I've downloaded 2 pics of the hitch referenced on our FEH on the Share portion. We bought the hitch to transport bikes or skies - depending on the weather. Product shown is "Hidden Hitch" with a "Yakima" 4 bike rack attached.

C&J the Gas Pirates

C&J the Gas Pirates

I'm the Captain of this ship and I have my wife's permission to say so.

Likewise, thanks for the reference. I ordered the hitch from etrailer.com--it came by UPS today. I will let you know how the install goes. Did you have to do any drilling? Any pointers for a novice?

Nate

Can anyone else verify this? I've tried and it doesn't work this way. I also was told that there is no reverse gear in the "transmission" (for the ICE to deliver power in reverse), which was a big help in offsetting the weight of the hybrid parts.

Randy-
I believe that reverse is ONLY EV. I have the manual. The only way the ICE helps is as the battery runs down ICE kicks in to keep it charged and feeding the EV.

I will admit I am wrong if anyone can offer a direct reference I can check.

Mike

Mike Maline - Sdctcher
2005 Ford Escape Hybrid Owner
California School Teacher

If I remember correctly....the eCVT doesn't even have a reverse gear to engage. (It was deleted to save weight-complexity of the tranny). Therefore, reverse is pure EV.

Someone more technical, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Nate

The Prius has full-electric reverse, so I'd assume it's the same for the Escape.

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Perhaps Reverse is pure electric, but uses Electirc power from ICE directly when it is needed (more power can come directly from the ICE then from the battery). Either way when you need to go backward up a steep hill the ICE turns on after you it 3/4 thottle or so and then you have the power to back-up.

I know it works that way because I have to do it a few times a week. If it stayed in EV only I would get stuck at the bottom of my woman's driveway.

well, maybe the ICE is kicking in to charge a low battery, but it's not directly driving the vehicle. it can't deliver any more power than the electric motor because it can't engage it's power directly with no reverse gear - it can only give charge to the battery which drives the electric motor (which delivers reverse power by reversing polarity - no mechanical gear needed).

I beleive the ICE can provide power directly to the EV motor without going though the battery. Instead of storing the power it is directly consumed by the EV motor.

Chris

But even if this is true, that the ICE somehow bypasses the battery, and "powers" the electric motor, it can't give the electric motor more power than it's existing maximum. To combine the power of the ICE and electric motor requires the CVT, which doesn't include a reverse gear.