Ev Drive Mode - Lexus RX 450h Owner's Manual

250 4-2. Driving procedures

EV drive mode

In EV drive mode, electric power is
supplied by the hybrid battery
(traction battery), and only the
electric motor (traction motor) is
used to drive the vehicle.
This mode allows you to drive in res-
idential areas early in the morning
and late at night, or in indoor park-
ing lots, etc., without concern for
noises and gas emissions.
Operating instructions
Turns EV drive mode on/off
When EV drive mode is turned on, the EV
drive mode indicator will come on. Press-
ing the switch when in EV drive mode will
return the vehicle to normal driving (using
the gasoline engine and electric motor
[traction motor]).
Situations in which EV drive mode can-
■
not be turned on
It may not be possible to turn EV drive
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.153)
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 gaso-
line 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, the EV
drive mode indicator will go off after flash-
ing, and a message is displayed on the
multi-information display.
The hybrid battery (traction battery)
●
becomes low.
The remaining battery level indicated in
the "Energy Monitor" display is low.
(P.153)
Vehicle speed is high.
●
The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly
●