2021-2024 Ford Escape Hybrid & Plug-In Hybrid Engine Explained

[@jimpeterson8884]

I purchased a new 2021 Ford Escape PHEV (plug-in Hybrid) in Oct. of 2021. It has 14000 miles on it. I now stalls in the middle of traffic while in EV mode. It's happened 3 times. Once while my wife was driving in the middle of an intersection (blocking traffic, horns honking, etc.). There is a recall for this exact failure on the same year, model, and engine as my vehicle, but they say I don't qualify. The recall code is 21S48. I believe it’s a high cost fix for them, so they're not issuing the recall as they should (e.g. have these vehicles proactively called in for testing and diagnosis before the failure happens). Anyway, I have to wait 3 weeks for a dealership mechanic to even look at it and I have a long drive I must make in less than a week. Needless to say I'm very disappointed in Ford’s quality and support. I'm an electrical engineer (for 35 years), I design high-reliability products and I'm very disappointed in the quality of Ford engineering that missed this breakdown in safe operation. Maybe they're not ready for EV yet. Maybe they need to invest in Hi-Rel design training for their engineers. All I know is I spent $45,000 for a malfunctioning and dangerous Ford vehicle. I’ve only owned it for 18 months, it only has 14,000 miles on it and it feels like a lemon. I should have purchased the Toyota RAV4 Plugin Hybrid! Sorry for the ranting, but I feel indignant and frustrated by this.

[@vivianorios2637]

I'm proud owner of a Ford Fusion Energy of 200000 miles , sorry for your miss happs

[@nikolaysaint8756]

Fusion have other transmission than escape, on fusion HF35​@@vivianorios2637

[@mikeshomin8144]

I put 280000 on a 2013 fore cmax energi. Worked great. Still got 45mpg all day long without even trying. Sold it for $3500 in 2019

[@tomsnyder6955]

I like the Ford Escape Hybrid 👍

[@gondorian1006]

There is a fill plug for the transaxle on the driver's side near the cv axle. It is user serviceable. The service interval is 150,000 miles or every 30,000 miles for severe service.

[@hoghead101]

We just purchased a 2024 Ford Escape PHEV and the dealer told us that we could use either a 120v or 240v charger. However, the vehicle comes with a standard 120v plug-in and we've been unable to find any information as to whether and how to charge via 240v. Is there a way to switch to 240v, and if so, does it require the purchase of a new plug-in cable?

[@paulbush190]

Do you have a video on how to change the oil on a 2024 ford escape hybrid?

[@TDTVGarage]

Would be identical process to our Maverick Hybrid Oil Change video.

[@PlanetLinuxChannel]

Two questions about the 12V battery. Does that mean I’d jump start it from the rear of the car? (The terminals are still on the battery?) Also the Canadian spec of this car includes a spare tire there. I’d have to check where they put the 12V battery or if it’s under the tire.

[@adriangorski4058]

Hi What is the oil name for the gearbox?

[@jlh2119]

Does the 2022 hybrid (not the plug-in) have a service charging port for the two battery systems? I live in a colder winter climate area and my daily trips are very short (1-3 miles) so there is not much battery charging going on. Without any distance driving the vehicle constantly sends me messages about turning systems off to preserve battery life (the passenger door won't touch lock / unlock for example)... It would be nice to have a way (aftermarket solution) to charge both battery systems over night just to keep them topped off.

[@ecooled93]

Try walking. It'd really be good for your health if you walk such short distance

[@williamcondon9994]

The green fluid is different!

[@howard1431]

Great video, but would enjoy understanding more about the high voltage battery or is it batteries? That is, is there a single 14.4 KW lithium battery or a separate small one for the hybrid system when the 14.4 KW battery is depleted? And I was curious about the built in charger, I have seen references to two different sizes of Chargers (3.3 and 4.7). Anyone have more information?

[@jlh2119]

Great video! I’ve seen online forums commenting on the hybrid and phev as having an abnormally loud engine when in hybrid mode. Does the escape have a manufactured / piped in engine growl or noise? I have noticed in my Escape hybrids, sport mode, the engine sound “rev up and shift” where the growl cuts out briefly (to quiet) and then begin to growl again into the “next gear” which is all theater for the electronically controlled cvt

[@jayhawk7043]

My Escape does not. If I stay in town and drive 40 mph and under, I can get around 47 mpg. But on the hwy it drops to around 34

[@PlanetLinuxChannel]

I think the “shifts” are legit. I think Ford (and Toyota which uses a similar transmission) has designed the eCVT to adjust the gears like normal upshifts because it feels much more natural and satisfying than the traditional CVT’s continuous boat motor sort of “bluurrrrh” that never “shifts” gears. On our 2024 Escape PHEV, I don’t believe the engine noise is manufactured, but it does sound surprisingly growly from the inside (I haven’t really listened from the outside to see if it’s as audible). Whilst I do believe it’s the actual engine sound (as in, not fake), I suppose it’s possible they’ve designed it to be more audible inside, but idk either way.

[@MishkyGammy]

Does anyone know the location of the BCM in the PHEV?

[@brettL1029]

Did you remove the cover from the top of the engine for this video or is that the way they come?

[@TDTVGarage]

This one did not have an engine cover.

[@gondorian1006]

Ford stopped including the engine cover on the hybrids after 2020 model year

[@alechamid235]

Hi, so which has a better engine and transmission, this or the RAV4 hybrid Prime?

