2020 Lexus ES300h Park

1474-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
ACCESSORY or ON mode for long peri-
ods of time when the hybrid system is not
operating.
If the hybrid system is stopped with the
shift lever in a position other than P, the
power switch will not be turned off but
instead be turned to ACCESSORY
mode. Perform the following proce-
dure to turn the switch off:
1
If the parking brake is in manual
mode, set the parking brake.
(P.155)
2
Shift the shift lever to P.
3
Check that “Turn Power Off” is dis-
played on the multi-information dis-
play and then press the power
switch once.
4
Check that “Turn Power Off” on the
multi-information display is off.
When stopping the hybrid sys-
tem with the shift lever in a posi-
tion other than P
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
●Do not leave the power switch in
ACCESSORY or ON mode for long
periods of time without the hybrid sys-
tem on.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION
ON” is displayed on the meter, 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.

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

1504-2. Driving procedures
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise, set the shift lever in D for normal
driving. You can choose shift range suit-
able for your driving situation by oper-
ating the paddle shift switches.
*2: By selecting shift ranges using S mode, you can control accelerating force and
engine braking forces.
■When driving with dynamic radar cruise
control with full-speed range activated
Even when performing the following
actions with the intent of enabling engine
braking, engine braking will not activate
because dynamic radar cruise control with
full speed range will not be canceled.
●While driving in the D position or S mode,
downshifting to 5 or 4. ( P.196)
●When switching the driving mode to
sport mode while driving in the D posi-
tion. ( P.212)
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start
Control)
 P.135
■AI-SHIFT
The AI-SHIFT automatica lly selects the suit-
able gear according to driver performance
and driving conditions.
The AI-SHIFT automatically operates when
the shift lever is in D. (Shifting the shift lever
to S cancels the function.)
Hybrid transmission
Select the shift position depending
on your purpose and situation.
Shift position purpose and func-
tions
Shift posi-
tionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 ( P.153)
WARNING
■When driving on slippery road sur-
faces
Do not accelerate or shift gears sud-
denly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may
cause the vehicle to sp in or skid, resulting
in an accident.
NOTICE
■Hybrid battery (traction battery)
charge
If the shift lever is in N, the hybrid battery
(traction battery) will not be charged
even when the engine is running. There-
fore, if the vehicle is left with the shift
lever in N for a certain period of time, the
hybrid battery (traction battery) will dis-
charge, and this may result in the vehicle
not being able to start.

1524-2. Driving procedures
emergency measure to ensure that the shift
lever can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
1
If the parking brake is in manual mode,
set the parking brake. (P.155)
2
Turn the power switch off.
3
Depress the brake pedal.
4
Press down and release the cup holder
lid to open.
5
Pry the cover up with a flathead screw-
driver or equivalent tool.
To prevent damage to the cover, cover the
tip of the screwd river with a rag.
6
Press and hold the shift lock override
button and then push the button on the
shift knob.
The shift lever can be shifted while the but-
ton is pressed
 P.212
To drive using temporary shift range
selection, operate the “-” paddle shift
switch. The shift range can then be
selected by operating the “-” and “+”
paddle shift switches.
Changing the shift range allows
restriction of the highest shift range,
preventing unnecessary upshifting and
enabling the level of engine braking
force to be selected.
1
Upshifting
2
Downshifting
WARNING
■To prevent an accident when releas-
ing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock override
button, make sure to set the parking
brake and depress the brake pedal.
If the accelerator pe dal is accidentally
depressed instead of the brake pedal
when the shift lock override button is
pressed and the shift lever is shifted out
of P, the vehicle may suddenly start, pos-
sibly leading to an accident resulting in
death or serious injury.
Selecting the driving mode
Selecting shift ranges in the D
position

1554-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■Using the manual mode
The parking brake can be set and
released manually.
U.S.A.
Canada
1 Push the switch to set the parking
brake
The parking brake indicator light will turn
on.
Press and hold the parking brake switch if
an emergency occurs and it is necessary to
operate the parking brake while driving.
2Pull the switch to release the park-
ing brake
• Operate the parking brake switch while
depressing the brake pedal.
• Using the parking brake automatic release function, the parking brake can
be released by depressing the accelera-
tor pedal. When using this function,
slowly depress the accelerator pedal.
Make sure that the pa rking brake indicator
light turn off.
■Turning the automatic mode on
While the vehicle is stopped, press and
hold the parking brake switch until a
message is shown on the multi-infor-
mation display
When the automatic mode is turned
on, the parking brake operates as fol-
lows.
 When the shift lever is shifted from
P, the parking brake will be released,
and the parking brake indicator light
will turn off.
 When the shift lever is shifted to P,
the parking brake will be set, and the
parking brake indicator light will
turn on.
Operate the shift lever with the vehicle
stopped and the brake pedal
depressed.
Parking brake
The parking brake can be set or
released automatically or manually.
In automatic mode, the parking
brake can be set or released auto-
matically according to shift lever
operation. Also, even in automatic
mode, the parking brake can be set
or released manually.
Operating instructions
A
B

