Ford Escape Hybrid
By Jenny Mc Lane, Tue Dec 6th
The Ford Escape Hybrid is a fuel-saving, gas-electrichybrid-power version of small, four-door sport-utility vehicle,available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or four-wheel drive(4x4). Its power train has 2.3-liter, four-cylinder gas enginerated 133 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, 129 pounds-feet of torque at4,500 rpm; synchronous AC electric motor rated 94 hp from 3,000to 5,000 rpm; 330-volt battery pack under rear cargo floor;electronically controlled, continuously variable transmission.Maximum power output is 155 hp because gas and electric do notmake their maximum power simultaneously.
It has a 2.3-liter, Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline enginewith a 70-kilowatt permanent-magnet traction electric motor,regenerative braking and a 330-volt battery pack. Thecombination provides performance on par with a V-6. The hybridnever has to be plugged in because the engine recharges thebatteries, by the electric motor and by heat recovered as energyduring braking.
"The Escape hybrid really "wants" to be an electric vehicle, butthe gasoline engine adds power for acceleration, charges thebatteries and powers the air conditioning," said Mary AnnWright, Ford's director of Sustainable Mobility Programs
Unlike electric cars, hybrids never need to be plugged into arecharger. Regenerative braking recharges the Ford EscapeHybrid, which converts electric motor into a generator to helprefill the battery pack during stops; and by a recharging systempowered by the gas engine.
Designed to last for the life of the vehicle and can be foundunder the Escape's cargo floor, the battery pack, which contains250 small batteries roughly the size of D cells mounted inseries doesn't infringe on cargo space.
The software and computerized controllers that make everythingwork effectively is the key to a hybrid. Small badges identifythe Ford Escape as a hybrid. The instrument panel is a littledifferent
