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The Ford Escape Hybrid, launched in 2004, is a Gas-electric Hybrid powered version of the Ford Escape SUV developed by the Ford Motor Company . Built in Kansas City, Missouri , it was the first hybrid SUV to hit the market. A similar vehicle, the ''' Mercury Mariner Hybrid ''' is sold by Ford's Mercury marque, and a third variation, the ''' Mazda Tribute Hybrid ''', is finally expected to arrive in the fall of 2007 as a 2008 Model Year vehicle. Hybrid versions can be identified by the on the front driver's and passenger's doors as well as on the tailgate. In addition, the driver's side window in the cargo area is smaller in size in order to accommodate a ventilation slot for the high voltage battery. There was also a "Special Appearance Package" available as an option on the 2004-2007 Hybrid models. This package replaced the traditional lower cladding of the Escape with a silver finish (see picture). The Escape hybrid is a "full" hybrid electric system, meaning the system can switch automatically between pure electric power, pure gasoline engine power, or a combination of electric battery and gasoline engine operating together, for maximum performance and efficiency at all speeds and loads. When braking or decelerating, the Escape's hybrid system uses Regenerative Braking , where the electric drive motor becomes a generator, converting the vehicle's momentum back to electricity for storage in the batteries. With 155 horsepower, the Hybrid Escape has nearly the same acceleration performance as the conventional 200 hp V6 Escape. Ford built 17,000 Escape Hybrids in the second half of 2004, four times as many as it had originally planned, and sales figures have remained steady: Hybrid Sales Figures/Tax Credits for Hybrids Electric Drive Transportation Association. Retrieved on 2007 - 08-24 . Toyota, launched two hybrid SUVs in 2005, a version of their Highlander, and a Lexus-badged RX 400h, both of which outsold the Escape hybrid in 2006, their first full year of sales. Hybrid Car Sales Figures: Ford Hybrid Car Sales 2006 US (Commercial website). Hybridcar.com. Retrieved on 2007 - 08-24 . A number of Mazda Tribute Hybrids have also been produced. Ford announced the development of a prototype Hybrid Escape E85, the first hybrid vehicle capable of running on 85% ethanol - 08-24 . DEVELOPMENT The Escape Hybrid uses technology similar to that used in - 08-08 . Retrieved on 2007 - 08-06 . Both Ford and Toyota state that Ford received no technical assistance from Toyota in developing the hybrid powertrain. Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd. , a Japanese automotive components supplier belonging to the Toyota Group , supplies the hybrid transmission for the Escape Hybrid. While Toyota produces its third-generation Prius transmission in-house, Aisin is the only supplier of hybrid transmissions to other manufacturers. Friction has arisen concerning Aisin's allocation of limited production capacity and engineering resources to Ford. - 04-20 . Retrieved on 2007 - 08-07 . built the 50 kg, 5.5 Ah, 250-cell Nickle Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery pack for the 2005 Escape Hybrid. 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid Electric Vehicle HEV America, U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity. 2005. Retrieved on 2007 - 08-07 . PERFORMANCE The Escape Hybrid's 133 Horsepower (99 kW) gasoline engine and 94 hp electric motor combine to give performance similar to the 200 hp V6 engine commonly used in the regular Escape. The hybrid is said to give approximately 75% greater efficiency, with about 33 to 36 mpg in city traffic, (and has demonstrated it can travel 400–500 miles on a single 16.5 gallon tank of gasoline in city driving), and 29 to 31 mpg on the highway. Unlike conventional vehicles, hybrids often achieve better figures in the city because they do not waste power idling and can recover some power when stopping (by using Regenerative Braking ) that would be wasted on a conventional vehicle. The Escape Hybrid can accelerate up to approximately 39 miles per hour on electric, with a gentle acceleration. A maximum distance of 1.5 - 1.8 miles can be performed on electric before the batteries will discharge and the gasoline will restart. When coasting, if the brake is gently tapped when passing below 40MPH, the gasoline engine will cut off, and the coast will continue with no gasoline being consumed. Electric mode does not perform as well when below 50 degress F, and performance degrades further as outside temperature drops further. EMISSIONS The Escape Hybrid meets both California 's SULEV and PZEV standards, with tailpipe emissions better than 90% less than the average 2003 new car and zero evaporative emissions. PROMOTION Ford announced on July 9, 2007 that it will team up with Southern California Edison (SCE) to examine the future of Plug-in Hybrid s in terms of how home and vehicle energy systems will work with the electrical grid. Under the multi-million-dollar, multi-year project, Ford will convert a demonstration fleet of Ford Escape Hybrid s into plug-in hybrids, and SCE will evaluate how the vehicles might interact with the home and the utility's electrical grid. Some of the vehicles will be evaluated "in typical customer settings," according to Ford. http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/enn.cfm#id_11093 http://media.ford.com/newsroom/release_display.cfm?release=26326 SEE ALSO
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