2005 Ford Escape Hybrid

Clean and fuel-efficient hybrid sport utility vehicle

Ford Escape Hybrid is the world's cleanest and most fuel-efficient SUV*. It combines the fuel economy and emissions benefits of a "full" hybrid with the go-anywhere capability, toughness and spaciousness of the Ford Escape, America's favorite small SUV. Escape Hybrid is the first hybrid electric vehicle to offer four-wheel-drive and towing capability of up to 1,000 pounds.

2005 Ford Escape Hybrid

The Escape Hybrid is a "full" hybrid, meaning it automatically switches between pure electric power, pure gasoline engine power or a combined operation to maximize efficiency and performance.

Full hybrids can achieve 50 percent or more improvement in fuel economy during stop-and-go driving, when the electric motor is most efficient. In fact, the Escape Hybrid provides more than 75 percent fuel economy improvement in city driving, compared with a conventional V-6 powered Escape XLT.

Its gasoline engine and electric motor work in concert, providing performance similar to that of a 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.

Escape Hybrid can travel more than 400 miles in city driving on a single tank of gasoline.

Design
The Escape Hybrid looks like the traditional Escape, the best-selling compact sport utility, with a few key differences. The Escape Hybrid features unique badging that uses the Ford road-and-leaf insignia, with standard 16-inch wheels and a discreet air vent in the driver's side rear quarter window. Escape Hybrid is available with a special Appearance Package that features silver body-side cladding and bright trim. On the interior, Escape Hybrid features a flow-through console and unique gauges, including a "green zone" gauge that shows when the vehicle is operating in its most economical mode.

Interior
Escape Hybrid's interior is nearly identical to the traditional 2005 Escape. It offers seating for up to five and includes the same 60/40 split folding rear seat. Efficient packaging of the hybrid technology (locating the battery pack below the rear load floor, for example) means that interior versatility is preserved. Even with a full complement of five passengers, cargo room behind the second row seat is still an ample 27 cubic feet.

The maximum cargo space can be expanded to over 65 cubic feet, if desired. The roof rack is capable of holding up to 100 pounds of cargo.

A unique gauge package features an economy indicator with "green zone" that shows when the vehicle is operating on battery power. A separate gauge displays levels of charge and assist for the battery pack. An optional navigation system features an Audiophile stereo system, a unique energy flow diagram that displays hybrid system operation and a fuel economy screen that displays instant and average fuel economy.

Escape Hybrid also offers an optional 110 volt AC power outlet, perfect for a television, radio, air pump, electric razor or even holiday lights at the campsite.

Powertrains
The Escape's hybrid powertrain system consists of a half-dozen key components engineered to provide a seamless flow of power:

* A special 2.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine features Atkinson cycle combustion for improved efficiency and produces 133 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 129 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm (preliminary ratings).
* A 65-kWatt (equivalent to 87 horsepower) electric traction motor provides an added boost to the drive wheels when maximum acceleration is desired.
* A 28-kWatt (equivalent to 38 horsepower) generator motor recharges the batteries, starts the engine and helps regulate how the two propulsion channels blend together in the transaxle.
* A special electronically controlled, continuously variable transmission (eCVT) harnesses internal combustion and electric power sources to drive the front wheels in a FWD Escape or all four wheels with the optional Intelligent 4WD System™. This component is integral with the generator motor.
* A 330-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack located and sealed beneath the rear load floor serves as the electric powertrain system's "gas tank."
* An electronic vehicle system controller manages charging, drive assist and engine-starting functions. This device shuts the engine down during coasting and at stoplights to save fuel. It also converts the traction motor into a generator during braking to help recharge the batteries.

The combined output of both the gas and electric motors is 155 horsepower.

Performance
The powertrain provides 0-60 acceleration performance comparable to the 200 horsepower V-6 engine in the conventional Escape.

The generator motor provides power boosts during heavy load situations, helping Escape Hybrid accelerate briskly to speed. In addition to fuel-free operation, electric motors deliver maximum torque at low rpm, so they are an ideal complement to gasoline engines that generate peak power at higher rpm.

The electric power-assisted steering system allowed Ford engineers to easily tune the amount of steering assist independent of engine and vehicle speed, giving the Escape Hybrid a very easy steering effort at parking-lot speeds, while retaining Escape's hallmark crisp steering feel while driving.

The optional Intelligent 4WD System, available on all Escape models, is fully computer-controlled and provides maximum traction as driving conditions vary. Its operation is so seamless that most drivers will never notice that it has engaged.

