I've read some various things concerning how the Escpe Hybrid works and have asked Ford but have received no real answers from them. Any help would be appreciated.

I spend a considerable amount of time driving up and down in the mountains and I'm trying to determine how well, or how different the Escape Hybrid will operate in that environment

Concerning the charging of the batteries.

What tells the system to charge the batteries? Just stepping on the brakes?

The Escape brochure does not specify as I recall that the ICE will run to recharge the batteries if they are low though various other sources alude to this. What is the real story?

It the electric motor spinning all the time (like say a flywheel)? As dead weight unless told by its controller to act as a generator or as a motor? Or does it sit still until told to do one or the other?

Considering the CVT transmission (which is different from a manual or even a normal automatic transmission). If an Escape was on a long downhill pass, (such as Donner Pass, Highway 80 between Sacramento and Reno) is the transmission capable of downshifting to slow the downhill speed? If so is the electric motor providing some of the resistance and charging the batteries? If so, what if the batteries are charged or become charged while on the way downhill, is the resistance now less in the downshift mode? If the batteries are fully charged is there a load bank (like in a locomotive) that continues to provide some resistance such that your not slowing down by friction only? Is some braking required on a long downhill to convince the system to use regenitive braking?

I think that covers it and I'm being told to get to the dinner table.

Thank you for your help

David Lee