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Ford Escape Hybrid MPG-Real World Numbers

222 messages,  Last post on May 25, 2010 at 8:27 AM

You are in the Ford Escape Hybrid Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Escape Hybrid, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

Messages Page 15 of 23

#137 of 222 Re: 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Mileage Not Good [jstelter] by mecheng1

Jan 14, 2008 (8:47 am)

Replying to: jstelter (Jan 12, 2008 7:30 pm)
Remember the "stated mileage estimate" you are seeking is a Government supplied number. Ford can help you determine is something is different (wrong) with your vehicle. What mpg were you getting in your previous vehicle you used to drive over these routes? Lots of things to know about the hybrid that can improve mpg. Full advantage of the batteries is not realized until: the engine/exhaust has a chance to fully warm up, are your in town trips longer than 3 miles in the cold? If not and the vehicle cools down....it has to heat up all over again, etc., etc.

#138 of 222 Re: 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Mileage Not Good [jstelter] by mackris

Jan 14, 2008 (11:02 am)

Replying to: jstelter (Jan 12, 2008 7:30 pm)
Hey Jstelter,
 
I am having the same problem. I bought my 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid (FWD) on 12/22/08 and am on my second tank of gas, and am only averaging 22 or 23 MPG. I live in Chicago, and with our cold winters, I generally have the heat on, but I have been parking in a garage, so its not as cold as it could be. My wife and I have noticed a slight "siren sound" when we drive, but I assumed that it was normal, and part of the hybrid system. I'm wondering if this is a defect related to the low gas mileage. Obviously, I wouldn't have bought the car if I was going to get such low fuel efficiency. My next step is to call the dealer. Do you have a number for the Regional Manager for Ford???

#139 of 222 Re: 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Mileage Not Good [mackris] by dhuang2

Jan 14, 2008 (5:46 pm)

Replying to: mackris (Jan 14, 2008 11:02 am)
I have put almost 10k miles on my 2008 FEH FWD since last May. The FEH consistently delivers 29~31 MPG. I live in LA and traffic is usually bad causing me 2 hours of commuting per day, although weather is good. So far, I am very satisfied with 2008 FEH.

#140 of 222 Re: 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Mileage Not Good [mackris] by ekiehn

Jan 15, 2008 (7:22 am)

Replying to: mackris (Jan 14, 2008 11:02 am)
Just thought I'd mention that a little patience needs to be applied here before trying to jump all overRegional Managers and the like.
 
Just a couple of notes:
1- The engine and mechanics need to be broken in. This takes some time and probably takes a little longer in colder climates
2- The colder climate. You are looking at the milage probably at the worst time of year for you (for me in So FLA August kills me at almost 100 degee humid weather)
3- Millage will get better as you start to drive differently. To maximize your millage use the 15 min avg millage display (btw these new driving habits apply to non hybrids as well)
4- Consider also that for a small SUV you are getting considerably more mpg than the same vehicle with a gas only powertrain (the government estimates always are higher for these as well).
 
My experience with my 2006 Escape has been that the millage started out low but now after driving the past 3 years is consistantly good (avg for all driving is around 33 mpg) and this past weekend as I drove around house hunting topped 36 mpg.
 
So before you think defect, give it a little time and see how it goes. I think you will be like most of the rest of us in a few months time... bragging about how well it runs and how great your millage is and smiling every time you go to fill up and watching the others pump a mortgage payment.

#141 of 222 Initial low MPG... will keep monitoring though. by mackris

Jan 15, 2008 (8:37 am)

Thanks ekiehn,
 
You're probably right. I got a little scared after shelling out almost $30k a month ago and seeing the lower MPG. Would letting the car warm up for 5 minutes every morning improve my MPG or would this result in no net change? The problem is my wife only drives about 5 miles to work and back, so by the time the car warms up, she's practically done driving.
 
I'll keep monitoring and see if the average gets up to the 30 MPG range. Has anyone noticed the "siren" sound coming from the engine in the first 5 or 10 minutes of cold driving???

#142 of 222 5 Miles to work by mschmal

Jan 22, 2008 (4:57 pm)

The situtation here is that your short 5 mile driver never allows the HV battery to reach full charge.
 
