The Ford Escape line is being shuttered after 2026, but not without a fight. And it plans to fight dirty. In fact, the plug-in hybrid variant will be banned in six states next year because it won’t pass emissions tests. Yup, the clean-touting Escape PHEV isn’t so clean after all.
Starting in 2026, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington will adopt a new emissions standard from California CARB. The Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) program affects light-duty passenger vehicles from model years 2026 through 2035. According to CARB, two things will happen: the availability and sales target of zero-emission vehicles will increase, as will the testing standards on tailpipe pollutants.
And the Escape can’t hide its dirty drawers.
How strict are the changes from the original ACC plan to ACC II? When it comes to PHEVs, fewer of them qualify for ZEV credits, and mileage also becomes a factor. The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), a nonprofit research organization, explains:
Although plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) are not zero-emission vehicles, these programs include PHEVs in the calculation of the state’s ZEV credit (ACC) or value (ACC II) percentage requirement.
Under ACC, PHEVs are required to have at least 10 miles of all-electric range under the UDDS test and meet superultra-low-emission (SULEV) engine emission standards or limits of 0.030 grams per mile (g/mile).
To earn a full value, PHEVs from MY 2026 must have a minimum of 70 miles all-electric certification range (roughly 50-mile consumer label range), and 40 miles all-electric certification range on the US06 drive schedule—an aggressive test cycle that indicates that the vehicle can run on electric power under any normal driving conditions.
Simply, a PHEV will only be counted toward the total ZEV sales count if it’s clean and can operate in electric-only mode for at least 70 miles. Even then, PHEVs can only account for 20% of the ZEV population, down from 55% in 2018. Granted, consumers have more choices today in terms of ZEVs.
As for the Escape, although its emissions could very well be within the particulate matter limits, it doesn’t travel far enough. The EPA lists the Escape PHEV’s EV-only range at 37 miles — good enough for ACC I, but far below the ACC II requirements.
When contacted, the Ford PR team’s response was:
The 26MY Escape meets emissions requirements in all states except six states that for the 26MY imposed additional emission requirements.
Yeah, that’s not much of a response. A “no comment” would’ve been more PR-y versus this official statement, which comes off as “Meh, we don’t care about compliance or those states.” I don’t know, last I checked, California remains the largest new-car market in the U.S. More than 1.7 million new vehicles were registered in 2024, putting the state ahead of Texas and Florida, which rounded up the top three.
Although the Escape (and sibling Lincoln Corsair) are driving off into the sunset, owners could also be stuck with a vehicle they can’t register. For example, if a 2026 model is bought in 2027, keep in mind that, along with the District of Columbia, more states are slated to follow suit on ACC II in 2027. They include Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Rhode Island. Just be mindful if you find a sweet deal on an Escape/Corsair PHEV in one state but plan to register it in another.
Some states might have exemptions, though. California has a 1,000-mile limit on non-compliant CARB vehicles, but it only applies to trucks and buses. A mileage limit on the daily driver hybrid also defeats its purpose.
(H/T to Motor1 for the lead.)
Top graphic credit: Ford
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