The Ford Escape Hybrid is a full hybrid with a no compromise approach to hybridization that minimizes exhaust emissions and maximizes fuel efficiency. There are six major components in the Powertrain that contribute to the Escape Hybrid's efficient operation.

The Escape Hybrid's electric motor is a compact design that operates on power drawn both from the battery pack and from a very intelligent generator motor. Its peak power is 70 kWatts (equivalent to an extra 93 horsepower). When required, the generator motor restarts the gas engine (remember, the gas engine shuts down automatically for stoplights and when coasting). And when the gas engine is running, it helps recharge the battery pack.

In a conventional vehicle when you brake, the energy is lost as heat. During braking in the Escape Hybrid, the electric motor captures this energy that is normally lost and sends it back to the battery pack to be stored for later use.

The Escape Hybrid's gasoline engine is a dual-overhead-cam design with four valves per cylinder for optimum breathing and four-orifice fuel injectors for fine atomization. It also incorporates a special Atkinson cycle for improved efficiency. It works to slightly delay intake valve closing to significantly increase the gasoline engine's energy conversion efficiency. In other words: you get more mileage out of each gallon of gasoline in an Atkinson cycle engine. The four-cylinder engine is a well-proven design with three successful years of service to its credit. In the Escape Hybrid, the Atkinson cycle engine generates 133 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 129 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm. The combined output of both the gas and electric motors is 155 fun-to-drive horsepower.

The sealed nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack in the Escape Hybrid is rated at 330 volts. Its function is to store electrical energy for starting the gasoline engine and for added boosts in acceleration performance. Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries have been used with excellent success for years. And because of regenerative braking and the generator motor it's never necessary (or even possible) to plug the Escape Hybrid into a charger. The Escape Hybrid battery pack will also come with a limited warranty of at least 8 years/100,000 miles. See your local dealer for warranty details.

Seven different microprocessor-based control modules manage the Escape Hybrid's powertrain-related functions. The master device is the VSC built into the Escape's Powertrain Control Module.

The electronically controlled, continuously variable transmission (eCVT) is integral with the generator motor. It harnesses internal combustion and electric power sources to drive the wheels.

(Source: fordvehicles.com)