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Changes You'd Like To See in the Ford Escape Hybrid

55 messages,  Last post on Apr 03, 2009 at 7:04 AM

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#29 of 55 AC by jdw334 Aug 11, 2007 (10:12 am)
I would like to see an electric AC like the Prius so that you can run the AC and still go into electric only. Replies to this message: dhuang2 (Aug 13, 2007 10:24 am) stevedebi (Aug 22, 2007 9:41 am) stevedebi (Jun 02, 2008 9:30 am)
#30 of 55 Re: AC [jdw334] by dhuang2 Aug 13, 2007 (10:24 am)
Replying to: jdw334 (Aug 11, 2007 10:12 am) Unlike conventional vehicles the 2008 FEH has an electric compressor which does not require engine to drive the compressor. However, compressor draws about 2kW to 7 kW depending on ambient conditions. This energy consumption is similar to the residential A/C for a medium house (1500~2000 sq. ft). For current available hybrid battery capacity nither Escape or Prius allow compressor to stay running without engine is on. One more piece of info is that the impact of A/C on fuel economy is about 4~8 mpg. Replies to this message: stevedebi (Aug 22, 2007 9:41 am) stevedebi (Jun 02, 2008 9:30 am)
#31 of 55 Re: AC [dhuang2] by stevedebi Aug 22, 2007 (9:41 am)
Replying to: dhuang2 (Aug 13, 2007 10:24 am) "One more piece of info is that the impact of A/C on fuel economy is about 4~8 mpg."   That would be for the hybrids only? My ICE vehicles cause about a 2 MPG penalty.
#32 of 55 Keyless entry key pad. by rnarg Sep 15, 2007 (6:39 pm)
why included in the Limited model but not included or offered in any of the available options or packages?   It can be purchased as an accessory however, and I assume it would work in the hybrid since it functions on the same signal as the hybrids remote keyless entry system.   And now, for the greatest of all changes----copy the technology of the upcoming Porshe Hybrid SUV power plant. You can run this baby as you wish on either gas or electric at your election and----as I understand it, the vehicle will cruise at 75MPH in ELECTRIC mode. It's supposed to be eerie traveling at 75MPH using electric only since you hear no gas engine high speed noise. Porshe refers to this experience as "sailing" Wouldn't it be fun to "sail" like this in a FEH?   rnarg
#33 of 55 Options I'd like to see by dmoushey Sep 24, 2007 (8:50 am)
Changes:   Auto windows up/down with 2nd held push on unlock/lock button (had it on my VW passat, great in the summer or with a forgetful kid)   Longer seat bottom (I have long legs)   Better ergonomics on the door handle and door lock button   Add telescoping to the steering wheel adjustment   Full size spare! (I hate the small ones)   Power outlet in the rear bay area   Optional fan W/ controls for the rear seat passengers
#34 of 55 Re: Redundant audio controls [icebluemariner] by richg777 Dec 20, 2007 (7:25 pm)
Replying to: icebluemariner (Jul 03, 2007 8:40 pm) I just picked up my 08 FEH and to my surprise there are audio & cruise controls on the steering wheel. I guess Ford updated their production line. The brochures/website don't mention anything about this feature as far as I know.
#35 of 55 Re: 2008 Model Fixes a Lot of These Issues - but not others! [lv031170] by baysailor Feb 08, 2008 (9:58 pm)
Replying to: lv031170 (Mar 14, 2007 8:27 pm) I had a 2001 Tribute that my daughter now drives, and one of things that irritated me with it was that you had to take the bloody head rests off the back seats before you could get them to fold flat. When I bought my 08 MMH last mouth, image what had not changed! It looks like in 7 years, and at least two interior design changes, the seat fold-down routine, as goofy and inconvenient at it is, has not changed a bit - just an update in the material.    What an inconvenience for a nice little truck, that should be more capable hauling things home from the hardware store.   (grumbling), JRG
#36 of 55 Cancel the Cruise Control! by stevedebi May 06, 2008 (11:36 am)
A button on the steering wheel that provides a "cancel" function for the CC. Unbelievable that they didn't put that in there - they expect one to tap the brakes to disengage the cruise, or to turn it off, which clears the pre-set speed!   Really, that is a pretty poor design. My 2006 Freestyle had a cancel CC button on the steering wheel. Replies to this message: babette111 (Jun 25, 2008 12:03 pm) stevedebi (Jun 25, 2008 1:48 pm)
#37 of 55 Move the infomation center controls by stevedebi May 06, 2008 (11:39 am)
My 2006 Freestyle had an information center similar to the FEH, but the controls were on the steering wheel. The location of those controls way to the left and low down makes it hard (or unsafe) to use them while driving. Since the information display includes cumulative and instant MPG, it would be good to have those control where they can be reached!
