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Hybrid variants sport a ‘Hybrid’ badge on the front doors and on the tailgate, by which they can be recognized. A ventilation slot for the high voltage battery is built into the driver’s side window in the cargo area, which makes it appreciably smaller; a further form of recognition.
The Escape is a true hybrid that operates in various permutations. It switches automatically from pure electric to pure gasoline; or electric and gasoline together. By this it achieves optimum performance and efficiency with all loads at all speeds. To brake and decelerate the Escape uses regenerative braking, a unique system where the drive motor becomes a generator. In so doing it converts back the vehicle’s momentum to electricity for storage in the batteries. At 155 hp, the Hybrid Escape almost matches the acceleration of the established 200 hp gasoline engine.
Ford and Toyota signed a patent-sharing agreement since the technology of the Escape overlapped that of Toyota’s Prius.
The Hybrid’s performance is on par with its gasoline counterpart, but it is said to be 75 percent more efficient. In city traffic it gives 33 to 36 mpg with a top speed of 102 mph.
17000 hybrids were built in the latter half of 2004 and sales have remained steady since. Purchasers qualify for US income tax credits of between $2,200-3000. Ford plans on a Hybrid Escape E85 compatible with 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline flexible fuel.
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