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New Ford Escape Hybrid Owners - Give Us Your Report

149 messages,  Last post on Jul 14, 2011 at 8:28 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Escape Hybrid

Messages Page 15 of 16

#137 of 149 Re: Ford Escpe Hybird v.s. Toyota 4Runner [misaak] by russrdh

May 10, 2010 (5:33 am)

Replying to: misaak (May 09, 2010 9:37 pm)
I purchased a 2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid in November of 2008. Purchased used, it had 14,000 miles on it and it now has 50,000 miles. This car is GREAT! I did my research on the battery system before purchasing it and I would direct you to the articles on the Ford Escape Hybrid taxis used in San Francisco (Key words San Francisco Hybrid Taxis) look for the LA times article.
 
Here's a quote: "The Ford Escape is the first American hybrid. When it was unveiled five years ago, customers feared that the batteries wouldn't last and would be expensive to replace, said Gil Portalatin, hybrid systems application manager at Ford Motor Co.
 
San Francisco's experience, he said, showed that "these things are tougher than nails. . . . We warranty the batteries for 150,000 miles and here you have cabs going out of service at 300,000 -- because that's the law, not because the cab's used up."
 
The retiring hybrid cabs also have shown that, even on San Francisco's notorious hills, the regenerative brake system's brake pads last far longer than nonhybrid brakes.
 
With a regenerative braking system, brake pads are not used to slow the car in stop-and-go traffic. Instead, when the brake pedal is depressed, it sends a signal to the electric motor, which slows the vehicle and also charges the car's high-voltage battery. The brake pads are used only at the very end of the stopping cycle.
 
Yellow Cab is awaiting the arrival of 10 new Ford Fusion sedans, which promise even better gas mileage than the Escapes. The company has had the Nissans only a couple of months, so it's still evaluating their performance."
 
I typically get 34-38 mpg in town and 32-34 on the highway. My personal best on a single tank of gas was 42.3 mpg of in town and highway combined. On a trip from Flagstaff, Az to Ogden, Ut via Highway 89 I averaged 52 mpg from Flag to the turnoff to Tuba City. By the time I got to Page, Az I was still at 45 mpg as I started the climb into Utah. I pulled into the Fast Gas in Nephi showing an average 39 mpg. From there to my driveway in Ogden I still managed a reasonable 36 mpg.
 
Don't expect to tow with any hybrid with a constant velocity transmission. For our 12 foot/1,700 pound pop-up camper trailer we use a 2002 Volvo V70XC Cross Country. It is the perfect vehicle for small trailer towing. All wheel drive, powerful, comfortable, 20 mpg with the trailer and 30 without and of course, Volvo's stellar reputation for reliability and durability. I'd look at the original cross-over vehicle before plunking my money down on a 17mpg (Usually less) SUV. I know, I had a wonderful Chevy Tahoe for towing but the first $120 fill-up in 2005 scared me to the point where I dumped it just in time for the real run-up in gas prices. We're going to see that again.

#138 of 149 Re: Ford Escpe Hybird v.s. Toyota 4Runner [bow45] by bow45

May 10, 2010 (9:40 am)

Replying to: bow45 (May 09, 2010 11:17 pm)
My FEH AWD has 72,000 miles on it which means only 28,000 miles left until the hybrid component warranty dries up. Even if my FEH AWD has lower miles, I don’t think my 2008 FEH AWD holds up the value of $8,000 in 2016. If the High Voltage Battery dies after the warranty expired, I don’t think I’m going to fix it.
 
The point I want to make here is new High Voltage Battery is way too expensive. New Prius batteries price was about $2,300 in 2009 (Car and Driver, May 09, Vol. 54, No.11).

#139 of 149 A Canadian perspective by sksuh

May 11, 2010 (8:47 am)

My 2008 FEH AWD has worked flawlessly in all seasons including Canadian winters up here on the Alberta side of the Rocky Mountains.
 
No battery worries, winter woes or any other issues whatsoever. Absolutely no regrets with this vehicle.

#140 of 149 Re: Ford Escpe Hybird v.s. Toyota 4Runner [bow45] by ekiehn

May 11, 2010 (3:17 pm)

Replying to: bow45 (May 10, 2010 9:40 am)
Maybe yes, maybe no. I have close to 80K on mine so I will be in the same position in about a year.
 
This is what I learned from the Ford FEH road show back in 2004. The difference with the FEH and the Prius is that the Prius uses one great big batter pack that has to be replaced all at once. The FEH uses a rack of batteries that look very much like D-Cell's. In theory if a cell fails, they can open the rack and replace the cell, not the whole battery pack.
 