Energy savings
The 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid achieves an estimated over 35 mpg on the city cycle* - an improvement of at least 75 percent over the city fuel economy rating of 20 mpg for the conventional V-6-powered Ford Escape.

It is an extremely clean vehicle to operate, producing 97 percent less hydrocarbon and oxides of nitrogen emissions than vehicles that meet today's nationwide Tier I emissions standard. It qualifies the 2005 Escape Hybrid for the stringent Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) classification.

The Escape Hybrid also produces as little as half the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) - a primary "greenhouse gas" - when it drifts into the Earth's upper atmosphere.

Major Equipment and Options
Escape Hybrid is offered in front-wheel-drive or with the Intelligent 4WD System for confident traction in all conditions. Other available packages include: Appearance: Includes silver-painted body-side cladding and wheel-lip moldings along with body-color door handles.

Leather comfort group: Leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather-trimmed seats.

Safety package: Safety Canopy™ side air curtain system and front side-impact air bags.

Options include MACH Audio six-disc in-dash CD changer, 110-volt AC plug, retractable cargo cover and a Hybrid Energy display monitor that includes a navigation system and Audiophile stereo.

DRIVING DYNAMICS

No-Compromise Driving Enjoyment
"With the Escape Hybrid, we're putting fun into hybrid driving for the first time. Escape Hybrid is a no-compromise SUV."

Driving The World's Most Fuel-Efficient SUV
The 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid achieves its high fuel economy, clean emissions and spirited performance feel thanks to an advanced powertrain that combines the best elements of gasoline and electric vehicles. This hybrid-electric vehicle:

* Is fueled by unleaded gasoline and never needs to be "plugged in" for charging
* Is driven like a conventional vehicle with an automatic transmission
* Automatically manages the electric drive system and gasoline engine for maximum efficiency and acceleration
* Makes no compromises in the acceleration performance and versatility expected from the Ford Escape, the compact SUV sales leader

"In addition to its extremely quiet operation, the most apparent difference between driving the Escape Hybrid and any other SUV is how few stops you'll make for fuel, especially in city driving," said Mary Ann Wright, director, Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs. "We've worked very hard to make the driving experience as familiar as possible."

The Escape Hybrid experience begins conventionally: Turn the key, and the engine starts. Shift to Drive, press the accelerator, and you're off.

"The first thing you'll notice is the smoothness," said Tom Watson, Ford Escape powertrain supervisor. "The Escape Hybrid's transmission can change its gear ratio seamlessly and continuously. There's no feeling of gear shifts as you increase speed."

Teamwork Produces Powerful, Smooth Acceleration
The Escape Hybrid's 70-kilowatt traction motor can launch the vehicle on clean electric power - up to 25 mph. When needed, the generator can smoothly start the gasoline engine in less than 400 milliseconds, without the increased emissions produced in starting up a conventional engine. The combination of the gasoline engine and electric traction motor provides seamless, strong response similar to a V-6 engine.

Braking System Saves Energy
When coming to a stop, Escape Hybrid's electric motor and regenerative braking system capture energy that normally would be lost as heat developed by the four-wheel disc brakes. As the driver presses the brake pedal, Escape Hybrid's electric drive system transforms the vehicle's momentum into electric energy. This energy gets transferred to the hybrid battery, where it is stored for later use, saving gasoline and eliminating the need to plug the vehicle into an electric outlet.

Engine Stops, Starts Automatically
Escape Hybrid features a fuel-saving engine stop/start function. As the vehicle comes to a stop, the system automatically checks the battery to ensure it has adequate power. If it is sufficiently charged, the gasoline engine rests to save fuel, and the vehicle operates on electricity alone, achieving the highest fuel economy and emissions benefits. There's no need to restart before hitting the accelerator.

In pure electric mode - indicated on the tachometer by a "green" zone below 0 rpm - the Escape Hybrid's gasoline engine rests to save fuel. It automatically switches in and out of this rest state depending on the driving situation and vehicle demands.

"One of our biggest challenges was calibrating the vehicle so that automatic engine stop doesn't seem as though the engine has stopped at all," said Watson. "After a lifetime of driving conventional vehicles, the sensation of the engine stopping takes some getting used to."

To ease the transition, the engine typically stops while the vehicle is still coasting, so the vehicle becomes quiet gradually. Because the engine is started by a high-voltage electric motor instead of the typical small, 12-volt starter, it springs to life almost instantly when necessary.

