Geek Habitat

… You can go on vacation and pay more attention to whether you see any hybrids on the roadways rather than whether there are any rest stops ahead.

… You can spot a parking lot with two white Ford Escapes from a mile away and, while travelling 50 mph past said lot, immediately identify them as hybrids and blurt out, “Those are HYBRIDS! We have to go back and check them out!”

Yes, we went back. Yes, we got out and took photos. Yes, I know I am a geek. The parking lot was for a City of Coppell (Dallas, Texas, suburb) building, and both hybrids were labelled as being used by their “Water Billing” department. Makes sense — a lot of short trips and low speed to read the water meters. The City of Coppell has five Ford Escape Hybrids. Both of the ones we saw looked brand new, so either they take really good care of their fleet vehicles or they’ve added additional 2006 or 2007’s to their fleet. (I forgot to look…)

These are the only Ford Escape Hybrids I have seen outside of a dealership showroom, and only the second and third Escape Hybrids I have seen in person, not including my own.

Dallas sightings for hybrids were abysmal, but for the most part we were on the highway — any local hybrid drivers probably do what I do, and avoid the highway when travelling around their local area. We did see one Prius en route, and as soon as we hit the outlying Austin area we were passed by a Toyota Highlander Hybrid and a Toyota Prius.

We didn’t take our hybrid to Dallas during this trip, by the way. She got to stay home safe in the garage while we carpooled with Justin’s parents.

More You know you’re a hybrid owner when … answers…