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2004 Fuel Economy Report, page 3 of 4
by Brian Chee
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What's next: Hybrid SUVs
And while the Civic Hybrid is a landmark vehicle in the application of hybrid technology, it's still a Civic - and regular Civics already perform at a high level of fuel efficiency. What's next is even bigger, and strikes directly at what the market needs: a hybrid SUV. Late this summer, when the Ford Escape hybrid debuts, it will carry with it a promise of 35/45 mpg -- almost 20 miles better than the existing Escape. This is a full hybrid, able to run on either its gasoline engine and/or the electric motor depending on which delivers the most efficient fuel performance, and will be available in front-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations. Acceleration will not be compromised, according to Ford, and cargo capacity will remain the same as the standard Escape.
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The new 2004 Toyota Prius, which has received rave reviews since its introduction last year, achieves 60-mpg in the city and 51-mpg on the highway.
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According to Angela Coletti, Ford spokesperson for the Escape hybrid, the vehicle will deliver V6 acceleration performance. The Escape hybrid is what she terms a "no compromise" vehicle, able to function on-road, off or in a typical towing scenario. Emissions ratings are targeted to be SULEV and PZEV, which translates into virtually zero emissions.
Also on its way is the Lexus 400h, an RX330 with hybrid power, and soon after that the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Both vehicles will use the same technology that drives the Toyota Prius. After that, there is sure be an deluge of hybrid vehicles, as General Motors begins to outfit many of their vehicles with a hybrid system of their own. Look for the Saturn Vue, Chevrolet Malibu, Tahoe and Silverado out as early as 2005, 2006 or 2007.
The price of convenience
So automakers clearly think that we will shortly be looking for a fuel-efficient alternative, which means that gas prices as we know them soon be a distant memory. Based once again on a 15,000-mile annual driving rate, it will cost you $1800 to drive a non-hybrid Escape XLT at $3 per gallon. A hybrid version of the same Escape will cost approximately $1100, a savings of $700 per year. So if Ford sells the hybrid version for $2,000 more than the standard, the math indicates that consumers break even at around the three-year mark, but the reality of driving means that it could be sooner. Mix in the $2,000 tax rebate and the savings are obvious.
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Continued
Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
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Source: ABT
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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