Click the 2009 Escape Hybrid for a high res gallery

We've spent plenty of seat time behind the wheel of the Ford Escape hybrid. The last time we had one, it managed to return an average of thirty miles per gallon. This mileage figure is remarkable, since the Vue hybrid, which you just saw at number two on our list, didn't do quite as well. Remember, too, that the Ford Escape hybrid is the same vehicle as the Mercury Mariner hybrid and Mazda Tribute hybrid. Let's take a look at the comparison between the standard Escape and the hybrid model.

According to the EPA, the regular Escape will get 20 miles per gallon in the city and 26 on the highway when its four cylinder engine is paired with an automatic transmission. The hybrid improves those numbers dramatically, coming in at 34 in the city and 30 on the highway. We'll back those numbers as being fairly accurate. This means that an Escape hybrid driver will save a significant $860 per year on fuel compred to the non-hybrid driver. For a vehicle which is priced well under $30 grand, that's a worthwhile improvement, and it makes the Escape hybrid number one on our list.

Click the 2009 Escape Hybrid for a high res gallery

While we were a bit surprised to see David Cook beat out David Archulata on last night's finale of American Idol, it was the contestants themselves who looked taken aback when they were handed the keys to brand new Ford Escape Hybrids in matching light green. Not that they should have been surprised by the gift, as Ford has done similar giveaways since it started promoting so heavily on American Idol a few years back and announced the prize earlier this year. The matching hybrids were awaiting the pair of Davids on a green carpet outside the arena.

When we were granted the opportunity to test out the next-generation Escape Hybrid, due for the '09 model year, we found it improved in pretty much every meaningful way. Still, having had the current-generation Escape hybrid, like the ones handed to the Davids, in our garage a little while back and finding it to be a pretty nice machine, we know that the two AI finalists will enjoy their new rides.


[Source: American Idol]

Since it was decided that the entire fleet of taxis in New York City should become hybrids by 2012 less than a year ago, the number of hybrid hacks has doubled. If the city can achieve that same 200 percent increase every year it will achieve the goal. Out of 13,150 taxi medallions 1020 (just under 8 percent) of them are hybrids today, according to this article at YellowCabNYC. Way to go, New York!

We know you were wondering which hybrid leads the pack so we have the skinny on that too. Drum roll please. The number one vehicle choice of taxi buyers in the Big Apple was the Ford Escape hybrid (pictured above) a with whopping 845 units out there pounding the pavement. Yeah, we are pretty sure Ford is happy about that too. To see how the rest of the field breaks down, hit the jump.

To help kick off "Green Week," NBC is taking the wraps off its new eco-friendly satellite truck on the Monday edition of the Today show. The New York-based SUV that the studio calls its "mean green streaming machine" will strut its stuff for viewers before being pressed into service to help MSNBC cover the Pennsylvania primary tomorrow.

Using a white and green Ford Escape hybrid as a platform, the vehicle incorporates three deep cycle batteries that can operate the satellite and cell phone video technology for 5 to 6 hours. When a recharge is needed, solar panel mats are rolled out and wind turbines hoisted to avoid running the engine as a generator like a typical satellite truck might. At $100,000, this vehicle is also much less expensive than the $500,000 spent for those usually used to transmit live feeds and it runs at 20 amps instead of 60.

NBC is planning all kinds of different "green" programming this week from Darryl Hannah showing off organic skate boards on "Last Call with Carson Daly" to Dateline reporting on the melting snow in the mountains of Bolivia. This won't be the only "green week" at NBC however as two more are already being planned.


[Source: The Hollywood Reporter / MSNBC]

Today we have a report that puts one more hybrid in the not so capable hands of a celebrity. The celebrity: our favorite hotel heriess, Paris Hilton. The car: the Ford Escape hybrid. She apparently was given the car, which is nice, and will be replacing her Range Rover. The good news is that this gets one more gas guzzler off the roadways in Hollywood, the bad news is that Paris does not exactly have a shining driving record. AutoblogGreen is certainly no TMZ or anything, so I won't go into depth regarding her frequent run-ins with the law. Suffice it to say, though, that the law won.

