2020 Lexus ES300h Traction

661-4. Hybrid system
When a certain level of impact is
detected by the impact sensor, the
emergency shut off system blocks the
high voltage current and stops the fuel
pump to minimize the risk of electrocu-
tion and fuel leakage. If the emergency
shut off system activates, your vehicle
will not restart. To restart the hybrid system, contact your Lexus dealer.
A message is automatically displayed
when a malfunction occurs in the
hybrid system or an improper opera-
tion is attempted.
If a warning message is shown on the
multi-information display, read the
message and follow the instructions.
■If a warning light comes on, a warning
message is displayed, or the 12-volt bat-
tery is disconnected
The hybrid system may not start. In this
case, try to start the system again. If the
“READY” indicator does not come on, con-
tact your Lexus dealer.
NOTICE
■Hybrid battery (traction battery) air
intake vent
●Make sure not to block the air intake
vent with anything, such as a seat
cover, plastic cover, or luggage. If the
vents become blocked, the hybrid bat-
tery (traction battery) input and output
may be restricted, leading to a reduc-
tion in hybrid battery (traction battery)
output and a malfunction.
●When dust etc. has accumulated in the
air intake vent, periodically clean it
with a vacuum cleaner to prevent the
vent from clogging.
●A filter is installed to the air intake vent.
When the filter remains noticeably
dirty even after cleaning the air intake
vent, filter cleaning or replacement is
recommended. When cleaning or
replacing the filter, contact your Lexus
dealer.
Refer to P.343 for details on how to
clean the filter.
●Do not get water or foreign materials
in the air intake vent as this may cause
a short circuit and damage the hybrid
battery (traction battery).
●Do not carry large amounts of water
such as water cooler bottles in the
vehicle. If water spills onto the hybrid
battery (traction battery), the battery
may be damaged. Have the vehicle
inspected by your
Lexus dealer.
Emergency shut off system
Hybrid warning message

752-1. Instrument cluster
2
Vehicle status information and indicators
Drive mode indicators
*1: These lights come on when the power
switch is turned to ON mode to indi-
cate that a system check is being per-
formed. They will go off after the hybrid
system is on, or after a few seconds.
There may be a malfunction in a system
if the lights do not come on, or go off.
Have the vehicle inspected by your
Lexus dealer.
*2: This light comes on when the system is turned off.
*3: This light illuminates on the outside rear view mirrors.
*4: This light illuminates on the multi-infor- mation display.
*5: When the outside temperature is approximately 37°F (3°C) or lower, this
indicator will flash for approximately 10
seconds, then stay on.
*6: This light illuminates on the center panel.
(Canada)
“AIR BAG ON/OFF” indica-
tor
*1, 6 (
 P.37)
Traction battery status indica-
tor
*4 (  P.88)
Eco drive mode indicator
(  P.212)
Sport mode indicator ( P.212)

772-1. Instrument cluster
2
Vehicle status information and indicators
Shift position and shift range (P.150)
Odometer and trip meter display ( P.78)
■Hybrid System Indicator
Charge area
Shows regeneration* status.
Regenerated energy will be used to charge
the hybrid battery (traction battery).
Hybrid Eco area
Shows that gasoline engine power is not
being used very often.
The gasoline engine will automatically stop
and restart under various conditions.
Eco area
Shows that the vehicle is being driven in an
Eco-friendly manner.
By keeping the bar display within Eco area,
more Eco-friendly driv ing can be achieved.
Power area
Shows that an Eco-friendly driving range is
being exceeded (during full power driving
etc.)
*: When used in this manual, regeneration
refers to the conversion of energy cre-
ated by the movement of the vehicle into
electrical energy.
■Engine speed
On hybrid vehicles, engine speed is pre-
cisely controlled in order to help improve
fuel efficiency and reduce exhaust emis- sions etc.
There are times when the engine speed that
is displayed may differ even when vehicle
operation and driving conditions are the
same.
■Hybrid System Indicator is displayed
when
The Hybrid System Indicator is displayed in
the following situations:
●The shift lever is in D or S.
●The hybrid system is started.
■Outside temperature display
●In the following situations, the correct
outside temperature may not be dis-
played, or the display may take longer
than normal to change:
• When stopped, or driving at low speeds (less than 12 mph [20 km/h])
• When the outside temperature has
changed suddenly (at the entrance/exit of
a garage, tunnel, etc.)
●When “--” or “E” is displayed, the system
may be malfunctioning. Take your vehicle
to your Lexus dealer.
■Liquid crystal display
 P.80
■Customization
The gauges and meters can be customized
on of the multi-information display.
(  P.82)
H
I
A
B
C
D
WARNING
■The information display at low tem-
peratures
Allow the interior of the vehicle to warm
up before using the liquid crystal infor-
mation display. At extremely low tem-
peratures, the information display
monitor may respond slowly, and display
changes may be delayed.

