I think after the SONY debacle, you'll find that car manufacturers are gonig to be VERY conservative about using LiIon batteries in a vehicle. They don't like to take risks, and the risk of a recall for battery fires is probably a large negative in their minds.

Yes I know LiIon batteries are very safe for the most part. I'm developing a handheld instrument...batteries are very important to my job. However, SONY is supposed to be one of the BEST makers of the tech... and they've had failures. It doesn't take much imagination to visualize someone sueing you after a battery goes up in the back of a car.

NiMH batteries have a better record in that regard.

 

“With Mariner’s new braking system, stopping distances are equivalent to the previous model,” said Tom Skwirsk, Mariner Brake System Supervisor.

Sorry, but I found that comment somewhat humorous. I mean, that he felt he needed to say that.

 

From:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/10/06/...eal/index.html

Okay... I'm thinking they got their story wrong.... Both the engine and the motor are smaller than the current model. As I recall the current models are 2.3L and 90kW electric motors.

 

I guess you don't ski and never had to carry a few sheets of plywood! While I should be less lazy and get them off the roof when not needed, I think any SUV should have them. I only wish the rails went all the way to the front so they would support my kayak better.

Cheers,

rcomeau

 

I am actually an avid skier although I missed last winter thanks to a broken tibia. I usually go with one other guy so down go the seats, skis, poles, boots, clothes all fit nicely in the back and off we go to NH, ME, VT or wherever the snow is.

As for construction material, I keep an F250 on the road just for stuff like that. When I need material, it is a lot more than the roofracks would safely hold anyway.

The roofracks are useless to me - I never said they were useless to everyone. That's why I offered them to anyone who COULD use them, for free.

 

According to detroit news, the '08 Mariner and MMH will be available in March. I read another article, not sure where, that stated that both the '08 Escape and '08 Mariner will be available by the end of the 1st quarter.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...610060343/1148

 

LiIon batteries also do not have the lifespan that NiMH does. LiIons would likely need to be replaced after 3 years, as opposed to the 10 years that manufacturers are guaranteeing the current batteries.

 

From the Ford media site:

Mariner Hybrid comes with a 2.3-liter DOHC 16-valve Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine and a permanent magnet AC synchronous motor. The gasoline engine produces 133 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 124 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,250 rpm. The electric motor produces 70 kw @ 5,000 rpm and 330V maximum voltage. The net result is 155 horsepower with acceleration performance comparable to a 200 horsepower V-6 engine. and a boost in city-driving fuel economy of nearly 75 percent. A smooth-shifting, electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is the only available transmission on the hybrid model.

http://media.ford.com/article_displa...ticle_id=24511

It does appear that the electric motor is smaller as I also recall something about 90 kW, but I don't have anything concrete in front of me.

 

I have the 2006 Escape and Mariner Hybrid Brochures in front of me...

They both list the engine/motor specs as:
2.3L I4 engine - 133HP @ 6000 RPM - 124 lb/ft @4250 RPM
Electric Motor - 94 HP @ 5000 RPM
Net - 155 HP

On the Ford website they list the 2007 specs as:
2.3L Engine - Horsepower 133 @ 6000 rpm
Torque - 124 lb-ft @ 4,250 rpm
Electric motor - 94 hp (70 kW) @ 5,000 rpm

Seems like they might be the same afterall....if that is so it would seem that a "software" update might offer some performance gains to the 2005-2007 Hybrid owners.

 

Looks like I remembered the 94hp as 90kW or something... the motors are the same size but the article does seem to have the engine size entirely wrong.