IMHO if you are in the 5 to 10 miles per day catagory you are wasting alot of money if you buy a hybrid.
 
I can't go on because it just so amazes me some of the people who go on and on insisting that they need a hybrid.
 
I am assuming that your wife drives less than 10 k per year. Based on that you will probably recoupe the Hybrid Premium(cost of Hybrid vs Gas Escape) in about 12 years. Usually I insert some scarcastic comment here but I really just feel sorry for you.
 
The Hybrid Premium is about $5k. You can buy a lot of gas for $5,000.
 
Hybrids at this time are mostly HYPE and should be reserved for Taxis and other high milage uses.

#143 of 222 Re: 5 Miles to work [mschmal] by mecheng1

Jan 23, 2008 (8:03 am)

Replying to: mschmal (Jan 22, 2008 4:57 pm)
mschmal - you have overstated your argument
 
The "hybrid premium" is now less than $5k. Also, you did not factor in the $2000 tax credit. (and any other state or local tax credits, which are common) Gasoline is $3/gallon, do you really think the price is going down over the next 3 to 4 years? Depending on the weather, its the 3 - 5 mile commute that is tough on the current FEH design, and anything over 5 miles is definitely able to use EV....but even at hiway speeds with the ICE running...its possible to get over 30mpg. [It is more than just the battery "reaching full charge"]
 
I haven't even mentioned the lower emissions. People don't "need" a hybrid...its a conscious choice. IMHO automobiles are not investiments so why are they constantly being judged on ROI? Did you do an ROI on every option you purchased on your last vehicle? Or did you just get something for reasons other than price?
 
And what about in a few years when FEH owners will be able to retrofit to a plug-in battery that allows 100% EV for the first 40 - 50 miles of any commute? At that point they will be getting over 120 mpg.

#144 of 222 Re: 5 Miles to work [mecheng1] by mackris

Jan 23, 2008 (8:36 am)

Replying to: mecheng1 (Jan 23, 2008 8:03 am)
Dear mecheng1,
 
I couldn't agree with you more. While our brand new FEH is getting 23 MPG on my wife's short commutes, I've been getting 34 MPG on my highway trips. I anticipate that once the weather warms up, her short commutes should start to achieve the higher 20s MPG. When you combine the average fuel savings of about $1000 per year, plus the $3000 tax credit, it makes total sense on an economic test. Plus wouldn't the residual value on the FEH be higher than the conventional Escape?
 
Can you tell me more about the retrofit to a plug-in? I heard there is a company in Toronto that does this, but only if there is a large enough group of cars. The cost is $6000 per vehicle, so still a little high.

#145 of 222 Re: 5 Miles to work [mackris] by mecheng1

Jan 23, 2008 (1:02 pm)

Replying to: mackris (Jan 23, 2008 8:36 am)
The Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) concept is really starting to take off and several companies are working on Li-Ion (laptop) type batteries that can store more energy per unit volume and don't have to be heated or cooled like the current NiMH batteries. [Ford is displaying a PHEV Escape at this year's auto shows] It will be a few years before the technology is perfected and the retrofits can be purchased for an affordable price.....but the motors and the software and the rest of the hardware is already included in the FEH. When this happens we may even see our residual value go up...
 
Many of the current products are just piggy-back extra batteries that take up all the space in the back of the FEH.......the Li-Ion retrofits will likely fit in the same space as the current HVBattery. [There are prototypes out there right now that can do this and get over 100mpg]
 
Drive during the day. Recharge overnight. Repeat. But it will be a few years....

#146 of 222 Re: 5 Miles to work [mackris] by jstelter

Jan 23, 2008 (6:14 pm)

Replying to: mackris (Jan 23, 2008 8:36 am)
I totally agree. But, be careful with statements about the $3,000 federal tax credit. With the impact of AMT, a family of 4, with an approximate income of $75k annually might qualify, or a family with income exceeding $800,000 (yes, almost a million dollars) would also qualify. If your income level is essentially between $75,000 and $800,000, you will not qualify for the credit due to AMT. The wild card is the level of deductible expenses you can show on Schedule A-Itemized Deductions versus your income.
 
Finally, AMT will not even allow you to receive partial credit as well.

Messages Page 15 of 23

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