2006 TOYOTA PRIUS Owners Manual

9
FEATURES ON NEW TOYOTA VEHICLE
Toyota hybrid system
Toyota hybrid systemm10
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Toyota hybrid system operating condition 10
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Starting your vehicle 12
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For efficient use of your vehicle 13
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Precautions for use 14
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SECTION 1– 2

10
Toyota hybrid system combines a gaso-
line engine and electric motor power to
improve the fuel economy and minimize
the emissions as well as to provide
better power performance than the ordi-
nary gasolinepowered vehicles.
Depending on the driving condition, the
vehicle runs on the best combination of;
Gasoline engine power
Electric motor power generated by
the gasoline engine
Electric motor power of the hybrid
battery
Furthermore, the energy is efficiently used
in the following ways:
When stopping the vehicle, the gaso-
line engine is automatically stopped.
When applying the brakes or decelerat-
ing, electricity is converted from the
turning force of the wheels and stored
in the hybrid battery. (This is called
regenerative brake.)
Since the battery is charged by the
gasoline engine as needed, it does not
require charging from an outside
source like an electric vehicle. Basic operations are described below. Be-
sides, Toyota hybrid system performs vari-
ous controls depending on the operating
condition: The “Energy Monitor” screen
tells you which power is used currently.
12p059a
Electric
power
in use
When starting or backing up, etc., the
vehicle runs on electric power from hybrid
battery, because the gasoline engine effi-
ciency is low.
Toyota hybrid system Toyota hybrid system
operating condition

11
12p060a
Gasoline power
in use
During normal driving, the vehicle runs
mainly on gasoline power. However, the
electric motor, using electric power gener-
ated by the gasoline engine, can supple-
ment the gasoline engine power.
The vehicle controls the optimum ratio of
the gasoline and electric power to help
use energy more efficiently.
12p061a
Electric and gasoline
power in use
When driving at full throttle, additional
electric power is applied from the hybrid
battery. Vehicle performance improves.
12p062a
Storing electric power
When decreasing speed or applying the
brakes, the turning force of the wheels
makes the electric motor operate as a
generator and additional electricity is
stored in the hybrid battery (regenerative
brake).

12
12p063a
Not in use
When stopping, the gasoline engine auto-
matically shuts off.
12p064a
Charging hybrid battery
When the hybrid battery power is insuffi-
cient, the gasoline engine charges the hy-
brid battery. The system always supplies
electricity at a constant level. Your vehicle is equipped with push but-
ton start system. The hybrid system
will start automatically by pressing the
“POWER” switch briefly with the brake
pedal depressed.
With smart function
1. Carry the key with you.
2. Press the “POWER” switch briefly with the brake pedal depressed.
Without smart function
1. Insert the key.
2. Press the “POWER” switch briefly with the brake pedal depressed.
The “READY” light flashes and stays on.
Two beeps sound after a few seconds,
and the hybrid system will start. (If the
ambient temperature is low such as during
winter, it may take time until the “READY”
light comes on.) You cannot start your
vehicle when the brake pedal is not de-
pressed. (For details, see “How to start
the hybrid system—” on page 348.)
The engine may not start even with the
“READY” light on.
Starting your vehicle

13
Drive your vehicle with a smooth accel-
eration and deceleration.
While driving, energy is recovered
through the regenerative brake as the
vehicle decelerates. However, for more
efficient use, do not accelerate or de-
celerate your vehicle more than neces-
sary.
Avoid abrupt acceleration and decelera-
tion.
The remaining capacity of the hybrid
battery can be confirmed on the energy
monitor screen of the multi−information
display. See “Information” on page 166
for details. Gradual or non −abrupt ac-
celeration or deceleration will more ef-
fectively use the benefits of an electric
motor without having to use gasoline
engine power. When parking, be sure to put the hy-
brid transaxle in “P”. While driving, use
the hybrid transaxle in “D”.
In “N”, the gasoline engine operates
but electricity cannot be generated. The
battery will be discharged requiring un-
necessary engine power to recharge.
The hybrid system automatically re-
charges the hybrid battery when the
remaining battery power is reduced.
However, the charging is not available
if the hybrid transaxle is “N”.
INFORMATION:
The gasoline engine starts and stops
automatically. (It stops during a low
load driving, deceleration or when the
vehicle is stopped.)
If the “READY” light remains on, you
can start your vehicle using the electric
motor even with the gasoline engine
stopped.
The gasoline engine may not stop auto-
matically in the following conditions:

During gasoline engine warmup
 During hybrid battery charging
 During low or high hybrid battery
temperature
For efficient use of your
vehicle

