2023 TOYOTA RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID Owners Manual

95
2 2-1. Plug-in hybrid system
Plug-in hybrid system
The illustration is an example for explanation and may differ from the actual item.
Caution label
High voltage cables (orange)
Power control unit
DC/DC converter
Rear electric motor (traction motor)
AC charging inlet
Service plug
Onboard traction battery charger
Plug-in hybrid system precautions
Take care when handling the hybrid system, as it contains a high
voltage system (about 650V at maximum) as well as parts that
become extremely hot when the hybrid system is operating. Obey
the caution labels attached to the vehicle.
System components
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

962-1. Plug-in hybrid system
Hybrid battery (traction battery)
Front electric motor (traction motor)
Air conditioning compressor
Junction box
■Running out of fuel
When the vehicle has run out of fuel and
the hybrid system cannot be started, refuel the vehicle with at least enough gasoline to make the low fuel level warn-
ing light ( P.541) go off. If there is only a small amount of fuel, the hybrid sys-tem may not be able to start. (The stan-
dard amount of fuel is about 8.8 L [2.3 gal., 1.9 Imp.gal.], when the vehicle is on a level surface. This value may vary
when the vehicle is on a slope. Add extra fuel when the vehicle is inclined.)
■Electromagnetic waves
●High voltage parts and cables on the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles incor-porate electromagnetic shielding, and
therefore emit approximately the same amount of electromagnetic waves as conventional gasoline pow-
ered vehicles or home electronic appliances.
●Your vehicle may cause sound inter-ference in some third party-produced radio parts.
■Effect of magnetic forces
If objects that generate strong magnetic forces, such as large speakers, are placed inside the luggage compartment
or installed nearby, the generated mag- netic forces may negatively affect the hybrid system.
■Hybrid battery (traction battery)
(lithium-ion battery)
The hybrid battery (traction battery) has a limited service life.
The hybrid battery (traction battery) capacity (the ability to hold a charge) reduces with time and use in the same
way as other rechargeable batteries.
The extent at which capacity reduces changes drastically depending on the
environment (ambient temperature, etc.) and usage conditions, such as how the vehicle is driven and how the hybrid bat-
tery (traction battery) is charged. This is a natural characteristic of lithium-ion batteries, and is not a malfunction. Also,
even though the EV driving range becomes shorter when the hybrid bat-tery (traction battery) capacity reduces,
vehicle performance does not signifi- cantly become worse.
In order to reduce the possibility of the
capacity reducing, follow the directions listed on P.133, “Capacity reduction of the hybrid battery (traction battery)”.
■Starting the hybrid system in an
extremely cold environment
When the hybrid battery (traction bat- tery) is extremely cold (below approxi-
mately -30°C [-22°F]) under the influence of the outside temperature, it may not be possible to start the hybrid
system. In this case, try to start the hybrid system again after the tempera-ture of the hybrid battery increases due
to the outside temperature increase etc.
■Declaration of conformity
This model conforms to hydrogen emis- sions according to regulation ECE100
(Battery electric vehicle safety).
I
J
K
L
WARNING
■High voltage precautions
The vehicle has high voltage DC and AC systems as well as a 12-volt sys-tem. DC and AC high voltage is very
dangerous and can cause severe burns and electric shock that may result in death or serious injury.

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2
2-1. Plug-in hybrid system
Plug-in hybrid system
WARNING
●Never touch, disassemble, remove or replace the high voltage parts,
cables or their connectors.
●The hybrid system will become hot
after starting as the system uses high voltage. Be careful of both the high voltage and the high tempera-
ture, and always obey the caution labels attached to the vehicle.
●Never try to open the service plug access hole located in the luggage compartment. The service plug is
used only when the vehicle is ser- viced and is subject to high voltage.
■Road accident cautions
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of death or serious
injury:
●Pull your vehicle off the road, apply
the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P, and turn the hybrid sys-tem off.
●Do not touch the high voltage parts, cables and connectors.
●If electric wires are exposed inside or outside your vehicle, an electric
shock may occur. Never touch exposed electric wires.
●Do not touch the battery if liquid is leaking from or adhering to it.If electrolyte (carbonic-based
organic electrolyte) from the hybrid battery (traction battery) comes into contact with the eyes or skin, it
could cause blindness or skin wounds. In the unlikely event that it comes into contact with the eyes or
skin, wash it off immediately with a large amount of water, and seek immediate medical attention.
●If electrolyte is leaking from the hybrid battery (traction battery), do
not approach the vehicle. Even in the unlikely event that the hybrid battery (traction battery) is
damaged, the internal construction of the battery will prevent a large amount of electrolyte from leaking
out. However, any electrolyte that does leak out will give off a vapor. This vapor is an irritant to skin and
eyes and could cause acute poi- soning if inhaled.
●Do not bring burning or high-tem-perature items close to the electro-lyte. The electrolyte may ignite and
cause a fire.
●If a fire occurs in the Plug-in Hybrid
Electric Vehicle, leave the vehicle as soon as possible. Never use a fire extinguisher that is not meant
for electric fires. Using even a small amount of water may be danger-ous.
●If your vehicle needs to be towed, do so with front wheels raised. If the
wheels connected to the electric motor (traction motor) are on the ground when towing, the motor may
continue to generate electricity. This may cause a fire. ( P.529)