[@wallyballou7417]

The Rav4 is a more modern design. The transmissions are largely similar (Ford licenses the design from Toyota as part of a patent-sharing agreement). But the Toyota's engine is more advanced with both port and direct injection. The Toyota system output is 302 HP vs 200 for the Ford. And the Rav4 Prime is available with AWD while the Ford is not. And the AWD on the Toyota uses a third motor for the rear wheels instead of a driveshaft and differential connected to the engine. In the Ford's favor is the engine design - it's a modified Mazda L and known for being extremely reliable (probably because it's output is relatively low).

[@christianness8983]

Ford has a better design since the engine is just as solid and it doesn't actually have a transmission.

[@phizzphun]

When the PHEV is running in all electric mode, then the gasoline engine shouldn't be running. Does that extend the time interval between oil changes? Or should oil changes not be done based on mileage, but on time intervals?

[@TDTVGarage]

On hybrids in general the gasoline engine is only running about 50% of the time your are driving. That is why they can go more miles between oil changes.

[@phizzphun]

@@TDTVGarage What if on the PHEV (plug in version) you are running on all electric for about 90% of the time for just local commutes? From what I can tell the gasoline engine is not running other than occasionally to burn off gas to keep it from going stale. Then should oil changes be based on gasoline mileage or time intervals? Tricky to know!!

[@TDTVGarage]

Ultimately it's why it's ok to trust the oil change monitor in the instrument cluster to tell you when it's time.

[@PlanetLinuxChannel]

The Oil Life monitor on the plug-in will factor in how much the engine is used, but even if you almost never use the engine and the oil life is still pretty high, it will recommend an oil change one year after the previous one (or at least since the monitor was reset).

[@Dronesey]

Great informative video! Is there a way to turn a hybrid into a plug-in hybrid for these Ford escapes?

[@TDTVGarage]

It would be easier to sell the hybrid and buy a plug-in

[@Dronesey]

@@TDTVGarage I bet!

[@hoovdiddie]

i want one hook it up ford!!!!

[@gordonderouyan9980]

Are Ford shops expected to MAKE the PHEV engine start prior to performing an oil change? Or do they just drop the cold oil.

[@TDTVGarage]

One presumes the vehicle was driven to the dealership and the engine is likely already warm to some degree. The fact remains however that temperature of the oil or engine is entirely irrelevant to an oil change.

[@gordonderouyan9980]

@@TDTVGarage let's assume the vehicle has been driven as electric only for a month. Then driven as electric to the shop. Is it still not relevant? Just curious.

[@TDTVGarage]

Temperature of engine and/or oil for changing oil is not a "thing".

[@nissetuta]

I thought it was 225 hp for the phev!?

[@PlanetLinuxChannel]

Yeah, I thought 220…

[@car6737]

Where is the pedestrian alert speaker ? It is far too loud when reversing.

[@PlanetLinuxChannel]

I think that it can be disconnected from under the dash on the driver’s side (I don’t remember exactly where, and this was on an F-150, but it’s the same sound / system).

[@michaelabbott8431]

does the battery have its own air filter ? if not.. what needs to be done for the battery as far as maintenance ?

[@TDTVGarage]

No. The battery does not have an air filter. There is no routine maintenance required for the battery.

[@TDTVGarage]

Ford does not use a Toyota hybrid system. Ford designed and builds their own hybrid powertrains, though it uses the same patent that Toyota uses for "how it works". The battery for both the Ford Escape HEV and PHEV is liquid cooled and mounted under the vehicle where Toyota typically uses an air cooled unit inside the passenger compartment. To that end, the owners manual of the Ford likely tells of a date that coolant should be changed out similar to that of the engine in terms of maintenance.

[@michaelabbott8431]

@@TDTVGarage oh ok the second coolant reservoir under the hood . Thank you sir

[@jeffwest7419]

I own a 2022 escape phev, overall it’s pretty good, however the engine is a little to loud and annoying when in hybrid mode. Don’t think it’s piped In noise, if it is it’s the dumbest thing ford could’ve done because it’s not a good noise, it’s very unrefined and raucous

[@rmc489]

Looks like a copy of the Toyota hybrid drive train.

[@TDTVGarage]

Same design used under patent

[@FreePalestineZak1120]

Where is the transmission fluid?

[@ourv9603]

SO in other words this car has 2 complete powertrains. Thats dumb. The propulsion should be electric only. The gas engine should be bolted to a generator to charge the battery pack. DONE. No CVT. No driveshafts. No transfer case. No mech diffs only 2 e axle diffs. I dunno seems WAY more complicated than it needs to be. I may just wait for the BEV. !

[@cheapgeek62]

Without driveshafts your electric car could not move unless it was on a slope. It's an oft repeated criticism of hybrids that they have redundant propulsion. However, a BEV is also dumb. Most of the capacity of the battery is never used. A hybrid is a better use of lithium. One BEV takes 5 Hybrids worth of lithium. A hybrid uses 3/5th the fuel of an ICE car. Saving 2/5ths of the fuel. 2/5ths x 5 = 10/5ths = 2. So, for the same amount of lithium, hybrids save twice the gas of a BEV. That's not dumb. I'm driving cross country this weekend with a hybrid. Last year we got over 42 MPG. We filled up once on the way there and once on the way back. That's not dumb. Around town I get around 50 MPG. Also not dumb. This trip is about 600 miles each way. On my other trip between Grand Island, NE to O'neill, NE and Arlington, SD where do you propose I charge up my car?