"After just a few laps around the block, drivers become very comfortable with engine stop-start," Watson said. "The quiet operation simply becomes second nature." Conventional vehicles use the gasoline engine to provide energy for power braking and steering. In pure electric mode, the Escape Hybrid's electric power-assisted steering and advanced electro-hydraulic braking systems continue to function normally.

Capability Expected From a Ford SUV
Proving that efficiency and utility can go hand-in-hand, the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid not only is the world's most fuel-efficient SUV, it's the only hybrid vehicle to offer four-wheel drive, a manufacturer's towing rating and a maximum 65.5 cubic feet of cargo room.

The Ford Escape leads its class in total sales since its introduction, in part because of its outstanding roominess and cargo-handling capability. For the Escape Hybrid, engineers carefully packaged the hybrid powertrain components so as to maintain this utility. The electric traction motor and power controller fit in approximately the same space as a conventional transmission, while the slim hybrid storage battery fits neatly under the rear cargo floor, completely sealed against the kinds of wet, dirty gear adventurous owners sometimes carry there.

In fact, the only difference between the Escape Hybrid and other Escape models from a packaging standpoint is the unobtrusive integrated ductwork in the driver-side rear quarter window for the battery's temperature-management system. It occupies only a little more than one cubic foot of space, distributed along the side panel for minimal loss of effective storage space. With a maximum 65.5 cubic feet available inside the Escape Hybrid cargo area, it is easily the most spacious hybrid electric vehicle ever made.

Intelligent 4WD System Offers Unprecedented Hybrid Capability
The Escape Hybrid is the only hybrid to offer the off-pavement advantage and all-weather security of optional four-wheel drive. For 2005, all Escape models offer an all-new, fully automatic four-wheel-drive system.

The new Intelligent 4WD System requires no driver interaction and is so seamless in operation that most drivers will never notice that it has engaged - except being impressed by Escape Hybrid's capability in slippery conditions.

The Intelligent 4WD System has a fully computer-controlled clutch that engages the rear wheels as needed; in normal conditions Escape is driven by its front wheels. Using sensors at each wheel and the accelerator, the system's computer can calculate up to 200 times per second exactly how much torque to send to the rear wheels to minimize slip; it can also predict slip and preclude it from happening at all.

The Intelligent 4WD System eliminates one of the drawbacks of other four-wheel-drive systems that are tuned aggressively for maximum traction: a binding effect during tight turns and driveline harshness when the system engages. The Escape Hybrid's Intelligent 4WD System can sense tight turns and continuously varies the torque to the rear wheels at all speeds, offering the benefits of a "locked" four-wheel-drive system without any of the drawbacks.

An Environmental Vehicle That Pulls Its Share
As the hybrid market's only vehicle rated by its manufacturer for towing, Escape Hybrid further distinguishes itself as the most practical hybrid. Properly equipped, it can tow up to 1,000 pounds - enough to pull a small boat, personal watercraft or utility trailer. This is the same tow rating as a standard Escape powered by the I-4 engine.

Fun-to-Drive Dynamics

At its launch in 2000, Escape quickly became known as Ford's fun-to-drive SUV, for its dynamic on-road capability. The Escape Hybrid shares ride and handling improvements with the other 2005 Escape models, and the suspension also is tuned specifically for the unique weight distribution of the hybrid system.

A new front stabilizer bar system with low-friction links provides a subtle improvement to Escape's already agile, predictable and inspiring driving character. This performance stems from Escape's solid unitized body construction, its MacPherson strut front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and independent rear suspension (IRS).

IRS once was a rarity among SUVs, but now is used in the Ford Escape, Ford Explorer and Ford Expedition as a key element of Ford's SUV leadership. The responsive IRS architecture gives Escape precise steering and handling through dynamic toe control and the ability of each wheel to react separately to road imperfections.

DESIGN

2005 Ford Escape Hybrid Design and Equipment
"The 2005 Escape Hybrid builds on the success of this year's redesign of the entire Escape line. To that fresh new look we have added the environmental qualities of a full hybrid and some great consumer features, including an optional navigation system and 110-volt power outlet."