Here are some of Paris' other revelations from BPM's green party at Los Angeles' Avalon nightclub:

"I'm getting a car from Ford, a hybrid one. They gave me one. So, I think driving hybrid cars is the new way to go, and recycling." She followed with, "I just want this world to be a better place for my grandchildren. I'm scared with what's going on in the environment, so I hope people will help and make a difference. Everyone can."

She is absolutely right about everyone being able to make a difference. By driving an Escape hybrid, Paris is making a statement that her fans hopefully will appreciate.

Related:

• Where is Fergie's love for her HUMMER?

[Source: Tonight - tip from Linton, and The Evil Beet]

The announcement from Ford and Southern California Edison about their plug-in hybrid vehicle joint electric transportation initiative is now starting out in California. Some hints leaked out earlier today, but the full details have been kept under wraps until now. I've described the news below, and you can read the full, official announcement after the jump.

Ford and Edison will work together on a "multi-million dollar, multi-year PHEV evaluation and demonstration program." This means that Ford will give SCE a demonstration fleet of 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid SUVs that will be converted by Ford and a "battery company partner yet to be named" to be fully PHEV capable. SCE will test the Escapes, and, "Some of the vehicles will be evaluated in typical customer settings in order to model overall home and grid values this technology could tap." Does that mean customers will be able to test them? Unclear. But the good news is that "As Ford's plug-in hybrid program grows, the automaker will look for broader participation as it develops a business model not just for Southern California, but potentially nationwide."

Alan Mulally, Ford president and chief executive officer, and John Bryson, chairman and chief executive officer of Southern California Edison's parent company Edison International, are on hand at Edison International corporate headquarters for the event. The deal is the first time a major automaker and a large electricity utility are working together on PHEV testing.

The first official press release does not say how many 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid SUVs will be part of this fleet. Earlier reports pegged the number as 20 by 2009. If that's true, then it's awful low. I understand that we're dealing with untested technology, but only 20 by 2009? C'mon Ford. Do something bold here. Heck, GM is testing 100 fuel cell cars starting later this year and there's a real good chance customers will have a few plug in options by 2010ish (the Chevy Volt, perhaps, or the Tesla Whitestar). I'm in favor of working on PHEVs, but testing 20 in 2009 just isn't going to cut it in the upcoming PHEV marketplace. Hopefully the early reports were wrong.

Ford has some experience with PHEVs with their HySeries Drive concept unveiled in DC in January. Quantum announced in March they would convert 20 standard 2008 Ford Escape Hybrids into demonstration plug in vehicles. Remember, full details after the break.


Related:

• Ford unveils PHEV Ford Edge with HySeries Drive at DC Auto Show
• Quantum announces $2.1 million plug-in hybrid deal with California's South Coast AQMD

[Source: Ford]

One of twenty E85 Escape Hybrids that Ford is letting fleets in six states test out was delivered to Southwest Gas in Las Vegas, Nevada today for use in customer service applications. Not long ago, the first three in the program were delivered to the Department of Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the Governors' Ethanol Coalition (GEC) in Washington, D.C. According to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, there are seven E85 stations in Las Vegas.

Ford keeps mentioning that the E85 Escape Hybrid "produces about 25 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a gasoline-fueled Escape Hybrid." I don't doubt that, but the next line in the release, "It also runs on a completely renewable fuel, which can help reduce this nation's dependence on imported oil," strikes me as deceptive. E85 is not a "completely renewable fuel." Anyway, let's hope Ford learns something from this test program and decides to make these vehicles available for sale. They're not perfect, but they're not bad, either.

