First developed as a research project, the Ford plug-in electric vehicle (PHEV) was first field tested in six states. Over ten years later, the 2025 Ford Escape lineup has six models, including the Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) model. Now in its fourth generation of production, the PHEV is back and runs a parallel gas-electric engine in a powerful hybrid system with excellent combined fuel economy ratings of 40 MPG.