Ford Delivers First Plug-In Escape Hybrids

The Escape Hybrid has really been the launch pad for Ford's environmental

push. Besides being the world's first hybrid sport utility vehicle, for quite a long time it was the only full hybrid sport utility vehicle on the market. But that isn't where things have stopped, as Ford has also developed an ethanol-powered (E85) version of the vehicle and in its latest iteration for '08, blue-oval engineers incorporated cloth material made from recycled sources, saving CO2 and water.

The next logical step regarding the Escape Hybrid is to make it a plug-in vehicle, which is exactly what Ford has done. Bypassing the concept stage on the auto show circuit, Ford has built 20 of these plug-in hybrids in collaboration with Southern California Edison (a utilities company), which it delivered earlier this week. By combining their efforts, Ford and Edison hope to develop awareness for plug-in hybrids while simultaneously improving the systems for charging vehicles at home and eventually elsewhere on the electrical grid.

“Although the energy infrastructure is in place, significant challenges remain for widespread adoption of PHEVs,” said Sue Cischke, senior VP of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering at Ford. “Cost, durability and reliability issues all need to be addressed before these vehicles can make a significant impact on the global issues of climate change and energy security.”

Besides the aluminum finished caps for the plug in socket and the fuel cap, as well as the white and electrical plug livery, the Escape Plug-In Hybrid is identical to the regular hybrid. Under the hood, it still uses the same Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine and CVT transmission. The difference is in the batteries, which are high-voltage lithium-ion units,

designed to cope with the plug-in charging capabilities. On the standard 120-volt household socket, the Escape Plug-In Hybrid takes between six and eight hours to recharge from empty to full.

The biggest difference the plug-in makes is in urban areas. The battery has enough energy to sustain the Escape Hybrid for 30 miles (50 km), during which Ford says that the car can attain a fuel economy rating equal to 120 mpg (1.96 l/100 km). Once the initial charge is all used up, the vehicle functions just like a regular Escape Hybrid, using the gasoline engine when necessary for acceleration or to charge up the battery when it's drained.

Ford also hopes that by working with Southern California Edison it can help bring more plug-in hybrid vehicles to market. As usual, cost is the one prohibitive factor with regards to any new technology, and by working with new partners Ford might find a way to cut some of those costs. And while Ford may not have a current timetable set up for a mass produced version of this car, perhaps it will some day soon.