Ford Escape Hybrid FAQ
Part I: Background Information
1. Quick Glossary
FEH: Ford Escape Hybrid
ICE: Internal Combustion Vehicle (Gasoline Engine)
EV: Electric Vehicle (The vehicle is running without the combustion engine on electric power)
A/N: Audiophile/Navigation System Add-on
MPG: Miles Per Gallon
FE: Fuel Economy
FAS: Forced Auto Stop
Powerless Coast: Usually in L (Though it can be in D), getting the engines in an idle power setting, neither generating nor regenerating energy, allowing the vehicle to move forward on its own momentum
FWD: Front Wheel Drive
AWD/4WD: All/Four Wheel Drive. This is a continuous operation, no switches. It checks 200 times per second and adjust individual wheel power as needed. (Same thing)
CC: Cruise Control
Stealth Mode/Cloaked: EV mode
MM: Mercury Mariner
HV: High Voltage, as in High Voltage Battery
2. Do I plug it in?
NO! The vehicle uses a regenerative braking system to recharge the batteries. When you brake, you recharge your battery. In addition, the Internal Combustion Engine can recharge your battery.
3. Compared to a regular Escape, I lose power right?
No. While there is a slight horsepower difference between the two, this is virtually invisible. In fact, there may be times when an Escape Hybrid can outperform a conventional Escape.
4. Who Benefits? Who doesn’t?
While outside of hybrids, few people question their vehicular purchases as a return investment, it does seem to be a point of contention among hybrid and potential hybrid owners. That said, the people who see the greatest benefits to owning a hybrid are people who plan to own said vehicle for at least five years, tend to put a lot of miles on their vehicle, and are willing to relearn how to drive to maximize the hybrids capabilities will see the greatest benefit. People who are planning to lease the vehicle for a short term, don’t drive that much, and just want a method of driving from point A to point B as fast as the vehicle can move them regardless of the situation may not tap into the vehicles true potential, and may be better off with another vehicle. Of course, everyone also benefits from the cleanliness of the vehicle.
5. How green is it?
The Ford Escape Hybrid is a AT-PZEV, or Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle, and it also produces as little as half the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) – a harmless gas in terms of ground-level air quality but a primary "greenhouse gas" when it drifts into the Earth's upper atmosphere. An accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is widely believed to be producing a global warming effect. CO2 and water vapor are produced in the clean combustion of any type of carbon-based fuel, so the only effective way to reduce a vehicle's CO2 emissions is to reduce the amount of fuel consumed. Fuel-efficient hybrid-electric vehicles can substantially reduce CO2 emissions. So pretty darn green. As joked at the Ford Dearborn Hybrid Experience, it’s clean enough you could suck on the emissions right from the tailpipe.
6. What kind of range can I expect?
Most people can get around 500 miles to a tank after the vehicle is broken in. This of course varies based on a number of variables, from wind and temperature to speed and driving style, and use 12-14 gallons when they fill up.
7. How much should I pay? What’s a good price?
That depends on a number of variables, including incentives and other promotions that may be going on that may effect your situation, though you should be able to avoid paying above sticker, regardless of what the salesperson says. Using
www.fordvehicles.com may be a big help to you for finding the vehicle you want, and getting a good price.
8. Will I see a return on the investment?
It depends, but ask yourself this; are any of the other vehicles you’re considering going to be a return on your investment? If you own the vehicle, drive a lot of miles, drive it like a hybrid, and do your research, you can see a tremendous amount of savings, ($23,000 over the course of a decade) but this varies on a case by case basis. However, at the moment, we’re experiencing a unique moment in time, where hybrids are actually accumulating in value for the most part. While this probably won’t last, in a way, you could see a return (Or a far less depreciation) on your vehicle.
You can check out
http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/fixed-costs-vs-variable-costs.3436.html download an excel spreadsheet to see if you’d come out ahead as well, if you wish. (Though you'll have to modify it a bit)
9. What about that battery?
The battery is safe, non-toxic, and has been designed to well outlive your vehicle. In their extreme testing labs, Ford still hasn’t had a battery die on them. Should anything happen, you are protected by a hybrid warranty (Which varies by state, but generally 8 years, 100,000 miles), and while we don’t know how much a replacement battery pack will cost, at the moment that doesn’t look to be a concern; unless you’re in an accident, you’ll probably never have to worry about the battery. (Which by the way, is 275 D cell batteries linked together.)
There have been rumors about rescue workers who won't rescue people trapped in hybrids, and how hybrid power lines make the vehicle unsafe in an accident. These are false. In the event of an accident, the battery disconnects, and the power lines aren't likely to be anywhere even remotely close to where cutting needs to take place to rescue you, and even if they were, they're clearly marked to let rescue workers know. You're more likely to die because of the gasoline or the air bag than the hybrid battery.
10. What kind of government help do I get? What about Insurance?
For people who buy a vehicle this year, they get a $2000 clean fuel burning deduction on their 1040 (See the IRS website for more info
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=150594,00.html http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/...107766,00.html) Also some states have rebates or other incentives as well.
Next year, it's $2600 (FWD), and $1950 (4WD) Credit for purchasing a FEH.
For insurance, check with your insurance company, the rates may do pretty much anything, including go down!
11. Why should I get the Ford Escape Hybrid rather than a regular Escape?
While the Ford Escape Hybrid is around $4000 more than a similarly equipped Escape, you could see as much as a $2000 savings in fuel each year, the superiority of being in the latest technology, the Tax rebate, being environmentally super sound, and all the benefits of the Escape, while being so much more so. Plus it’s one heck of a conversation piece. Ask yourself this, do you think gas prices are going to go down, or up over the lifetime of your next vehicle?
12. How does the hybrid technology work?
Rather than explain it myself, I'll refer to the websites, who have nice animations.
http://www.fordvehicles.com/escapehybrid/how/index.asp Fords site about how it works. (Though you may find that your FEH can go faster than 25 miles per hour in EV mode; up to 40 MPH, and that you may spend a great deal in hybrid mode, utilizing both energy sources for a maximum efficiency)
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hybridtech.shtml has a great flash demonstratration on how hybrids work. (The FEH is a Full Hybrid)
13. What about heat and AC?
You don't have to worry about baking or freezing, despite what you may have heard or read.
While it is true in the normal AC and recirculated AC settings, when the engine is off, so is the air conditioner, there are other settings that keep the engine on and the AC running, if you so desire, though it will come at the cost of your fuel economy.
As for heat, well, you may be really quite surprised, as you get heat almost immediately, and a lot of it, even when the ICE is off.
14. What should I get?
Well, that depends on what you want, doesn’t it? Test drive and find out to make sure you like it. Try out the systems, and feel free to ask here. Statistically about half are AWD, 75% got the AC power outlet, 60%(?) got the A/N system, and green was the most popular color, blue was the least favorite, and the rest more or less tied.
Most people who got the A/N system are glad they did.