Just The Facts

Many other posters have already replied. All I want to say is the your
brother-in-laws does not know a thing about the Prius. You should do
your own research instead of believing all those lies. Since he is a
GM mechanic, he may have a hidden agenda.

Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> wrote:
> Earle Jones <earle.jones@> wrote:
>
>> As you probably don't know, Ford licenses its hybrid drive for the
>> Escape from Toyota.
>
> Well, actually, Ford developed its technology independently from Toyota,
> but some of that stuff it developed infringes on Toyota's patents, so to
> protect itself from legal problems, it licensed the patent.

I've looked at the Ford hybrid literature. It shares the Toyota
integrated CVT/generators, and basic design of a akinson cycle engine +
small NiMH batt pack + integrated CVT/motor/generator. They've run the
same things electrically as the Prius, and used the same techniques.

There's no evidence that I've seen that Ford was working on a hybrid
using this technology prior to the Prius introduction in 1999. It might
have been in some secret lab.

I don't see any major differences, and I don't think the Escape is any
better than the Toyota effort (the Lexus mini-SUV).

I don't doubt the clam that they (Ford) filed thousands of patents on
their new model, but filing for and granting patents are two different
things.

My opinion (read Guess) is that Ford bought the rights to the technology
after Toyota proved it viable and "reinvented" a large portion of it so
they would not be accused of just reselling Japaneses technology.

I am quite likely wrong.

Daniel