Escape hybrid: Much ado about advertising?
Just a PR gimmick?Why, after years, is there always a shortage of Ford Escape hybrids? This is question I approached last week, but after seeing countless Escape hybrid commercials the last few days, I have to touch upon this subject again.
Sam, over at Autobloggreen, speculates that its more cost effective for Ford to sell regular Escapes at the expense of hybrid Escapes, and I'm sure he's right, except when it comes to Ford's reputation.
Ford uses the Escape hybrid, an excellent vehicle, as its green poster child. And for how many Escape hybrid commercials Ford has used over the years, you'd think they were absolutely committed to the Escape hybrid and green issues. Refusing to increase production, despite increased demand, however, feels far too much like greenwashing. Stop talking and start doing: Build more Escape hybrids.
Labels: Ford Escape hybrid
posted by Dahcredyns at
6:45 AM
5 Comments:
I guess it really isn't a hybrid, hybrid, huh?
I have owned a 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD since November 2007.
Since 1996 my wife and I have purchased and driven four new Saturns-all with the small four cylinder engines. Their gas mileage was about 22-24 mpg around town and maybe 31 mpg on the highway driving with gas mileage in mind. My wife commutes 72 miles round trip five days a week to work through congested city traffic. The Mercury is getting 36-38 mpg in these conditions with a conscious effort to conserve fuel. We went on a road trip in April to Branson, MO and got 34.8 mpg gallons on the drive home,all highway miles through the hills (NOT using cruise control) 449 total miles driven- 12.9 gallons used. This did take effort to drive 5 miles below posted speed limits that were above 60 MPH. Below that we drive the posted speed limits allowing the vehicle to slow down on steep hill climbs and not allowing the RPM to go over 3000. This car is a true hybrid and if you put 20,000 miles a year on a vehicle like we do - at $ 4.00 per gallon of gas - it does make sense.
From what I have heard from Ford, most of the FEH's go to the West and East Cost so here in Oklahoma we see very few being sold. Another thing I heard was that the 330 Volt NiMH batteries are a bottle neck for production.
I also find that the Ford Dealers here in OKC don't know much about the FEH. Things like the Federal and Oklahoma Hybrid Tax Credit incentive which I was able to tie into ($4500 total). They are also a little to quick to acknowledge the current price to replace the battery pack when that comes due ($6300). But Ford warranties all the hybrid components for 8 years/100K miles.
Luv my FEH. Now that I have completely broken in the battery (10,000 miles) and the outside temperatures are 80+ I am seeing 38 mpg.
just so it's clear, i think the ford escape hybrid is a great hybrid. i'm just questioning ford's commitment to the vehicle, and its PR use.
still, even on the west coast, bilbo, escape hybrids have been hard, and continue to be, to find. likewise, in regards to the battery shortage, ford dismissed this 'shortage' rumor altogether. so, it seems that Ford doesn't see the Escape hybrid as being very cost-effective.
so what is ford's hybrid future? do they really have a mass-produceable hybrid future?
they are hard to find and hard to get in the PA-OHIO area. the factory took 6 months to get me mine after an order placed 12/2007.
that said, i am fully satisfied with the Mariner Hybrid. the 4WD model i have is posting at the upper end of the scale they said i would see (29-30 mpg). since i only lease this machine, i don't have to worry about the longer term maintenance issues which i think might be a problem and full of unexpected costs.
i also think that the domestic auto companies have only themselves to blame for their poor sales. they have known that gasoline supplies cause them sales issues ever since the 1970's and still haven't adopted a improved mileage production stance to keep up with world demand for crude.
the mileage i got in my 1970 Chevy truck was pretty close to the mileage in my last 2004 Ford truck.
And GM, for example, has been fooling with gas fired turbines since 1954 and electric auto designs since they showed the first modern electric car in 1996, has been sitting on its talents.
the other side of this equation is that we the people have to demand that our government start a long term partnership with the major auto firms to promote efficiency, domestic fuel or energy sources, and jobs producing these vehicles HERE.
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