About The Rc300H - Lexus RC300h Manual

About the RC300h

The RC300h 2-door coupe joins the hybrid model for Lexus Hybrid Drive means that
the vehicle contains a gasoline engine and electric motor for power.
The two hybrid power sources are stored on board the vehicle:
1. Gasoline stored in the fuel tank for the gasoline engine.
2. Electricity stored in a high voltage Hybrid Vehicle (HV) battery pack for the
electric motor.
The result of combining these two power sources is improved fuel economy and
reduced emissions. The gasoline engine also powers an electric generator to recharge
the battery pack; unlike a pure all electric vehicle, the RC300h never needs to be
recharged from an external electric power source.
Depending on the driving conditions one or both sources are used to power the vehicle.
The following illustration demonstrates how the RC300h operates in various driving
modes.
 During light acceleration at low speeds, the vehicle is powered by the electric motor.
The gasoline engine is shut off.
 During normal driving, the vehicle is powered mainly by the gasoline engine. The
gasoline engine also powers the generator to recharge the battery pack and to drive
the motor.
 During full acceleration, such as climbing a hill, both the gasoline engine and the
electric motor power the vehicle.
 During deceleration, such as when braking, the vehicle regenerates the kinetic
energy from the rear wheels to produce electricity that recharges the battery pack.
 While the vehicle is stopped, the gasoline engine and electric motor are off, however
the vehicle remains on and operational.


Starting
Electricity Electricity and gasoline

Normal Driving
Acceleration
Electricity and gasoline
(additional electricity
extracted from batteries)

Deceleration
Charging batteries
1

Stopping
Engine automatically
stopped