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PRIUS v_OM_OM47840U_(U)
CAUTION
■General precautions while driving
Driving under the influence: Never drive your vehicle when under the influ-
ence of alcohol or drugs that have impaired your ability to operate your vehi-
cle. Alcohol and certain drugs delay reaction time, impair judgment and
reduce coordination, which could lead to an accident that could result in
death or serious injury.
Defensive driving: Always drive defensively. Anticipate mistakes that other
drivers or pedestrians might make and be ready to avoid accidents.
Driver distraction: Always give your full attention to driving. Anything that dis-
tracts the driver, such as adjusting controls, talking on a cellular phone or
reading can result in a collision with resulting death or serious injury to you,
your occupants or others.
■ General precaution regarding children’s safety
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle, and never allow children to
have or use the key.
Children may be able to start the vehicle or shift the vehicle into neutral.
There is also a danger that children may injure themselves by playing with
the windows or other features of the vehicle. In addition, heat build-up or
extremely cold temperatures inside the vehicle can be fatal to children.
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26
PRIUS v_OM_OM47840U_(U)
CAUTION
■Hybrid battery (traction battery)
Never resell, hand over or modify the hybrid battery (traction battery). To pre-
vent accidents, hybrid batteries (traction batteries) that have been removed
from a disposed vehicle are collected through Toyota dealers. Do not dis-
pose of the battery yourself.
Unless the battery is properly collected, the following may occur, resulting in
death or serious injury:
• The hybrid battery (traction battery) may be illegally disposed of or
dumped, and someone may touch a high voltage part, resulting in an
electric shock.
• The hybrid battery (traction battery) is intended to be used exclusively with your hybrid vehicle. If the hybrid battery (traction battery) is used
outside of your vehicle or modified in any way, accidents such as electric
shock, heat generation, smoke generation, an explosion and electrolyte
leakage may occur.
When reselling or handing over your vehicle, the possibility of an accident is
extremely high because the person receiving the vehicle may not be aware
of these dangers.
■ Disposal of the hybrid battery (traction battery)
If your vehicle is disposed of without the hybrid battery (traction battery) hav-
ing been removed, there is a danger of serious electric shock if high voltage
parts, cables and their connectors are touched. In the event that your vehicle
must be disposed of, the hybrid battery (traction battery) must be disposed
of by your Toyota dealer or a qualified service shop. If the hybrid battery
(traction battery) is not disposed of properly, it may cause electric shock that
can result in death or serious injury.
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27
PRIUS v_OM_OM47840U_(U)
Symbols used throughout this manual
Cautions & Notices
Symbols used in illustrations
CAUTION
This is a warning against something which, if ignored, may cause death or
serious injury to people. You are informed about what you must or must not do
in order to reduce the risk of death or serious injury to yourself and others.
NOTICE
This is a warning against something which, if ignored, may cause damage to
the vehicle or its equipment. You are informed about what you must or must
not do in order to avoid or reduce the risk of damage to your Toyota and its
equipment.
Safety symbol
The symbol of a circle with a slash through it means “Do not”,
“Do not do this”, or “Do not let this happen”.
Arrows indicating operationsIndicates the action (pushing, turn-
ing, etc.) used to operate switches
and other devices.
Indicates the outcome of an opera-
tion (e.g. a lid opens).
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28
PRIUS v_OM_OM47840U_(U)
Page 29 of 568

Before driving1
29
PRIUS v_OM_OM47840U_(U)
1-1. Hybrid systemHybrid system features ...... 30
Hybrid system precautions ...................... 36
Energy monitor/ consumption screen......... 42
Hybrid vehicle driving tips ................................... 52
1-2. Key information Keys ................................... 54
1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
Smart key system .............. 57
Wireless remote control ..... 72
Side doors .......................... 74
Back door ........................... 79 1-4. Adjustable components
(seats, mirrors, steering
wheel)
Front seats ......................... 84
Rear seats.......................... 88
Head restraints................... 93
Seat belts ........................... 95
Steering wheel ................. 107
Inside rear view mirror ..... 108
Outside rear view mirrors ............................ 110
1-5. Opening and closing the windows
Power windows ................ 112
1-6. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap ................................. 115
1-7. Theft deterrent system Immobilizer system .......... 119
1-8. Safety information Correct driving posture..... 122
SRS airbags ..................... 124
Front passenger occupant classification
system ........................... 138
Child restraint systems..... 144
Installing child restraints ........................ 149
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30
PRIUS v_OM_OM47840U_(U)
1-1. Hybrid system
Hybrid system features
Your vehicle is a hybrid vehicle. It has characteristics different from
conventional vehicles. Be sure you are closely familiar with the char-
acteristics of your vehicle, and operate with care.
The hybrid system combines the use of a gasoline engine and an
electric motor (traction motor) according to driving conditions,
improving fuel efficiency and reducing exhaust emissions.
Gasoline engine
Electric motor (traction motor)
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31
1-1. Hybrid system
1
Before driving
PRIUS v_OM_OM47840U_(U)
■
When stopped/during start off
The gasoline engine stops
* when the vehicle is stopped. During
start off, the electric motor (tra ction motor) drives the vehicle. At
slow speeds or when traveling down a gentle slope, the engine
is stopped
* and the electric motor (traction motor) is used.
When shift position is in N, the hybrid battery (traction battery)
will not be charged. Thus, shift to P when the vehicle is stopped.
In addition, when driving in heavy traffic, use D or B.
*: However, when the hybrid battery (traction battery) need to be charged or while the engine is being warmed up, the gasoline
engine may not stop automatically. ( P. 33)
■ During normal driving
The gasoline engine is predominantly used. The electric motor
(traction motor) charges the hybr id battery (traction battery) as
necessary.
■ When accelerating sharply
When the accelerator pedal is depressed heavily, the power of
the hybrid battery (traction battery ) is added to that of the gaso-
line engine via the electric motor (traction motor).
■ When braking (regenerative braking)
The electric motor (traction mo tor) charges the hybrid battery
(traction battery).
Page 32 of 568
32 1-1. Hybrid system
PRIUS v_OM_OM47840U_(U)
Vehicle proximity notification system
When driving with the gasoline engine stopped, a sound, which
changes in accordance with the dr iving speed, will be played in order
to warn people nearby of the vehicle’s approach. The sound will stop
when the vehicle speed exceeds a pproximately 15 mph (25 km/h).
■Regenerative braking
In the following situations, kinetic energy is converted to electric energy and
deceleration force can be obtained in conjunction with the recharging of the
hybrid battery (traction battery).
●The accelerator pedal is released while driving with the shift position in D
or B.
● The brake pedal is depressed while driving with the shift position in D or
B.
■ Hybrid System Indicator
Hybrid System Indicator represents the
hybrid system power output and regener-
ative charging. (
P. 203)