Now the practical side of things, if one cell fails after 100K, do you replace just that one cell (paying for the labor and the cell) or do you replace the other cells because if one cell has failed the others will probably soon fail also.
 
That's the issue and I don't have an answer to that one yet (and hope not to for a long time).
 
One note, if you look at the FEH manual the maintenance schedule goes all the way through 150K but never recommends replacing the main battery pack cells. Take it for what it's worth, but if I get 150K out of it I will probably be happy (my previous Ford Van got around 190K but it was pretty sad by then).

#141 of 149 Re: Ford Escpe Hybird v.s. Toyota 4Runner [bdyment] by stevedebi

May 18, 2010 (9:21 am)

Replying to: bdyment (May 10, 2010 5:14 am)
"The battery has a complete 8 year warranty. "
 
10 years in CARB states.

#142 of 149 Re: Ford Escpe Hybird v.s. Toyota 4Runner [misaak] by stevedebi

May 18, 2010 (9:23 am)

Replying to: misaak (May 09, 2010 9:37 pm)
"My husband and I considering buying a car next month and came down to two choices in the SUV category. Ford Escape Hybird or a 2010 Toyota 4Runner.
We like the idea of a ford escape that has better gas mileage, smaller and easy to drive.
The 4Runner has more horsepower, larger, better to tow with and excellent in the snow.
Which is a better car to buy
Michelle "
 
If you want to tow, there is no question - get the Toyota. The FEH is not really designed to tow anything of substance. Otherwise it is a question of which you like to drive, and which fits your family better.
 
The AWD version of the FEH should do fine in the snow. I have had mine in snow and ice in Yosemite.

#143 of 149 Re: Ford Escpe Hybird v.s. Toyota 4Runner [bow45] by stevedebi

May 18, 2010 (9:26 am)

Replying to: bow45 (May 09, 2010 11:17 pm)
"You might want to check out some issues about the FEH's High Voltage Battery on this forum. I own a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid AWD and regret that I bought it. I'm concerned about the battery. If the battery dies I need to pay $8,000.00 to replace it. If I knew this, I wouldn't buy my FEH AWD. "
 
You might want to wait until it actually dies before you regret your purchase. Those taxis in NYC are going pretty strong.

#144 of 149 Re: Ford Escpe Hybird v.s. Toyota 4Runner [ekiehn] by stevedebi

May 18, 2010 (9:28 am)

Replying to: ekiehn (May 11, 2010 3:17 pm)
"This is what I learned from the Ford FEH road show back in 2004. The difference with the FEH and the Prius is that the Prius uses one great big batter pack that has to be replaced all at once. The FEH uses a rack of batteries that look very much like D-Cell's. In theory if a cell fails, they can open the rack and replace the cell, not the whole battery pack. "
 
You might be able to find someone to do that, but I'm sure Ford recommends that one replace the entire pack.

#145 of 149 Driving Ford Escape Hybrid in Low Range and 300,000 mile report by tortorige

Jan 12, 2011 (1:18 pm)

FWIW, I spoke to a service man that took in one of the first escape hybrids to sell in the bay area. It was a 2005 or 2006 with over 300,000 miles of San Francisco inner city taxi cab service miles on it. The battery checked in at 90% life. Not bad at all. So don't worry.
 
We just got a 2008 and I noticed that in town, if driven in low range the whole time, the transmission acts exactly as it does in drive except that it increases regenerative braking dramatically, charging the batteries faster, and allowing more electric mode. Has anyone else found this? I was able to get nearly 41mph in town doing it. Any reason why this is bad? Like I said, it doesnt sound like the transmission is adversely effected. It's not like it's locking a torque converter in first like a normal transmission does.

#146 of 149 Re: Driving Ford Escape Hybrid in Low Range and 300,000 mile report [tortorige] by ekiehn

Jan 17, 2011 (12:34 pm)

Replying to: tortorige (Jan 12, 2011 1:18 pm)
Yes that's what I do and have for years. Somewhere way back in all the posts I responded with this suggestion to an FEH that was not getting great milage. He tried it and it worked. (great job getting 41MPG, my 2006 stays around31-32).
 
As for the wear and tear, I'm not that worried. Certainly the brakes will be saved (I'm at about 89K now and no new brakes are needed yet and probably not anytime soon).
 
So to date I have spent money on recommended oil changes (every 10,000 miles), change filters as required, replaced all 4 tires once and wiper blades and that is about it. With all that I have saved in Gas and maintenance if the Batteries fail or need replacement or some other component I believe I'll be ahead of he game no matter how I add it up.

Messages Page 15 of 16

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