Hybrid Vehicle Reviews

By normal industry standards, it takes an American auto maker about three years to present a new car to the world. It has taken about five years to install a hybrid drivetrain. The result is the Ford Escape SUV. It is long overdue, but it is finally here. Honda and Toyota already lead the pack-no doubt because of a different philosophy that drives their economies.

The technology of hybrid vehicles is complex, but the bottom line is that the Ford Escape is extremely efficient because it takes in less air and fuel: the benefit of having two electric motors. In the city, there is increased fuel efficiency, and on the road, the hybrid is bolstered by extra thrust. The dual motor system also captures energy because one of the motors is connected directly to the wheels. The Escape model can actually be driven on electrical power alone, and this presently makes it the only model, along with the Toyota Prius, to boast this type of technology.

The vehicle is extremely attractive and appealing, and this is another benefit to owning a model. People are very driven by the aesthetics of a vehicle, and it seems to have taken a while for the auto manufacturers to come to grips with this fact. Internally, the difference between the hybrid and gas-powered Escapes are negligible. An oversight is perhaps the fact that Ford did not include a gauge to show how much charge is left on the battery. Give it a little time and they will correct the problem as part of their overall customer service package.

Hybrid technology, though slow, is here to stay. As the manufactures combine the technology, the concerns for the environment, and build hybrids that are aesthetically pleasing, there are sure to be some interesting revelations that will come down the pipeline.