Ford plugs in the Escape

The plug-in version of the Ford Escape looks and feels a lot like a regular Escape hybrid: the main difference being, you can’t buy one yet.

Using a 10 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, Ford claims the cars can go up to 30 miles on an electric charge and up to 40 mph on battery power only. We didn’t have a chance to drive 30 miles, but were easily able to hit 40 mph on our test-track ride evaluation loop.

As with any plug-in hybrid vehicle, fuel economy depends mostly on how you drive it. The more time you spend at lower speeds on electric power, the better mileage you’ll get. However, Ford says the batteries are so expensive that it is looking at alternative business models to sell the cars. One possibility is consumers may buy the car but lease the batteries, guaranteeing ready replacements, ensuring the batteries are reused (likely by a power company) and reducing the cost. The company claims it takes six to eight hours to fully charge the plug-in Escape from a 110-volt outlet.

In partnership with Quantum Technologies, Ford is building up to 100 plug-in hybrids for testing at Southern California Edison and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

—Eric Evarts

Comments

[alba]

That's WAY too long to charge the battery. Other battery technology exists now that can reach 95% of a full charge in just 30 minutes.

[Paul Rivers]

This is rather off-topic, but speaking of small SUV's, has Consumer Reports noticed that the 2009 has a new, more efficient v4 engine? Will CS be retesting the RAV4's fuel economy?

You can see an official bit about it here:http://blog.toyota.com/2008/09/a-peek-at-2009.html#more

You can also see it on fueleconomy.org - 2 more mpg than the 2008 model.

[David]

@alba: That's WAY too long to charge the battery. Other battery technology exists now that can reach 95% of a full charge in just 30 minutes.

I appreciate your comment, but there are a few things that are either misunderstood, or overlooked. First, the article mentions a recharge time of six to eight hours using a 110-volt outlet; faster methods of charging for electric vehicles (EV) require a 220-volt outlet. Second, this is a plug-in hybrid - not a true EV - so the current charge time is easily offset by the advantage of being able to charge from an outlet found in almost every garage. Finally, the mention of "other battery technologies" ignores the fact that better batteries for EVs are either not available in mass production, too expensive for even the "early adopter" consumer, or both. The bottom line is that - if the price of this technology is not too dear - vehicles of this type would make an outstanding choice for many commuters such as myself.

[Mike Quincy]

Paul:

Yes, we will be testing a 2009 RAV4 with the new four-cylinder engine.

Thanks.

[wolfman]

alba, there is a thing called limits to the outlet supplying that power. To recharge a 10Kv battery in 30 minutes, you'd need a 480V three phase A/C power supply to get the job done. You'll simply trip any commercially available breaker in your home, trying that on 110v. It is simply just too much power required to do what you want.

[Don]

Some how it doesn't surprise me that you can't get one, what else is new with Ford. We had ordered an Escape Hybrid on May 4,2008 as of 1 week ago, no Escape and Ford would not come through with explanation of if they will build it and if so when. We finally cancelled the order and went to GM for a vehicle, we had are heart set on the Escape.
Ford keeps advertising this vehicle and lately we have seen alot of quote "new designs & cars" from Ford. How about they focus on producing the cars for the consumers that want them and quit with the "new ideas" all the time.

[Islandgirl45]

Hi, since there's a new engine, suspension, stability control and supposedly better brakes on the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid, will Consumer Reports be testing this updated model soon?