The roles of the motors and en-gine in each drive mode MotorEngine
Driving condi- tionsEV Drive ModeDrive thevehicleOFF
Normal street
driving
Series
Hybrid ModeDrive the vehicleGenerates
electricity
At quick
accelera-
tion on an uphillroad
ParallelHybrid ModeDrive the vehicle
Drivers front
wheels
and gen- erates
electricity
High- speed
driving
Regenerative braking
Motion energy is converted into electric ener-
gy using the motor as a power generator.
Then a braking force generates and converted electric energy will be charged to the drive
battery.
l If you lift your foot off the accelerator
pedal during driving, a braking force that
is equivalent to engine braking of a com- bustion engine vehicle will be generated.
Also, if you shift the select position into “B” (BRAKE) from “D” (DRIVE), ef-
fectiveness of the regenerative braking is getting stronger. Shift the selector lever into “B” (BRAKE) position according to
the driving condition.
l When you depress the brake pedal, the
regenerative braking force may be in-creased.
l If a problem occurs in the Plug-in hybrid
EV system, or if the ABS and/or the
ASC have been activated, the regenera- tive braking will be restricted. The foot brake will still operate.
l When stronger regenerative braking is
generated, the stop lamps will illuminate even when the brake pedal is not de- pressed.Operation of gasoline engine
E00203700098
l Even when the vehicle is driving in EV
drive mode, it may be automatically
changed to series hybrid mode or paral-
lel hybrid mode in the following cases: • The plug-in hybrid EV system is too
hot or too cold.
• Quick acceleration is applied.
• The air conditioner is operating.
• The accelerator pedal is depressed
hard on an uphill road or expressway.
• In cold weather.
• The vehicle has not been refueled for
a long time.
• The drive battery level is low.
In addition to the above, there are more
cases where EV drive mode is automati-
cally changed to series or parallel hybrid mode.
l Even while the vehicle is stopped, the
engine may automatically be started in
the following cases: • The drive battery level is low.
• The plug-in hybrid EV system is too
hot or too cold.
• The air conditioner is used.
• The vehicle has not been used for a
long time.
• The engine has not been operated for a long time.
• Refuelling has not been performed for
a long time.
Plug-in Hybrid EV System
2-03OGGE17E1General information2
