NEW YORK CITY -- At first glance, it looks just like any other Escape of the past couple of years. It's been designed to provide a driving experience like its predecessors. However, a closer examination of the vehicle reveals a unique green-leaf nameplate boasting of its gas/electric hybrid powertrain, says Ford Motor Co., and the only other differences most motorists will likely notice are its traffic-driving behavior and thrifty fuel consumption. In just a couple of months, the general public will be able to experience for themselves the 2005 Escape Hybrid SUV.

Ford's Director of Hybrid Powertrain and Fuel Cell Development, Mary Ann Wright, was at the New York Auto Show unveiling of the Escape Hybrid. She confirmed that this was only the first in a series of Ford hybrid powertrain vehicles to be introduced.

"Shortly after this fall's availability of the Escape Hybrid, Mercury dealers will get a hybrid version of the Mariner SUV," she said. The Mariner is a copycat version of the Escape, and its hybrid version will be identical to the Hybrid Escape.

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS

Contrary to early speculation, Ford's involvement with Toyota has been limited to paying for the licenses for access to 20 Toyota hybrid powertrain patents, Wright stated. "But that was only a starting point. We have since developed and applied for over 100 advanced hybrid powertrain patents of our own." So Ford's engineering development of hybrid technology, it appears, has been quite intensive.

While she did not name any specific future Ford vehicle products that will come to market with hybrid powertrain options, it is speculated that the new replacement for the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable vehicles will be one of those. This vehicle was originally proposed to carry the Futura name, but due to copyright registration of Futura by a non-automotive company, another name will be used.

Ford's Chairman Bill Ford also was on the New York Show stand to lead the introduction of the company's new product. He affirmed that the Ford hybrid powertrain will surely be seen on several of its future trucks and SUVs as part of his company's continued dedication to reduced emissions and increased fuel economy.

TECHNOLOGY

The Escape Hybrid has a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder, 133 horsepower (hp)/129 lb.-ft. torque gasoline engine, which runs on the Atkinson Thermodynamic Cycle. This variation of the conventional four-cycle concept is not practical for conventional powertrains: It uses a delayed intake valve closing that, while delivering reduced pumping losses, also results in reduced horsepower. But the delayed intake valve closing significantly increases an engine's energy conversion efficiency. That means better fuel economy. The 67 kW (87 hp) electric traction motor ably provides the needed torque for starting from a standstill.

A 28-kW (38 hp) electric-generator motor recharges the batteries, starts the engine and helps to electronically regulate how the two propulsion channels work together via the two-wheel-drive (2WD) transaxle. A special electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (eCVT) harnesses internal combustion engine and electric power sources to drive the front wheels in a front-wheel-drive Escape, or to power all four wheels via the optional Intelligent four-wheel-drive (4WD) system. The eCVT is an integral part of the generator motor.

A 330-volt nickel-metal-hydride (NiMh) battery pack, consisting of 250 D-sized cells connected in series, is located and sealed beneath the rear load floor, and it serves as the electric powertrain system's on-board power source.

An electronic vehicle system controller manages charging, drive-assist and engine starting functions. This idle-stop feature shuts down the IC engine during coasting and at traffic stops to save fuel. It also converts the traction motor into a generator during braking to help recharge the batteries. Total horsepower is about the same as the conventional non-hybrid Escape--200 hp. But the gasoline fuel economy is a different story.

MPG PERFORMANCE

The result of all this hybrid powertrain technology is an unconfirmed average economy of 35 mpg, and 30 mpg on the highway. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) figures will be announced once mileage testing has been completed, Wright said.

As a public relations boost for the new Escape Hybrid, several celebrities were invited to take turns driving the Escape in Manhattan traffic during the week prior to the show itself. Actor Kevin Bacon said he was amazed at the way the new Escape Hybrid performed. In fact, the celebrity-drive in New York City traffic notched 578 miles on one tank of gas, for a city-traffic score of 38.5 mpg.

Ford also offered the trade press a chance to drive their newest hybrid, and we got behind the wheel. Our experience was almost 70 percent driving on electric power, mostly at less than 25 mph. The eCVT provided smooth shifting that was unnoticeable because specific gearshift ratios are eliminated.