Lexus ES 300h Owner's Manual page 209

208
4-2. Driving procedures
mode on in the following situations. If it can-
not be turned on, a buzzer will sound and a
message will be shown on the multi-infor-
mation display.
● The temperature of the hybrid system is
high.
The vehicle has been left in the sun,
driven on a hill, driven at high speeds, etc.
The temperature of the hybrid system is
●
low.
The vehicle has been left in temperatures
lower than about 0°C (32°F) for a long
period of time etc.
● The gasoline engine is warming up.
● The hybrid battery (traction battery) is
low.
The remaining battery level indicated in
the energy monitor display is low.
(P.145)
Vehicle speed is high.
●
● The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly
or the vehicle is on a hill etc.
The windshield defogger is in use.
●
■ Switching to EV drive mode when the
gasoline engine is cold
If the hybrid system is started while the gas-
oline engine is cold, the gasoline engine will
start automatically after a short period of
time in order to warm up. In this case, you
will become unable to switch to EV drive
mode. After the hybrid system has started
and the "READY" indicator has illuminated,
press the EV drive mode switch before the
gasoline engine starts to switch to EV drive
mode.
■ Automatic cancelation of EV drive
mode
When driving in EV drive mode, the gaso-
line engine may automatically restart in the
following situations. When EV drive mode
is canceled, a buzzer will sound and the EV
drive mode indicator will flash and go off.
● The hybrid battery (traction battery)
becomes low.
The remaining battery level indicated in
the energy monitor display is low.
(P.145)
Vehicle speed is high.
●
● The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly
or the vehicle is on a hill etc.
When it is possible to inform the driver of
automatic cancelation in advance, a prior
notice screen will appear on the multi-infor-
mation display.
■ Possible driving distance when driving in
EV drive mode
EV drive mode's possible driving distance
ranges from a few hundred meters to
approximately 1 km (0.6 mile). However,
depending on vehicle conditions, there are
situations when EV drive mode cannot be
used.
(The distance that is possible depends on
the hybrid battery [traction battery] level
and driving conditions.)
Fuel economy
■
The hybrid system is designed to achieve
the best possible fuel economy during nor-
mal driving (using the gasoline engine and
electric motor [traction motor]). Driving in
EV drive mode more than necessary may
lower fuel economy.
If "EV Mode Unavailable" is shown on
■
the multi-information display
The EV drive mode is not available. The rea-
son the EV drive mode is not available (the
vehicle is idling, battery charge is low, vehi-
cle speed is higher than the EV drive mode
operating speed range or accelerator pedal
is depressed too much) may be displayed.
Use the EV drive mode when it becomes
available.
If "EV Mode Deactivated" is shown on
■
the multi-information display
The EV drive mode has been automatically
canceled. The reason the EV drive mode is