By Fred Delkin

Portland’s national reputation as an environmentally-conscious community earned its selection as one of eight U.S. cities to stage a press introduction of Ford Motor’s new Escape Hybrid SUV.  We attended the local event the final week in July, with a Ford spokesperson lauding PDX for its "green image and sustainability leadership." We find it high time that a U.S. automaker has recognized fuel efficiency as a sales incentive. The homegrown car producers just finished a disastrous sales record in July, while Japan’s Toyota and Honda led the American market with their design awareness of cutting back on fuel consumption.

Ford tested the Escape Hybrid with 2005 taxi fleet testing in Manhattan and San Francisco. Cab drivers claimed up to $6,000 gas savings in a year’s driving, with up to 125,000 odometer miles on a vehicle, confirming this design’s suitability for urban stop-and-go operation. Ford states that this hybrid meets clean air targets for urban fleet use and states that use of electric propulsion provides some 75% better fuel economy in urban use than Ford’s conventional V-6 Escape.

The Escape is a full hybrid, switching automatically between pure electric power, pure gasoline propulsion or a combination. The Escape has a 133 horsepower internal combustion engine plus a 330-volt battery. A dash screen shows displays for each of four modes...idle, full electric, full gasoline and regenerative braking (wheels automatically convert braking energy to electricity which is stored in the car’s battery).

Ford offers Escape Hybrid buyers an 8-year, 100,000 warranty on hybrid components.  Purchasors also enjoy tax incentives from federal, state and local governments in 35 states.  Oregon supplements federal tax credit with a residential tax credit for a total purchase savings of $3,450-$4,100. Oregon, West Virginia, Colorado and Louisiana are tax incentive leaders in rewards for hybrid purchasors. 

Kermit endorses Escape

The Escape was first touted to the American public by Kermit the Frog, spokesperson in a TV spot first aired during the Super Bowl. However, Kermit’s endorsement was not technically clear with the statement "it’s not easy being green", followed by "it must be easy being green after all" when he discovers a green leaf hybrid badge on the vehicle.

Ford is also working on hydrogen-powered vehicles that utilize fuel cells, but commercial viability is not yet here. The high cost of gasoline has been a European concern at least two decades before Americans embraced the subject. Our recent overseas visits have revealed an increasing European buyer preference for small compact hybrid designs. Daimler Benz of Mercedes fame is planning an introduction to America this fall of their Smart Car.

Those now considering a purchase of the Escape Hybrid are getting Ford dealer instructions on maximizing fuel economy, guidelines that can effectively apply to operation of any vehicle. 

Eight driver practices being preached include: (1) Slow Down...cutting back 10 mph can result in 20% fuel economy, (2) Minimize A/C...once cabin is cool, switch to recirculating air since A/C usage can increase fuel consumption up to 40%, (3) Avoid Aggressive Driving,,,quick accelerations and decelerations reduce fueld economy and apply brakes gradually, (4) Drive at Constant Speed...smoother changes on accelator pedal avoid using more power than needed, (5) Avoid Excess Weight...fuel economy is reduced up to one mile per gallon for every 300 pounds, (6) Keep Tires Properly Inflated...accurate tire pressure and wheel alignment decreases drag, (7) Avoid Excessive Idling/Combine Errands...while you don’t need to warm your engine before usingf, driving to your further destination first will warm th e engine more quickly, (8) Watch Accessories...adding bug deflectors, roll bars, window flags, roof racks add drag, affect fuel economy.

Henry Ford introduced American motorists to the inexpensive, mass-produced automobile. Thus there is something fitting about his company’s belated arrival on the fuel economy scene.

© 2006 Oregon Magazine