GreenHybrid - Hybrid Cars - View Single Post - Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid review

Billyk · #3 (**permalink**) 12-10-2007, 07:37 PM

Here is a better article on the new Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid.
http://blogs.edmunds.com/GreenCarAdvisor/93

Some key components of this article:

That's where Ford has tucked a 10 kilowatt-hour, 280-volt lithium ion battery pack that replaces the standard Escape hybrid's 2 kWh, 300-volt nickel metal hydride battery pack. Using the power-dense lithium ion batteries "gives us five times the power with just 20 percent more weight," said Tamor.

The batteries weigh in at 120 kilograms – 264.5 pounds.

"The extra energy and power lets us run in charge depletion mode rather than charge-sustaining" so the batteries can be drawn down quite a bit more than in a typical hybrid: up to 70 percent depleted versus 30 percent to 60 percent for a charge-sustaining pack.
Ford has programmed the power management to run the plug-in Escape pretty much as a gasoline-assisted electric drive vehicle. In most situations the electric motor provides more of the power than the gas engine. Exceptions are when passing, climbing hills or any instance when the driver demands rapid acceleration of the 3,900-pound, five-passenger vehicle.
Two indicators on the instrument panel point this out: Give the plug-in Escape's accelerator pedal a jab and the battery power meter jumps farther and faster than the tachometer.
"We've designed it so the gas runs at constant power in the most efficient range," Tamor said.
"We want you to deplete the batteries every day, so you have a reason to plug in at night and recharge, that's the design. Otherwise, you're hauling around a lot of expensive battery that's not being used."

This photo is Mike Tamor who is Ford's head of hybrid research.

Now we need to hear from John (GPSman1) on this information and how this compares with the hybrid-plus version. Maybe GaryG can find some Ford patents on this new information and maybe sneak out to California for a new hypermiling experience.