Related:

• 20 E85-ready Ford Escape Hybrids going to fleet users
• In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid

[Source: Ford]

Click on the photo for a huge high-res gallery of the 2008 Escape Hybrid

Last November, Ford introduced the second generation of their Escape compact SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show with a new look to fit in with the latest Ford Trucks. When the original was introduced in 2001 it had a rounder, softer more nondescript look, in keeping with the look of the then-current F-150 that came out in 1996. The latest iteration has a tougher, chunkier appearance that borrows from the style of the Super-Duty pick-ups. The prominent chrome grille stands out in front the headlights and gives the little trucklet a more distinct face that was expanded further by the optional chrome appearance package that wrapped the chrome right down under the front bumper.

The sharper contours extend to the rest of the body giving it a more grown up look, even though all the dimensions are within an inch of the 2007 model. Unlike most vehicles that seem to grow longer, wider, heavier, more powerful with successive generations, the new Escape is more than a facelift but less than an all-new vehicle. Of course that's not necessarily a bad thing, if the original had a decent platform and was the right size to begin with.

Find out what it's like to live with the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid after the jump.

A 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid donated by Ford helped generate $37,000 for the environmental group Heal the Bay at the organization's annual charity auction last week. Heal the Bay is a Santa Monica-based environmental group dedicated to improving water quality along California's coastline.

The 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid comes with a 2.3-liter DOHC 16-valve Atkinson cycle four-cylinder (good for 133 HP) engine and a permanent magnet AC synchronous motor (adding 70 kW) The net result is 155 horsepower and it achieves 34 MPG (city) and 30 MPG (highway). The only available transmission is a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). It can run up to 30mph on 100 percent electric power, so it makes it a full hybrid model.

The Escape and Escape Hybrid are available with a cloth fabric made from 100-percent recycled material, as an available interior trim option. The winner will receive a set of tote bags made from this material.

Related

• Ford touts their Escape Hybrid taxi success

[Source: Ford]

I was surprised to find a shipping box sitting on the table with the rest of my mail yesterday when I got home. The return address stated that it had come from Ford, and my curiosity was piqued. I hadn't requested any information from them or anything, so I tore open the box to see what was contained therein. To my surprise, it was a tote bag. Neutral-colored and emblazoned with both the Ford oval and the Escape SUV's logo, the enclosed letter explained that the bag is made of the very same recycled materials used to upholster the seats in the 2008 Escape and Escape Hybrid. The greener material is supplied to Ford by InterfaceFABRIC, who estimates that the automaker could conserve 600,000 gallons of water, the equivalent of 1.8 million pounds of C02, and the equivalent of 7,000,000 kilowatt hours of electricity on an annual basis by using post-industrial materials in its vehicle interiors.

All too often, people get hung up in powertrain technology debates when thinking of ways to "green" the automobile. The total solution goes deeper than that. Moves like this by Ford, as well as other innovative programs like Honda's planned use of bio-fabrics, could prove to be very important over the long term, albeit in different ways, if they'e widely adopted. Assuming the alternatives are as comfortable as regular fabric seats, then it should be a pretty easy sell for the consumer.

The attached gallery has a close-up of the fabric itself, and the explanation behind it on the tag affixed to the tote.

Joining other, existing initiatives to move the U.S. taxi fleet across to hybrid vehicles, the Cleantech Venture Network has launched the Cleantech Innovation Institute (CII), which will work to reduce or remove existing barriers to the change-over. Already, a number of major U.S. cities have started to move their taxis over to hybrids with San Francisco being the first in early 2005. New York and Chicago have also announced incentives, including discounted licenses, for taxi owners to move to hybrids.

One of the most popular hybrid vehicles for taxis is the Ford Escape Hybrid which gets 36 mpg / 6.5 L per 100 km around the city and runs entirely off the internal battery pack at speeds less than 25 mph / 40 km/h - a huge plus for heavy traffic emissions. The Escape Hybrid is also a roomy vehicle with generous passenger and luggage space. In June 2006, Ford undertook a nationwide tour to promote the use of its environmentally friendly, petrol–electric SUVs in taxi fleets.