Fresh Design is New to Escape for 2005
Escape charges into the 2005 model year with a fresh look inside and out that combines Ford's truck toughness with a refined, sporty look. Key elements on the Escape Hybrid include:

* A stylized front fascia with integral fog lamps, Ford SUV grille and quad headlamps with jewel-effect clear lenses
* Available Appearance Package and Limited series with bright silver, painted body cladding
* Standard 16-inch aluminum wheels
* A unique road-and-leaf "HYBRID" badge on the liftgate, front doors and on the acoustic engine cover
* A flow-through floor console with integrated shifter
* A versatile center console with large cup holders, additional storage, 12-volt power point and available 110-volt accessory electrical outlet
* Unique IP gauges, including battery gauge, green zone tachometer and message center, optional navigation system with instan-taneous energy flow and fuel consumption diagrams and audiophile sound system

A Hybrid with Room for All Your "Stuff" All Escape Hybrids have a modern-faced instrument cluster with an integrated, multifunctional Message Center. This two-line, 24-character liquid-crystal display offers trip statistics like average fuel economy, distance-to-empty, an oil change reminder with estimated oil life and various warnings such as an open door, a bulb is burned out or the fuel cap needs tightening. An advanced navigation and hybrid status display is also available. With it, a 4-inch, color, liquid-crystal display serves as the audio system interface, a navigation system and a real-time "power path" offering visual indication of fuel consumption and the operating state of the hybrid system.

It shows, for example, if the battery is being charged or discharged; if energy is being recovered during braking; or if the electric drive is providing additional power.

The white-faced instrument panel gauges have markings designed for legibility and are ringed in warm steel-colored bezels. Standard on all models is a battery indicator dial that indicates if the hybrid battery is powering the electric motor or if it is being charged while braking or cruising.

Modern woven cloth is the standard seating material. Leather seating surfaces are part of an option package that includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather door inserts. The 60/40 split rear seat can be folded flat for increased cargo space (up to 65.5 cubic feet), and the flip-up rear glass offers easy access to the rear cargo area.

The glove box locks, and each front door includes large, deep map pockets. The spare wheel on all 2005 Escapes has been moved under the floor, rather than inside. To prevent theft, it can be lowered by a winch operated only with the tailgate open.

Fun, Rugged Exterior Design
Escape's wide stance, with aggressive large wheel arches, wide body cladding and integrated bumpers, gives a functional, off-road-ready, yet modern look. The headlamps are clearly defined quad circles behind jewel-effect clear lenses, and the egg-crate grille matches those in the rest of the Ford SUV lineup. Circular fog lamps and roof deck are standard equipment.

The optional Appearance Package adds a stylish touch with glossy silver bumpers, bodyside moldings and wheel lips.

Ford Escape Safety Sets New Standard
The Escape Hybrid will have the same great safety and security features of the conventional Escape, including:

* The standard Personal Safety System™, with dual-stage driver and single-stage front passenger air bags
* The available Safety Package includes a Ford Motor Company exclusive Safety Canopy™ side air curtain rollover protection system and the thorax-protecting side impact air bags (late availability on conventional Escape)
* Occupant Classification Sensing for the front passenger air bag
* Structural energy management zones for frontal and offset frontal impacts
* Three-point safety belts and head restraints at all seating positions
* Standard antilock brakes

Safety belt pretensioners tighten the front safety belts in the first moments of a crash, and energy management retractors gradually slacken the safety belt, if necessary, to help reduce the force of the belt on the occupant's chest. As always, a vehicle occupant's best line of defense in crashes remains the safety belt.

Occupant Classification Sensing Tailors Air Bag Deployment
Occupant Classification Sensing builds on the strength of the Personal Safety System™ to tailor deployment of the single-stage front passenger air bag. If the passenger seat sensor detects no weight on the seat - or very little weight, such as a newspaper or a jacket - the passenger air bag automatically is switched off.

If more weight is on the seat, as with a small child, the air bag remains turned off and a lighted indicator in the center stack alerts the driver with the message "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF." If an adult is seated properly in the passenger seat, the air bag automatically is switched on, ready to inflate within milliseconds, if needed. The safest place for children is in the rear seat, properly restrained.

Safety Package: A Ford Motor Company Exclusive
The Escape Hybrid's optional Safety Package includes the Safety Canopy™ side curtain air bag system and thorax-protecting side impact air bags.

Pioneered on the 2003 Explorer, the Safety Canopy™ side curtain air bags provide enhanced side impact and rollover protection by deploying from the headliner in certain types of rollover and side-impact situations. A sensor monitors the vehicle's roll angle and rate. If the system determines a rollover may be imminent, the Safety Canopy™ deploys and remains inflated for several seconds. Escape is the only vehicle in its segment to offer a system with this rollover protection function.

Thorax-protecting air bags are available for the front seat occupants to reduce the possibility of serious chest injuries in the event of a side impact.

