nearly a third of consumers polled now say they would consider buying a hybrid vehicle.

Adding to the buzz, movie stars -- including Cameron Diaz and Harrison Ford -- have been showing up at Hollywood events driving hybrids such as the Toyota Prius.

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to sell 300,000 hybrid vehicles a year within five years. The Japanese automaker will introduce the second-generation version of its Prius compact hybrid this week in New York.

Honda's small two-seat Insight hybrid and its Civic Hybrid also have been hot sellers.

The early success of Toyota and Honda has put pressure on Detroit automakers. General Motors Corp. used the Detroit Auto Show in January as a platform to announce that by 2007 it will be capable of producing three types of hybrid vehicles in volumes as high as 1 million per year.

DaimlerChrysler has said it will build a hybrid version of the Dodge Ram pickup next year.

"The Japanese are making serious investments," said Daniel Becker, director of the Sierra Club's global warming and energy programs. "We are still skeptical about how serious Ford and GM are about producing hybrids in large volume."

Breakthrough product

Ford believes the Escape Hybrid will be a breakthrough product -- a versatile SUV with the fuel efficiency of a subcompact car and the acceleration of the V-6 Escape. Carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 50 percent during city driving.

"There should be no package compromise, no acceleration compromise and no towing compromise," Scheele said.

Toyota's luxury Lexus division is also developing a hybrid version of its RX330 sport utility vehicle that will come to market next year for the 2005 model year.

Ford and Toyota already are jousting over which company will be the first to sell a hybrid SUV. On Monday, Toyota officials said the RX330 will boast the most advanced hybrid technology to date.

GM is planning to build a hybrid version of the 2006 Saturn Vue SUV.

With a hybrid system like the Escape's, the 300-volt battery is recharged by the internal combustion engine and by collecting energy when the vehicle brakes. The battery powers an electric motor which takes over at low speeds, optimizing fuel efficiency during city driving.

"The hybrid really shines in stop-and-go traffic," said Prabhakar Patil, Ford's chief engineer of hybrid technology.

Serious obstacles

Despite the advantages, hybrids face serious obstacles. Hybrid technology costs automakers thousands of dollars more per unit than conventional vehicles. Some of that cost is then passed on to consumers. The Toyota Prius costs some $5,000 more than the standard Corolla.

Lexus officials estimate the hybrid version of the RX330 will be priced $3,000 to $5,000 more than a standard RX330, though it will offer the fuel economy of a compact car equipped with a 4-cylinder engine.

Ford believes it can still make money with the Escape Hybrid, but like Toyota, it will have to charge a premium.

The industry is lobbying Congress to offer tax credits to consumers who buy environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles. Earlier this month, though, the House Ways and Means Committee dropped the credits amid concerns about the cost of a broader energy tax package.

Chairman Bill Thomas, R-Calif., said the credits were no longer necessary because consumers would buy the hybrids on their own, without government help.

If the tax credits for hybrid vehicles are not revived, it could be a blow to the fledgling hybrid movement.

"Hybrid technology is one that has great appeal because we don't have to really invent anything; we know they work," Bill Ford Jr. said in a speech earlier this year. "If these vehicles don't get customer acceptance, I really don't know what we do next."
 

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