1564-2. Driving procedures
■Turning the automatic mode off
While the vehicle is stopped, pull and
hold the parking brake switch until a
message is shown on the multi-infor-
mation display
■Parking brake operation
●When the power switch is not in ON
mode, the parking brake cannot be
released using the parking brake switch.
●When the power switch is not in ON
mode, automatic mode (automatic brake
setting and releasing) is not available.
■Parking brake automatic release func-
tion
●When the shift lever is shifted from P, the
parking brake will be released in auto-
matic mode.
●When all of the foll owing conditions are
met in manual mode, the parking brake
can be released by depressing the accel-
erator pedal.
• The driver’s door is closed
• The driver is wearing the seat belt
• The shift lever is in D, S or R
■If “Parking Brake Temporarily Unavail-
able” is displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display
If the parking brake is operated repeatedly
over a short period of time, the system may
restrict operation to prevent overheating. If
this happens, refrain from operating the
parking brake. Normal operation will return
after about 1 minute.
■If “Parking Brake Unavailable” or “EPB
Unavailable” is displayed on the multi-
information display
Operate the parking brake switch. If the
message does not disappear after operat-
ing the switch several times, the system may
be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■Parking brake operation sound
When the parking brake operates, a motor
sound (whirring sound) may be heard. This
does not indicate a malfunction.
■Parking brake indicator light
●Depending on the power switch mode,
the parking brake indicator light will turn
on and stay on as described below:
ON mode: Comes on until the parking
brake is released.
Not in ON mode: Stays on for approxi-
mately 15 seconds.
●When the power switch is turned off with
the parking brake set, the parking brake
indicator light will stay on for about 15
seconds. This does not indicate a mal-
function.
■When the parking brake switch mal-
functions
Automatic mode (automatic brake setting
and releasing) will be turned on automati-
cally.
■Parking the vehicle
 P.134
■Parking brake engaged warning buzzer
A buzzer will sound if the vehicle is driven
with the parking brake engaged. “EPB
Applied” is displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display (with the vehicle reached a
speed of 3 mph [5 km/h]).
■If the brake system warning light comes
on
 P.364
■Usage in winter time
 P.253

1574-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Turns the brake hold system on
The brake hold standby indicator (green) comes on. While the system is holding
the brake, the brake hold operated indica-
tor (yellow) comes on.
■Brake hold system operating conditions
The brake hold system cannot be turned on
in the following conditions:
●The driver’s door is not closed.
●The driver is not wearing the seat belt.
●“Parking Brake Unavailable” or “EPB
Malfunction Visit Your Dealer” is dis-
played on the multi-information display.
If any of the conditions above are detected
when the brake hold system is enabled, the
system will turn off and the brake hold
standby indicator light will go off. In addi-
WARNING
■When parking the vehicle
Do not leave a child in the vehicle alone.
The parking brake may be released unin-
tentionally and there is the danger of the
vehicle moving that may lead to an acci-
dent resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle
Before you leave the vehicle, shift the
shift lever to P, set the parking brake and
make sure that the vehicle does not
move.
■When the system malfunctions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
check the warning messages.
■When the parking brake cannot be
released due to a malfunction
Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake set will lead to brake components
overheating, which may affect braking
performance and increase brake wear.
Have the vehicle inspected by your
Lexus dealer immediately if this occurs.
Brake Hold
The brake hold system keeps the
brake applied when the shift lever is
in D, S or N with the system on and
the brake pedal has been
depressed to stop the vehicle. The
system releases the brake when the
accelerator pedal is depressed with
the shift lever in D or S to allow
smooth start off.
Enabling the system
A
B

1584-2. Driving procedures
tion, if any of the conditions are detected
while the system is holding the brake, a
warning buzzer will sound and a message
will be shown on the multi-information dis-
play. The parking brake will then be set
automatically.
■Brake hold function
●If the brake pedal is left released for a
period of about 3 minutes after the sys-
tem has started holding the brake, the
parking brake will be set automatically. In
this case, a warning buzzer sounds and a
message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display.
●To turn the system off while the system is
holding the brake, firmly depress the
brake pedal and press the button again.
●The brake hold function may not hold the
vehicle when the vehicle is on a steep
incline. In this situation, it may be neces-
sary for the driver to apply the brakes. A
warning buzzer will sound and the multi-
information display will inform the driver
of this situation. If a warning message is
shown on the multi-information display,
read the message and follow the instruc-
tions.
■When the parking brake is set automati-
cally while the system is holding the
brakes
Perform any of the following operations to
release the parking brake.
●Depress the accelerator pedal. (The
parking brake will not be released auto-
matically if the seat belt is not fastened.)
●Operate the parking brake switch with
the brake pedal depressed.
Make sure that the pa rking brake indicator
light goes off. ( P.155)
■When an inspection at your Lexus
dealer is necessary
When the brake hold standby indicator
(green) does not illuminate even when the
brake hold switch is pressed with the brake
hold system operating conditions met, the
system may be malfun ctioning. Have the
vehicle inspected at your Lexus dealer.
■If “Brake Hold Fault Depress Brake to
Deactivate Visit Your Dealer” or “Brake
Hold Malfunction Visit Your Dealer” is
displayed on the multi-information dis-
play
The system may be malfunctioning. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■Warning message and buzzers
Warning messages and buzzers are used to
indicate a system malfunction or to inform
the driver of the need for caution. If a warn-
ing message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display, read the message and follow
the instructions.
■If the brake hold operated indicator
flashes
 P.371
WARNING
■When the vehicle is on a steep incline
When using the brake hold system on a
steep incline exercise caution. The brake
hold function may not hold the vehicle in
such a situation.
■When stopped on a slippery road
The system cannot stop the vehicle when
the gripping ability of the tires has been
exceeded. Do not use the system when
stopped on a slippery road.
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle
The brake hold system is not designed
for use when parking the vehicle for a
long period of time. Turning the power
switch off while the system is holding the
brake may release the brake, which
would cause the vehicle to move. When
operating the power switch, depress the
brake pedal, shift the shift lever to P and
set the parking brake.