Ford Escape Hybrid Test Drive: What Did You Think?

23 messages, Last post on May 16, 2008 at 5:55 AM

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#22 of 23 Re: Reverse problem with Escape Hybrid [patmck152] by stevedebi May 15, 2008 (2:32 pm)
Replying to: patmck152 (May 14, 2008 6:10 pm) "Do you think Ford will correct this problem in the future or is this problem something that will always be a part of the FEH?? " I hope you noticed that while the ICE cannot power the wheels directly, it can provide electric energy to the motors that reverse the FEH. So the situation is not as bad as my first post may have indicated. As to the technical question, I'm not sure if it could be changed. However, I imagine not so long as they continue with the current "planetary gearset" design. If the ICE could have spun the wheels in reverse I'm sure they would have implemented it that way. Electric motors are easy to reverse - just reverse the current - but it may have been difficult or impossible to directly power the wheels in reverse. Replies to this message: mecheng1 (May 16, 2008 5:55 am)
#23 of 23 Re: Reverse problem with Escape Hybrid [stevedebi] by mecheng1 May 16, 2008 (5:55 am)
Replying to: stevedebi (May 15, 2008 2:32 pm) Providing a means for the ICE to power reverse is not "difficult" or "impossible" - it just adds weight and complexity (read: less FE) to the most critical component in the vehicle. Good trade off in my opinion. Future designs may address this - but not with this eCVT concept.

#22 of 23: Re: Reverse problem with Escape Hybrid [patmck152] by stevedebi; May 15, 2008 (2:32 pm)

Replying to: patmck152 (May 14, 2008 6:10 pm)

"Do you think Ford will correct this problem in the future or is this problem something that will always be a part of the FEH?? "

I hope you noticed that while the ICE cannot power the wheels directly, it can provide electric energy to the motors that reverse the FEH. So the situation is not as bad as my first post may have indicated.

As to the technical question, I'm not sure if it could be changed. However, I imagine not so long as they continue with the current "planetary gearset" design. If the ICE could have spun the wheels in reverse I'm sure they would have implemented it that way. Electric motors are easy to reverse - just reverse the current - but it may have been difficult or impossible to directly power the wheels in reverse.

mecheng1 (May 16, 2008 5:55 am)

#23 of 23: Re: Reverse problem with Escape Hybrid [stevedebi] by mecheng1; May 16, 2008 (5:55 am)

Replying to: stevedebi (May 15, 2008 2:32 pm)

Providing a means for the ICE to power reverse is not "difficult" or "impossible" - it just adds weight and complexity (read: less FE) to the most critical component in the vehicle.