This is the link for this review: http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...n-hybrid_N.htm

The article claims the Escape PHEV will go 30 miles on pure electric (up to 40 mph) while the Toyota Prius PHEV will go only 7 miles! Reporter based his news on a 23 mile test drive he did in the Washington DC surburan area.

Battery difference PHEV= 10-kilowatt-hour battery vs. 2-kilowatt- for the normal hybrid.

 

Not exactly....

The ( regular ) FEH has a 2 kWh battery, but you normally only get to use 40% to 60% SOC, so it is really a 0.4 kWh battery.

The PHEV from Hybrid-Plus for example contain a 12 kWh battery, and you get to use 10% to 95% SOC ( or more ) so it is really a 10 kWh battery.

-John

 

Figuring in the SOC does reduce the "total" kWh available. Thanks for pointing this out. Now, if I remember correctly, Mark Smith previously commented that the 08 Hybrid's SOC is now 35-65%. This can help explain the mileage improvement with that year's edition.

Oops! I forgot to ask if anyone thinks FORD is sticking with the 35-65% SOC limitations with the PHEV Escape?

 

To get that kind of mileage, and that many usable kWh... they must do something like 10% to 90%. Maybe 10% to 100%. Not sure.

Remember... lithium batteries perform differently. So 10% to 90% every day is not necessarily bad for them.

10% to 90% would shorten the life of NiMH in our cars...

 

BillyK. My 08 FEH AWD adheres to the 40%-60% range, same as previous years. If SoC is the only limiting factor, I can watch the ICE come back on from EV mode right at 40% SoC. On the other end, using Regen to boost the charge above 53.x% from ICE, I have NEVER seen above 60%. I do wish I could experience the extra 5% on each end, especially the lower end.

However, based on other 08 model year differences discussed in various threads, I now think there are at least two, if not three changes Ford incorporated in the 08 model depending on it's 'born on' date .

In that regard, I'm not questioning Mark Smith's statement about the 08 having a 35%-65% Soc range. I can only saw with some sadness that my 08 model is the same as previous years, 40-60%.

 

Most of us wish we could have the 35-65% SOC range. That is only 30% of the total. I'm assuming this "could" be achieved with a Ford Software download but as someone said ealier, they would rather sell you a new vehicle.

 

Have you driven yours when the outside temp was above 70'F? This SOC difference was one of the first things I noticed when I test drove the '08 MMH. The other thing was the more agressive use of the battery in the hybrid mode. One thing though this was a very new '08 MMH and had not gone through the battery conditioning.

 

It's a case of catch 22.

More range = shorter lifespan, so you will need a new car ( or battery ) sooner!

Let's just say for simplicity sake, 40% to 60% = a 15 year, 220,000 mile useful battery.

Let's say 35% to 65% gives more MPG but = a 10 year 150,000 mile useful battery.

Who wants which? Sounds like personal preference to me.
There's no real advantage to one over the other as I see it.
Both batteries should have about the same utility. -John