892-1. Instrument cluster
2
Vehicle status information and indicators
When the vehicle is powered by the electric motor (traction motor)
Center DisplayMulti-information display
When the vehicle is powered by both the gasoline engine and the electric motor (traction
motor)
Center DisplayMulti-information display
When the vehicle is powered by the gasoline engine
Center DisplayMulti-information display

902-1. Instrument cluster
These images are examples only, and may vary slightly from actual conditions.
■Hybrid battery (traction battery)
status
Center Display Low
High
When the vehicle is charging the hybrid battery (traction battery)
Center DisplayMulti-information display
When there is no energy flow
Center DisplayMulti-information display
A
B

1354-1. Before driving
4
Driving
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start
Control)
●When the following unusual operation is
performed, the hybrid system output may
be restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted from R to D,
D to R, N to R, P to D, or P to R (D
includes S) with the accelerator pedal
depressed, a warning message appears
on the multi-information display. If a
warning message is shown on the multi-
information display, read the message
and follow the instructions.
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed
too much while the vehicle is in reverse.
●While Drive-Start Control is being acti-
vated, your vehicle may have trouble
escaping from the mud or fresh snow. In
such case, deactivate TRAC ( P.248)
to cancel Drive-Start Control so that the
vehicle may become able to escape from
the mud or fresh snow.
■Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing
the following precautions is recommended:
●For the first 186 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 621 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
■Operating your vehicle in a foreign
country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registra-
tion laws and confirm the availability of the
correct fuel. ( P.401)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake
pedal while stopped with the “READY”
indicator is illuminated. This prevents the
vehicle from creeping.
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with
the location of the brake and accelera-
tor pedals to avoid depressing the
wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelera- tor pedal instead of the brake pedal
will result in sudden acceleration that
may lead to an accident.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a difficulty in
operating the pedals. Make sure to
operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the vehicle
only slightly. This allows you to depress
the brake and accelerator pedals
properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal
using your left foot may delay
response in an emergency, resulting in
an accident.
●The driver should pay extra attention
to pedestrians when the vehicle is
powered only by the electric motor
(traction motor). As there is no engine
noise, the pedestrians may misjudge
the vehicle’s movement. Even though
the vehicle is equipped with the vehicle
proximity notification system, drive
with care as pedestrians in the vicinity
may still not notice the vehicle if the
surrounding area is noisy.
●Do not drive the vehicle over or stop
the vehicle near flammable materials.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases
can be extremely hot. These hot parts
may cause a fire if there is any flamma-
ble material nearby.

1484-2. Driving procedures
Turns EV drive mode on/off
When EV drive mode is turned on, the EV
drive mode indicator will come on. Press-
ing 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 can-
not be turned on
It may not be possible to turn EV drive
mode on in the following situations. If it can-
not be turned on, a buzzer will sound and a
message will be shown on the multi-infor- mation display.
●The temperature of the hybrid system is
high.
The vehicle has been left in the sun,
driven 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 32°F (0°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 display is low.
(
 P.88)
●Vehicle speed is high.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly
or the vehicle is on a hill etc.
●The windshield defogger is in use.
■Switching to EV drive mode when the
gasoline engine is cold
If the hybrid system is started while the gas-
oline engine is cold, the gasoline engine will
start automatically after a short period of
time 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 gaso-
line engine starts to switch to EV drive
mode.
■Automatic cancelation of EV drive
mode
When driving in EV drive mode, the gaso-
line engine may automatically restart in the
following situations. When EV drive mode
is canceled, a buzzer will sound and the EV
drive mode indicator will flash and go off.
EV drive mode
In EV drive mode, electric power is
supplied by the hybrid battery
(traction battery), and only the
electric motor (traction motor) is
used to drive the vehicle.
This mode allows you to drive in res-
idential areas early in the morning
and late at night, or in indoor park-
ing lots etc. without concern for
noises and gas emissions.
However, when the vehicle proxim-
ity notification system is active, the
vehicle may produce sound.
Operating instructions

1494-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
●The hybrid battery (traction battery)
becomes low.
The remaining battery level indicated in
the energy monitor display is low.
( P.88)
●Vehicle speed is high.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly
or the vehicle is on a hill etc.
When it is possible to inform the driver of
automatic cancelation in advance, a prior
notice screen will appear on the multi-infor-
mation display.
■Possible driving distance when driving in
EV drive mode
EV drive mode’s possible driving distance
ranges from a few hundred meters to
approximately 0.6 mile (1 km). However,
depending on vehicle conditions, there are
situations 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
The hybrid system is designed to achieve
the best possible fuel economy during nor-
mal driving (using the gasoline engine and
electric motor [traction motor]). Driving in
EV drive mode more than necessary may
lower fuel economy.
■If “EV Mode Unavailable” is shown on
the multi-information display
The EV drive mode is not available. The rea-
son the EV drive mode is not available (the
vehicle is idling, batter y charge is low, vehi-
cle speed is higher than the EV drive mode
operating speed range or accelerator pedal
is depressed too much) may be displayed.
Use the EV drive mode when it becomes
available.
■If “EV Mode Deactivated” is shown on
the multi-information display
The EV drive mode has been automatically
canceled. The reason the EV drive mode is
not available (the battery charge is low,
vehicle speed is higher than the EV drive
mode operating speed range or accelera-
tor pedal is depressed too much) may be
displayed. Drive the vehicle for a while before attempting to turn on the EV drive
mode again.
WARNING
■Caution while driving
When driving in EV drive mode, pay spe-
cial attention to the area around the vehi-
cle. Because there is no engine noise,
pedestrians, people riding bicycles or
other people and vehicles in the area
may not be aware of the vehicle starting
off or approaching them, so take extra
care while driving. Therefore, take extra
care while driving even if the vehicle
proximity notification system is active.