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Driving situations Requirements and conditions Vehicle behavior
Driving in city traffic. – Select a moderate speed. Driving in fully electric mode at this level is possible with a constant speed of up to about 37 mph (60 km/h) on a flat road surface
– Avoid full acceleration. The fuel consumption is reduced with moderate acceleration due to higher efficiency of the combustion engine and driving in fully electric mode is possible.
– Careful use of the %
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Hybrid functions and modes
Fig. 123 In the lower center console: EÊMODE button for extended electro-mode drive.
Fig. 124 Hybrid menu in the instrument cluster display: Current electric power level.
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switched off in this mode. Gentle start-ups (getting the vehicle going) and parking are also phases the electrical motor can often handle alone.
The combustion engine is started if you accelerate faster or if the charge level of the high-voltage battery gets too low. As soon as allowed by your acceleration and the high-voltage battery charge level, the vehicle switches back to electrical motor drive.
Use the following indicators to tell when the vehicle is being powered electrically:
x Instrument cluster display.
x Infotainment System screen.
Extended electro-mode drive (EÊMODE)
By pressing the %
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Sailing
If the accelerator is not depressed and the lever is in position D, the combustion engine is switched off, even at higher speeds. The vehicle then decelerates slower than conventional vehicles. This feature can be used to help reduce fuel consumption when you keep traffic conditions in mind and can anticipate the vehicle's power requirements. The instrument cluster powermeter shows zero.
Brake energy regeneration (Recuperation/charge)
When the vehicle brakes, the electrical energy is generated by the electric motor, which works as an alternator and charges the high-voltage battery. The same thing occurs while the vehicle is coasting to a stop or driving downhill.
Energy regeneration is shown in the instrument cluster display or on the Infotainment System screen. The combustion engine may be switched off automatically in this situation. The instrument cluster powermeter registers below zero.
When the high voltage battery is fully charged, there is no brake energy recuperation, and therefore no engine braking. Recuperation and engine braking are also automatically reduced if the vehicle detects that the road conditions do not permit sufficient contact between the wheels and the road surface.
Automatic starting - combustion engine
The combustion engine is started automatically in a number of situations.
x Engine temperature is too low.
x Catalytic converter temperature is too low.
x The high-voltage battery requires recharging.
x High-voltage battery is being charged at high rate when decelerating. The high-voltage battery cannot absorb any more energy and for this reason the electric motor cannot brake the vehicle. The combustion engine comes on to help slow the vehicle down (engine brake).
x Engine hood is open.
x Leaving the vehicle when the electric motor is still “live”. The status of the electric motor is not always obvious, particularly when the combustion engine is not running. The combustion engine will therefore start if the driver's safety belt is unlatched or the driver's door is opened when the transmission is in Park (P) or Neutral (N), Warning when leaving the vehicle.
Energy flow display
Fig. 125 Energy flow display. A: Instrument cluster. B: Infotainment System.
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Hybrid drive energy flow is shown with symbols and arrows in the instrument cluster display (MFI) and on the Infotainment System screen. The displays let you know whether the electric motor or the engine is active while driving.
Explanation of the symbols that appear in the energy flow display when the vehicle is not moving
⇒ fig. 125:
(1) Symbol for combustion engine in the instrument cluster display
(2) Symbol for vehicle drive in the instrument cluster display
(3) Symbol for high-voltage battery in the instrument cluster display
(4) Symbol for combustion engine on the Infotainment System screen.
(5) Symbol for vehicle drive on the Infotainment System screen.
(6) Symbol for high-voltage battery on the Infotainment System screen.
Color codes
Color Infotainment System screen
Orange Energy flow from combustion engine (combustion engine drive).
Blue Energy flow from the high-voltage battery (electrical motor drive).
Energy flow to the high-voltage battery (battery charge).
Green Power regeneration through deceleration or braking (recuperation).
High-voltage battery
Fig. 126 Location of the high-voltage battery: Under the luggage compartment floor.
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