Page 28 of 58

Hybrid drive system
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The hybrid drive system
has been switched off
automatically.You have been in an accident.
The hybrid drive system remains switched off if:
Rthe internal combustion engine cannot be restarted after a few
seconds.
Rthe red6restraint system warning lamp in the instrument clus-
ter is lit.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
The hybrid drive system
has been switched off
automatically. The multi-
function display also
shows a display mes-
sage.An electrical short circuit has occurred in the hybrid drive system or an
electrical connection has been disconnected.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction dis-
play (see the vehicle Operator's Manual).
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
Driving tips
General driving tips
Drive carefully and maintain a safe distance
from the vehicle in front. Avoid frequent and
sudden acceleration as well as abrupt braking.
During partial electric driving, pulling away and
acceleration, the electric motor supports the
internal combustion engine.
During overrun in transmission position Dand
braking, the electric motor will operate as a gen- erator.
Further information on the ECO start/stop func-
tion (
Ypage 23).
You can find further driving tips in the vehicle
Operator's Manual.
Stationary vehicle
If the vehicle is stopped, the combustion engine
is, for the most part, switched off. Automatic
climate control continues to function. The elec-
tromechanically assisted steering gear allows
you to use the power steering without reduced
comfort.
Acceleration
Depending on the operating mode, pulling away
and driving under low load conditions are per-
formed:
Rentirely by electric propulsion
Rin combination with the internal combustion
engine
When accelerating rapidly under increased or
full load, increased boost mode is utilized. The
electric motor supports the combustion engine
by providing additional drive torque.
Overrun mode or braking
There are three possible operating modes when
the hybrid vehicle is decelerating:
Renergy recovery takes place even when the
vehicle is decelerating purely in overrun mode
(
Ypage 20). The electric motor operates as a
generator and stores the recovered energy in
the high-voltage battery
Rwhen the brakes are applied lightly, the vehi-
cle is slowed down further by the electric
motor. This increases the energy recovery
taking place (
Ypage 20). The electric motor
operates as a generator and stores the recov-
ered energy in the high-voltage battery
Rduring heavy braking, the service brake is also
used to slow down the vehicle. The two sys-
tems work together
26Driving tips
Driving and parking
Page 40 of 58

Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you operate information systems and com-
munication equipmen tintegrate din th evehi-
cle while driving ,you will be distracte dfrom
traffic conditions. You could also lose control
of th evehicle. Ther eis aris kof an accident.
Only operate th eequipmen twhen th etraffic
situation permits. If you are no tsur ethat this
is possible ,park th evehicl epayin gattention
to traffic condition sand operate th eequip-
men twhen th evehicl eis stationary.
You must observ eth elegal requirements for th e
country in whic hyou are currentl ydriving when
operating th eon-board computer.
GWARNIN G
If th einstrumen tcluste rhas faile dor mal-
functioned, you may no trecognize function
restriction sin systems relevan tto safety. The
operating safet yof your vehicl emay be
impaired .Ther eis aris kof an accident.
Pull ove ras soo nas it is saf eto do so and
consult aqualified specialist workshop.
The on-board computer only shows message sor
warning sfrom certain systems in th emultifunc-
tion display. You should therefor emak esur e
your vehicl eis operating safely at all times .
Fo ran overview, see th einstrumen tpanel illus-
tration (
Ypage 9).
You can fin dfurther information about operating
th eon-board computer in th evehicl eOperator's
Manual.
Displays and operation
Electric motor performance display
The power display for th eelectric motor is loca-
te don th eright-hand side of th einstrumen t
cluster.
RArea :to; (E-DRIVE):
This shows th eelectric output from th eelec -
tric motor, e.g. during electric operation or in
boos tmode.
When th emotor is switched on ,th eneedle is
at limi t:. Withincreasing pressur eon th e
accelerato rpedal th eneedle moves from :
to ;.
Driving with th eelectri cmotor: when th e
needle reaches limi t; thecombustion
engin eis switched on .If th edisplay
approaches limi t; and you remove your foo t
from th eaccelerato rpedal ,th eneedle drops
again .The combustion engin eis no tswitched
on .At low speeds, you can thereby control th e
electric operation usage so that you only driv e
in electric mode.
Driving with th ecombustion engine: the
electric motor support sth ecombustion
engin eby providing additional driv etorque
(boost mode) until th eneedle reaches
limi t;.
You can also select th eoperating mod eof th e
hybrid driv esystem (
Ypage 21) .
RArea=to? (CHARGE) :
This shows th erecuperate denerg ywhic his
store din th ehigh-voltage battery as electrical
energy.
When th eneedle reaches limi t?, themaxi-
mum recuperative brak ing p
ower has been
reached. The mechanical brak eis activated.
38Displays and operation
On-board computer and displays
Page 43 of 58

Driving using theengin e
The engin epowers th evehicle.
The arrows fo rth eenerg yflo ware shown in
white.
Driving using th eengin eplus boost mode
If you accelerate th evehicl erapidly, th eelectric
motor support sth ecombustion engin eby pro -
vidin gadditional drive torque .
The arrows fo rth eenerg yflo ware shown in red .
Driving using th eengin eplus energy
recover y
The engin epowers th evehicle. The electric
motor is operatin gas agenerator, e.g. in over-
run mod eand when brakin g (
Ypage 24).The kineti
cenerg yof th evehicl eis converted into
electrica lenergy. The high-voltag ebattery is
bein gcharged.
The arrows fo rth eenerg yflo ware shown in
green .
Driving using th einternal combustion
engin eand charging th ehigh-voltage bat -
tery
The engin epowers th evehicle. The engin ealso
powers th eelectric motor. The electric motor
operates as agenerator. The high-voltag ebat -
tery is bein gcharged.
The arrows fo rth eenerg yflo ware shown in
white.
Driving using th einternal combustion
engin eand discharging th ehigh-voltage
battery
The engin epowers th evehicle. If th evehicl eis
approachin g adownhill gradien twit h a high
potential fo renerg yrecuperation ,th econdition
of charg eof th ehigh-voltag ebattery is inten-
tionally kept low or intentionally reduced.
The arrows fo rth eenerg yflo ware shown in
white.
Further information on th eroute-based operat -
in g strategy (
Ypage 24) .
Menus and submenus41
On-board computer and displays
Z