#38 of 55 FEH 2009 Changes by stevedebi Apr 24, 2008 (2:10 pm)
Found this on "another car site"   Ford Previews Next-Generation Hybrids   14 February 2008   by Jack Rosebro   Speaking at the 2008 SAE Hybrid Vehicle Technology Symposium in San Diego yesterday, Sherif Markaby, Global Core Engineer for hybrids at Ford Motor Company, provided some technical details of the coming 2009 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, due at the end of the year, as well as of the 2009 Escape and Mariner hybrids, which are scheduled to be released in a few months.   All four hybrids will share a new powertrain that combines a 2.5L inline four-cylinder engine with a series-parallel transaxle. While the basic layout and packaging of the powertrain and related components remains for the most part unchanged from the 2005-2008 Escape component architecture, many of those components have been redesigned for improved efficiency.   Markaby also noted that Ford has sold 70,000 Escape hybrids to date, and that some units have reached 200,000 miles in service with no service problems.   The next-generation hybrid system applied in the Fusion, for example, will provide a more than 60% improvement in city cycle fuel economy over a non-hybrid I4 engine, Markaby said, and a more than 80% improvement over a V6 on the city cycle.   Variable-Voltage Converter (VVC). The new powertrain’s inverter assembly utilizes a DC-DC buck-boost converter, which Ford refers to as a Variable-Voltage Converter, to step up the voltage potential of current from the battery pack before it is synthesized into a three-phase AC waveform to power the transaxle’s two electric motor-generators. Every model-year 2004 and up Toyota/Lexus hybrids utilizes a buck-boost converter; however, this is the first time that the architecture has been employed in a mass-produced passenger hybrid vehicle built by another manufacturer.   Stepping up voltage allows the powertrain to produce a given output using less current, which reduces resistance losses and increases efficiency. It also allows the manufacturer to use a smaller, lighter battery: the 275V, 5.5Ah, 27 kW peak power NiMH battery pack used in the new Fusion/Milan hybrids features improved cell chemistry, and is more compact, for example, than the 2005-2008 Escape hybrid’s 330V battery pack. One of the most important attributes of VVC, according to Markaby, is “reducing the cost of the battery.”   Previous Escape and Mariner hybrids used a stand-alone air conditioning loop to cool the battery pack during peak operating temperatures: the new powertrain uses only a forced-air ventilation system.   High-Efficiency Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). The 2.5L iVCT I-4 engine gets variable valve timing on the intake side (Intake Variable Cam Timing, iVCT), as well as a wide-band lambda sensor in place of a conventional oxygen sensor. The compression ratio in the engine is 12.3:1.   Idle-stop and start events are much quicker, and enable greater efficiency with as many as two times the starts and stops in a given driving cycle as the previous system. The quicker engine shut-downs and pre-positioning (for the next start) also reduces O2 build-up in the engine’s catalyst. Decel Fuel Shut-Off (DFSO) mode and electric-only mode have also been expanded.   High-Efficiency DC-DC Converter. The conventional DC-DC converter, which steps down system voltage to run the vehicle’s 12V accessory bus and charge the auxiliary 12V battery, has been redesigned to operate at higher temperatures. The unit remains liquid cooled, and can switch at higher frequencies. The VVC variably boosts traction battery voltage to operate the motor and generator more efficiently.   High-Efficiency Transaxle. The maximum RPM of the new transaxle’s permanent-magnet synchronous motor-generators has been increased, and a new low-drag transaxle fluid has been formulated. The higher available voltages from the variable-voltage converter allow greater torque at higher speeds. Typically, such voltages also enable a more efficient recuperation of kinetic energy via regenerative braking.   Update on the SCE PHEVs. Markaby also made mention of the plug-in hybrid Escapes that Ford is delivering to Southern California Edison (SCE) for V2G research. The PHEV Escapes use a 10kWh Li-ion battery pack, and are getting as much as 120 MPG in testing. The PHEV powertrain operates in three distinct modes: electric drive (ED) mode, blended mode (a combination of engine operation and charge-depleting electric drive), and conventional hybrid mode.

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