Reinforced Structure for Protection in Offset Frontal Impacts
For 2005, Escape's front structure is upgraded to provide increased protection in offset frontal crashes. In these types of accidents, only a portion of the front structure must bear the full brunt of the impact.

To help manage these crash forces, the front rails have structural composite reinforcements to tailor the rate at which they absorb energy and help prevent deformation of the passenger compartment.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Ford Escape Hybrid Technology
At the heart of the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid is its advanced hybrid powertrain, an integrated system that uses a half-dozen key components to deliver seamless, efficient power.

Ford expects more than 100 patents to be issued on the Escape Hybrid.
"Ford's history of leadership in the electric vehicles market aided the development of the Escape Hybrid, and the technologies we're putting on the road this year are necessary steps toward the development of fuel-cell vehicles," said Phil Martens, group vice president, Product Creation.

The Hybrid Principle
"Hybrids are all about increasing average thermal efficiency," said Tom Watson, powertrain supervisor, referring to the amount of energy the vehicle can extract from its gasoline fuel. The 2005 Escape Hybrid's increased efficiency comes from:

* A "Right-sized" four-cylinder engine with electric drive boost. The four-cylinder gasoline engine easily meets the cruising needs of the vehicle with reduced fuel consumption. When needed, the electric drive system teams with the gasoline engine for the performance feel of a larger V-6.
* An electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (eCVT). A planetary gear set connects the drive wheels to the gasoline engine and electric traction motor, so that the vehicle can move on any combination of electric and gasoline power, depending on what is most efficient at that instant.
* Engine stop-start. When it isn't needed to supply power, such as when coasting or while stopped in traffic, the gasoline engine automatically shuts off instead of idling inefficiently. When circumstances warrant, a powerful starter motor can restart the engine within 400 milliseconds for seamless performance.
* Regenerative braking. In traditional vehicles, the energy used to decelerate the car is lost as heat when the driver applies the brakes. Hybrids, on the other hand, can recover a substantial portion of what would otherwise be "lost energy" and store it in the battery for later use.
* Electric drive. The Escape Hybrid can be driven up to 25 mph using the electric motor alone, thus using no gasoline and causing no emissions.
* Electric-assist power steering. The electric assist system enables power-assisted steering when the gasoline engine is shut off. While driving at low speeds or coasting, it offers improved fuel economy, even when the engine is running, because it consumes less power than belt-driven power steering.

Full Hybrid
The Escape Hybrid is a "full" hybrid, meaning it has a high-voltage storage battery and the capability of driving on electric power alone. Full-hybrids can achieve 50 percent or more improvement in fuel economy during stop-and-go driving where the electric motor is most efficient. Mild hybrids, in contrast, are distinguished by relatively small battery capacity and lack an electric-only drive mode, limiting their fuel-saving potential. Mild hybrids are unable to achieve as much improvement in fuel economy as full hybrids.

When the driver calls for maximum acceleration, the gasoline engine and electric motor work in parallel, providing launch performance feel similar to that 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.

Atkinson-Cycle Engine Operates Efficiently
Escape Hybrid's four-cylinder gasoline engine is an Atkinson-cycle variant of the conventional Escape's Duratec 23 2.3-liter engine. The Atkinson cycle is similar to the familiar four-stroke cycle - intake, compression, power, exhaust - except the intake valve closes well after the piston begins moving upward to compress the air-fuel mixture. There are two key benefits of the Atkinson cycle. First, it reduces the "pumping losses" associated with all gasoline engines. Additionally, because a fraction of the air-fuel mixture is released from the cylinder back into the induction system without being burned, the effective displacement of the engine is reduced. The power stroke, or the distance that burning fuel pushes on the piston, is longer than the effective intake stroke. This helps extract more energy from each drop of fuel.

Viewed by itself, the Atkinson cycle engine in the Escape Hybrid is about 4 percent more efficient than the nearly identical conventional 2.3-liter engine in the base Escape model. Why then is the Atkinson cycle not more widely used in conventional vehicles? Its main disadvantage is reduced torque, particularly at low engine speeds. The Escape Hybrid supplements the gasoline engine with an electric traction motor to provide low speed torque and a satisfying launch feel.

High-Power Traction Motor Does Double Duty
In addition to its gasoline engine, the Escape Hybrid has a 70-kilowatt (the equivalent of 94 horsepower) permanent-magnet traction motor. This motor can propel the vehicle alone or team with the gasoline engine for a boost of power similar to - a V-6 engine.

