Sherpa,

If you haven't already done so, check out efusco's EXCELLENT article on hybrid driving, why you usually don't meet EPA numbers, and how to improve your driving style. It's particular to the Prius, for the most part, but a lot of what is said there applies, I'm sure, to the Escape, since it's a system that's quite similar to the Prius, just on a much larger scale.

The article is located here.