14
The vehicle runs in combination with
the gasoline and electric power. Pay
special attention to the following items.
Be careful of high voltage and high
temperature.
Your vehicle is equipped with the orange
colored cables connected to the hybrid
battery (about 200 V) and to other compo-
nents that are all high voltage.
CAUTION
Do not touch or come in contact with
orange cables or battery terminals.
Electric shock may cause serious in-
jury or death. Read all caution labels.
An electric motor, coolant radiator and
some other parts reach high temperature
while driving. Caution labels are applied to
these parts. Carefully observe the instruc-
tions on these caution labels.
CAUTION
Never remove or disassemble any
high voltage part, high voltage cables
(orange color) and their connectors.
It may cause death or serious injury.
12p078
Inverter unit
Hybrid battery
Service
plug
High volt-
age cables
Air conditioning
compressor
High voltage
cables
Electric motor
Do not touch the service plug.
The service plug is installed in the left
side trim of the luggage compartment. It
is provided to disable high voltage current
from the hybrid battery when the vehicle
is in need of repairs at your Toyota
dealer.
CAUTION
The shaded parts in the illustration
are subjected to high voltage.
Inappropriate handling may cause
an electric shock resulting in seri-
ous injury or death. Never touch
any item in shaded area.
These high voltage parts or cables
consisting of an electromagnetic
shielding structure produce relatively
the same amount of electromagnetic
waves as conventional gasoline
fueled vehicles or home electric ap-
pliances.
As unwanted noise may occur in the
reception of mobile radios, contact
your Toyota dealer for installation or
removal.
Always keep your hybrid vehicle’s driv-
ing characteristics in mind.
CAUTION
The driver should pay full attention
around the vehicle especially when it
is driven only by the electric motor
(with the gasoline engine stopped).
People in the immediate area might
misjudge the hybrid vehicle move-
ment based on the absence of the
regular engine noise.
Precautions for use

15

As the vehicle runs with both the gaso-
line engine and electric motor, you may
hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment.
When the hybrid system is started or
stopped, you may hear a sound coming
from the hybrid battery in the luggage
compartment. However, this does not
indicate any trouble.
If the “READY” light is on, you can
start even though the gasoline engine
may be off.
When you shift the shift lever to “B”
and release it to its original position
and your foot from the accelerator ped-
al, engine braking will be applied. How-
ever, during high speed driving you
may feel that deceleration by engine
braking is less than that of ordinary
vehicle.
Be sure to put the hybrid transaxle in
“P” when parking.
In “N”, the hybrid battery assembly is not
charged, even if the gasoline engine is
operating. You cannot run your vehicle if
the hybrid transaxle is left in “N” for a
long time because the hybrid battery as-
sembly will be discharged. When you leave your vehicle, apply the
parking brake to put the hybrid trans-
axle in “P” and be sure to carry the
key with you and lock all the doors.
If you leave the hybrid system in “ACC”
or “IG
−ON”, the hybrid system may not
start because the 12 volt battery will be
discharged.
If the vehicle is parked for a long time,
the hybrid battery will discharge gradually.
To keep the hybrid battery in good condi-
tion, drive the vehicle at least once every
several months for at least 30 minutes or
ten miles. If the hybrid battery becomes
fully discharged and the vehicle will not
start even with a jump −start to the 12 volt
battery, contact your Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
When you leave your vehicle, be
sure to shut off the hybrid system.
Be sure to put the hybrid transaxle
in “P” because the vehicle can start
with the “READY” light on and the
engine stopped (no engine sound
and vibration). When the “READY”
light is on, if you leave your ve-
hicle in shift position other than
“P” and “N”, the vehicle will creep
and start abruptly with the accelera-
tor pedal being depressed by mis-
take. This may cause death or seri-
ous injury.

16
12p065
Ty p e 1
12p008d
Ty p e 2
When the multiinformation display
shows this message, the master warn-
ing light
() comes on in the instru-
ment cluster. Read the message and
follow the instruction.
When you leave your vehicle, or stop
or park for a while, put the hybrid
transaxle in “P”.
Charging is necessary. In “N”, charging
will not be applied. The electric genera-
tor operates in “P”, “D” or “B”. If you
continue driving, put the hybrid trans-
axle in “D” or “B” and depress the
accelerator pedal. Do not leave the hy-
brid transaxle in “N”. When driving in
traffic jam, operate in “D”.
12P009d
Do not allow anyone to lean against the
side of the rear right seatback, nor put
any luggage or other obstructions on it.
An air vent is provided on the side of
the rear right seatback to cool the hy-
brid battery. If this vent is covered, the
hybrid battery will overheat resulting in
a reduction of the output performance
of the hybrid system.
The seat belt not properly set in the
guide on the top of the rear seat may
block the air vent. Be sure to pass the
seat belt through the guide properly.