2015 Lexus ES300h Specifications / Owner's Manual (OM33B99U)

ES350_300h_OM_OM33B99U_(U)
2174-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■Odometer and trip meter display
When the “POWER” switch is turned off, the odometer or trip meter display will
extinguish after approximately 30 seconds.
CAUTION
■When starting the hybrid system
Always start the hybrid system while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not depress the
accelerator pedal while starting the hybrid system under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
■Caution while driving
If hybrid system failure occurs while the vehicle is moving, do not lock or open the
doors until the vehicle reaches a safe and complete stop. Activation of the steering
lock in this circumstance may lead to an accident, resulting in death or serious
injury.
■Stopping the hybrid system in an emergency
If you want to stop the hybrid system in an emergency while driving the vehicle,
press and hold the “POWER” switch for more than 2 seconds, or press it briefly 3
times or more in succession. ( P. 615)
However, do not touch the “POWER” switch while driving except in an emer-
gency. Turning the hybrid system off while driving will not cause loss of steering or
braking control, however, power assist to the steering will be lost. This will make it
more difficult to steer smoothly, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so.

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4-2. Driving procedures
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
●Do not leave the “POWER” switch in ACCESSORY or ON mode for long peri-
ods of time without the hybrid system on.
●If “POWER ON” is displayed on the multi-information display, the “POWER”
switch is not off. Exit the vehicle after turning the “POWER” switch off.
●Do not stop the hybrid system when the shift lever is in a position other than P. If
the hybrid system is stopped in another shift lever position, the “POWER” switch
will not be turned off but instead be turned to ACCESSORY mode. If the vehicle
is left in ACCESSORY mode, 12-volt battery discharge may occur.
■When starting the hybrid system
●Do not depress the accelerator pedal unnecessarily.
●If the hybrid system becomes difficult to start, have your vehicle checked by your
Lexus dealer immediately.
■Symptoms indicating a malfunction with the “POWER” switch
If the “POWER” switch seems to be operating somewhat differently than usual,
such as the switch sticking slightly, there may be a malfunction. Contact your Lexus
dealer immediately.

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4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
EV drive mode (hybrid vehicles)
Turns EV drive mode on/off
When EV drive mode is turned on,
“EV MODE” will be displayed on the
multi-information display. Pressing 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 cannot be turned on
It may not be possible to turn EV drive mode on in the following situations. If it cannot
be turned on, a buzzer will sound and a message will be shown on the multi-informa-
tion display.
●The temperature of the hybrid system is high.
The vehicle has been left in the sun, driv en 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 68 F (20C) 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” screen or the multi-
information display is low. ( P. 114)
●Vehicle speed is about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly.
●The windshield defogger is in use.
In EV drive mode the electric moto r (traction motor), powered by the
hybrid battery (traction battery), is used to drive the vehicle.
This mode allows you to drive in re sidential areas early in the morning
and late at night, or in indoor pa rking lots etc. without concern for
noises and gas emissions.
However, when the vehicle proximity notification system is active, the
vehicle may produce sound.

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4-2. Driving procedures
■Switching to EV drive mode when the gasoline engine is cold
If the hybrid system is started while the gasoline engine is cold, the gasoline engine
will start automatically 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 gasoline engine starts to switch to EV
drive mode.
■Automatic cancelation of EV drive mode
When driving in EV drive mode, the gasoline engine may automatically restart in the
following situations. When EV drive mode is canceled, a buzzer will sound and the
EV indicator will flash 3 times and go off.
●The hybrid battery (traction battery) becomes low.
The remaining battery level indicated in the “Energy Monitor” screen or the multi-
information display is low. ( P. 114)
●Vehicle speed becomes more than about 25 mph (40 km/h).
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly.
When it is possible to inform the driver of automatic cancelation in advance, a prior
notice screen will appear on the multi-information display.
■Possible driving distance when driving in EV drive mode
EV drive mode’s possible driving distan ce ranges from a few hundred meters to
approximately 1.3 mile (2 km). Driving is possible at speeds of less than approxi-
mately 25 mph (40 km/h). However, depend ing on vehicle conditions, there are sit-
uations when EV drive mode cannot be used.
(The distance that is possible depends on the hybrid battery [traction battery] level
and driving conditions.)
■Fuel economy
Your Lexus is designed to achieve the best possible fuel economy during normal
driving (using the gasoline en gine and electric motor [traction motor]). Driving in EV
drive mode more than necessary may lower fuel economy.

ES350_300h_OM_OM33B99U_(U)
2214-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
CAUTION
■Caution while driving
When driving in EV drive mode no engine noise is made. As such, pedestrians,
people riding bicycl es or other people and vehicles in the surrounding area may
not be aware of the vehicle starting off or approaching them. Therefore, take extra
care while driving even if the vehicle proximity notification system is active.

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4-2. Driving procedures
Automatic transmission (gasoline vehicles)
While the “START STOP ENGINE” switch is in IGNITION ON
mode, move the shift lever with the brake pedal depressed.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the vehicle is
completely stopped.
*1: Shifting the shift lever to D allows the system to select a gear suitable for the driv- ing conditions.
Setting the shift lever to D is recommended for normal driving.
*2: Selecting shift ranges using S mode rest ricts the upper limit of the possible gear
ranges, controls engine braking force, and prevents unnecessary upshifting.
Shifting the shift lever
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 ( P. 2 2 3 )

ES350_300h_OM_OM33B99U_(U)
2234-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
When the shift lever is in S, the shift lever can be operated as follows:Upshifting
Downshifting
The selected shift range, from S1 to
S6, will be displayed in the meter.
The initial shift range in S mode is set
automatically to S5 or S4 according
to vehicle speed. However, the initial
shift range may be set to S3 if AI-
SHIFT has operated while the shift
lever was in D. ( P. 2 2 4 )
■Shift ranges and their functions
●Automatically selecting gears betw een 1 and 6 according to vehicle
speed and driving conditions. Howev er, the gear is limited according
to selected shift range.
●You can choose from 6 levels of engine braking force.
●A lower shift range will provide gr eater engine braking force than a
higher shift range, and the en gine speed will also increase.
Selecting gears in the S position
1
2

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4-2. Driving procedures
■S mode
●When the shift range is S4 or lower, holding the shift lever toward “+” sets the shift
range to S6.
●To prevent excessive engine speed, a function was adopted that automatically
selects a higher shift range before the engine speed becomes too high.
●To protect the automatic transmission, a function is adopted that automatically
selects a higher shift range when the fluid temperature is high.
■When driving with cruise control activated
Even when performing the following actions with the intent of enabling engine brak-
ing, the engine brake will not operate in the S mode, even when downshifting to 5 or
4. ( P. 2 5 4 )
■Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving perfor mance, downshifting operation may some-
times be restricted. In some circumstances, downshifting may not be possible even
when the shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
■If the S indicator does not come on even after shifting the shift lever to S
This may indicate a malfunction in the auto matic transmission system. Have the vehi-
cle inspected by your Lexus dealer immediately.
(In this situation, the transmission will operate in the same manner as when the shift
lever is in D.)
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
 P. 6 76
■AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitable gear according to driver performance
and driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in D. (Shifting the shift lever
to S cancels the function.)