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About the HIGHLANDER Hybrid
The HIGHLANDER Hybrid continues into its 3
vehicle. Hybrid Synergy Drive means that the vehicle contains a gasoline engine and two
electric motors 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
motors.
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 HIGHLANDER Hybrid 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 HIGHLANDER Hybrid operates in various
driving modes.
During light acceleration at low speeds, the vehicle is powered by the electric motors.
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
motors.
During full acceleration, such as climbing a hill, both the gasoline engine and the electric
motors power the vehicle.
During deceleration, such as when braking, the vehicle regenerates kinetic energy from
the front wheels and rear wheels to produce electricity that recharges the battery pack.
While the vehicle is stopped, the gasoline engine and electric motors are off, however the
vehicle remains on and operational.
Starting
Electricity
Normal Driving
Electricity and gasoline
Electricity and gasoline
(additional electricity
extracted from batteries)
rd
generation as a gasoline-electric hybrid
Acceleration
Deceleration
Charging batteries
1
Stopping
Engine automatically
stopped
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