The electric drive system is most efficient at low speeds and at low loads - exactly the conditions where the gasoline engine is least efficient.

Electronically-Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission
In place of a conventional transmission is an electronically controlled planetary gear set that includes the traction motor and power-management electronics in one compact assembly.

The planetary gear set can vary the distribution of power among the gasoline engine, electric motor and the vehicle's wheels. Because of this capability, the vehicle can run on the gasoline engine, the electric drive system or both - depending on the driving situation.

In addition, the planetary gear set acts as an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (eCVT), meaning the gasoline engine can always run at its most efficient or powerful engine speed for a given vehicle speed. This eCVT contributes to efficiency and performance, as well as to refinement, because there are no defined shifting "steps" during acceleration.

Engine Stop-Start Saves Gasoline
Significant fuel savings can be realized by switching off the gasoline engine when it isn't needed. The traction motor provides a smooth method of stopping the engine when appropriate, making this process almost invisible to the driver.

But a traditional reduction starter motor - a relatively lightweight device that cranks the engine at only a few hundred revolutions per minute - isn't up to the task of restarting it instantaneously. Instead, the Escape Hybrid uses a much more powerful starter motor to restart the engine when needed, such as during strong acceleration from a stop. It can do so in less than 400 milliseconds and without the increased engine emissions associated with typical starts.

In the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's city driving cycle, the Escape Hybrid makes extensive use of engine stop-start and electric-only operation. During that kind of stop-start driving, the gasoline engine is off as much as 40 percent of the time.

Regenerative Braking Recaptures Energy To recover the energy that a traditional vehicle loses as heat through its brakes, the Escape Hybrid uses an advanced "by-wire" electro-hydraulic braking system. With this system, the pressure on the brake pedal acts as an input to a computerized brake controller that modulates the electric drive system and the traditional disc brakes.

When the driver lifts off the accelerator pedal, the electric drive motor operates as a generator, slowing the vehicle slightly. As the driver presses the brake pedal, this "motor-generator" slows the vehicle to match the driver's demand. During this regenerative braking phase, the motor transforms the vehicle's momentum into electric energy and charges the hybrid storage battery with electricity that can be used later.

If the motor is providing its maximum braking force, but the driver calls for more deceleration, the brake controller applies friction braking force with the traditional disc brakes as needed. The electro-hydraulic system has antilock brake functionality as standard equipment.

Much of the braking in everyday driving can be done by the electric drive system alone, extending the service life of the traditional brakes.

Hybrid Storage Battery Offers 330 Volts
A 330-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack located beneath the rear load floor stores energy recovered during braking and powers the electric drive system. The Escape Hybrid, like a conventional vehicle, still has a 12-volt battery under the hood to power the vehicle's lights and electrical accessories.

The hybrid storage battery consists of 250 D-sized cells in a sealed enclosure. Nickel-metal-hydride batteries have been used with excellent success in notebook computers and cell phones for years.

Hybrid-specific components, including the battery pack, are covered by a warranty of at least eight years or 100,000 miles. The entire vehicle comes with a bumper-to-bumper warranty for three years or 36,000 miles and complimentary roadside assistance.

Thermal management for optimal performance
"Batteries are like people," Watson said. "They don't like to work when they're cold, and they get stressed when they're hot." To keep the battery pack at its optimum temperature, it has a thermal management system to deal with temperatures from minus 40 degrees Centigrade (-40 Fahrenheit) to 50 degrees Centigrade (122 Fahrenheit). An electric heater and forced-air cooling system help keep the battery comfortable.

While it's never necessary - or even possible -to plug the Escape Hybrid into a charger, in the unlikely event that insufficient energy is available to start the gasoline engine, jumpstarts are possible. Sophisticated electronics within the Powertrain Control Module manage energy flow.

Electric Power Makes Steering Easier
Because the Escape Hybrid's gasoline engine automatically stops to save fuel when possible, an electric power-assisted steering system replaces the traditional belt-driven hydraulic system.

An electronic control module detects the driver's input torque at the steering wheel, instantaneously computes the proper amount of assist and commands a brushless electric motor to help control the steering mechanism.

The electric power-assisted steering brings several other benefits, including quieter operation. Because there is no power steering fluid, the chance of leaks is eliminated, as is fluid circulating noise. The amount of steering assist also is fully independent of engine and vehicle speed, allowing engineers to give the Escape Hybrid a very easy steering effort at parking-lot speeds, while retaining Escape's hallmark steering feel while driving.

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