The 196,000 taxis in North America drive an average of ten time more than regular passenger vehicles and could be saving well over $1,000 per month on fuel if they were hybrids. A problem for taxi owners though is that leasing companies wont lease hybrids for taxi use because of the huge miles they drive. To solve this problem, the CII is in talks with GE Finance to negotiate leasing hybrids at a higher, but still cost-effective rate.

Analysis: It seems like every time I get in a taxi it gets stuck in traffic and we just sit there for ages going nowhere while the metre keeps going up and up. It's almost like taxis are drawn to traffic problems. What a great move then to be running off battery only at speeds less than 25 mph, which by my calculations would be about 85 percent of the time. No hybrid leasing is tricky for taxi owners though, so good work CII for trying to solve this problem.

Related:

• Cabbies taking to new, lower-emission TX4 taxis in UK
• Hybrid taxis hit NYC streets; fuel costs slashed
• GM Holden Commodore adds duel-fuel option

[Source: Environmental Leader]

click the photo to see high-resolution shots of the E85 Escape Hybrid

Not content to let the unveiling of the hydrogen Ford Edge with plug-in capability take up all of Ford's media space today, the company also announced that 20 demonstration E85-capable Escape Hybrids will be sent to six U.S. States for testing, starting this spring. Ford says the Escape Hybrid E85 is the "world's first hybrid vehicle capable of operating on blends of fuel containing as much as 85 percent ethanol," but other companies are working on ethanol hybrids (Saab comes immediately to mind, and their BioPower concept can use E100).

Putting E85 in the tank of an Escape Hybrid E85 means the SUV produces about a quarter less carbon dioxide emissions than a gasoline-fueled Escape Hybrid. Ford isn't saying which states will get the Escapes, but the press release (which you can read after the jump) makes mention of the Midwest, so perhaps that's a clue to where these SUVs are headed.



[Source: Ford]

Mazda's not the only one with a hybrid SUV at the Detroit Auto Show this week. Ford has brought along their 2008 Escape SUV, which is available with three powertrains: the standard 2.3-liter I-4, or an optional 3.0-liter V-6 and, thankfully, a full hybrid gas-electric version (Sanyo makes the batteries for the Escape hybrids). To eliminate complaints about the transition between all-electric and gasoline power, Ford engineers updated the control system software and it should now be "seamless and virtually imperceptible to the driver."

Ford also says the new Escape was designed to be quieter and an easier ride than previous models. Big surprise. Where's the press release that says the engineers decided against upgrading something like a vehicle's comfort? "Nah, we'll just leave all that alone. People bought the last one, they'll buy this one."

Anyway. We know that Hybrids Plus, Inc. is making plug-in variants of current escape models. Image if Ford had announced a PHEV concept of the Escape this week. Instead, they're going to let GM bask alone in the eco-glory for a while.

Click on the image above or the thumbnails below to see a high-resolution (1,280 pixel wide) images of the 2008 Escape. As always, AutoblogGreen gallery images are downloadable for your personal use.

Related:

• U.S. automakers and Johnson Controls to jointly produce hybrid vehicle batteries
• Hybrids Plus, Inc. to build PHEV Escape for New York State

[Source: Ford]

Currently Amanda Congdon and her compatriots Mario Librandi, Rob Librandi and Emily Golub are nearing the end of their second week of a five-week journey across America in a Ford Escape Hybrid. AutoBlogGreen had a chance to talk to Amanda as they meandered from Greensboro, North Carolina into Tennessee.

AutoblogGreen: What was the goal of this trip and what prompted you to do this project?

Amanda Congdon: We knew that we wanted to videoblog across country, and we're very environmentally conscious, so it seemed perfect to partner with an environmental organization like the Natural Resources Defence Council and EnvironmentalCountdown. The goals of the trip are to raise awareness about the environment and about "citizens" or as Jeff Jarvis was saying "network journalism". Those are the two things we're focusing on when we meet with people along the way.

Read the rest of the interview after the jump.