982-1. Plug-in hybrid system
WARNING
●Carefully inspect the ground under the vehicle. If you find that liquid
has leaked onto the ground, the fuel system may have been damaged. Leave the vehicle as soon as possi-
ble.
■Hybrid battery (traction battery)
●Your vehicle contains a sealed lith- ium-ion battery.
●Never resell, hand over or modify the hybrid battery. To prevent acci-dents, hybrid batteries that have
been removed from a disposed vehicle are collected through any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer. Do not dispose of the bat-tery yourself. Unless the battery is
properly collected, the following may occur, resulting in death or serious injury:
• The hybrid battery may be illegally disposed of or dumped, and it is
hazardous to the environment or someone may touch a high voltage part, resulting in an electric shock.
• The hybrid battery is intended to be used exclusively with your Plug-in
Hybrid Electric Vehicle. If the hybrid battery is used outside of your vehi-cle or modified in any way, acci-
dents such as electric shock, heat generation, smoke generation, an explosion and electrolyte leakage
may occur. When reselling or handing over your vehicle, the possibility of an
accident is extremely high because the person receiving the vehicle may not be aware of these dangers.
●If your vehicle is disposed of with-out the hybrid battery having been removed, there is a danger of seri-
ous electric shock if high voltage parts, cables and their connectors are touched. In the event that your
vehicle must be disposed of, the hybrid battery must be disposed of by any authorized Toyota retailer or
Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer, or a qualified ser-vice shop. If the hybrid battery is
not disposed of properly, it may cause electric shock that can result in death or serious injury.
■Caution while driving
If the vehicle under floor area
receives strong shock or impact while driving, stop the vehicle in a safe area and check around the bottom of the
vehicle. If there is damage to the hybrid battery (traction battery) or liq-uid leakage, it may lead to a vehicle
fire, etc. Do not touch the vehicle and immediately contact any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
■Modifications
Do not modify the vehicle to make the height lower.
It is easier for the hybrid battery (trac-
tion battery) in the under floor area to come in contact with the ground when the vehicle is lowered. If the hybrid
battery (traction battery) is damaged, a vehicle fire may occur which could lead to death or serious injury.

99
2
2-1. Plug-in hybrid system
Plug-in hybrid system
There is an air intake vent under
the rear seat for cooling the DC/DC
converter.
Blocking the air intake vent may
prevent the plug-in hybrid system
from operating properly.
When a certain level of impact is
detected by the impact sensor, the
emergency shut off system blocks
off the high voltage current and
NOTICE
■Notice about fuel
●For Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehi-
cles, fuel may remain in the tank for a long time and undergo changes in quality depending on the how the
vehicle is used. Refuel at least 20 L (5.3 gal., 4.4 Imp.gal.) of fuel every 12 months (refuel a total of at least
20 L [5.3 gal., 4.4 Imp.gal.] over a 12-month period), as this may affect components of the fuel sys-
tem or the gasoline engine.
●If the vehicle has not been refueled
for a certain amount of time and it is possible that the quality of the fuel remaining in the tank has changed,
“No New Fuel has been Added Recently Please refuel” is displayed on the multi-information display
when the power switch is turned to ON. If the message is displayed, refuel the vehicle immediately.
DC/DC converter air intake
vent
NOTICE
■DC/DC converter air intake vent
●Make sure not to block the air
intake vent with anything, such as a seat cover, plastic cover, or lug-gage. Blocking the air intake vent
may prevent the plug-in hybrid sys- tem from operating properly.
●When dust etc. has accumulated in the air intake vent, clean it with a vacuum cleaner to prevent the vent
from clogging.
●Do not wet or allow foreign sub-
stances to enter the air vent as this may cause a short circuit and dam-age the DC/DC converter.
●Do not carry large amounts of water such as water cooler bottles in the
vehicle. If water spills onto the DC/DC converter, the converter may be damaged. Have the vehicle
inspected by any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer.
●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 the filter, refer to P.504.
●If “Maintenance required for DCDC converter cooling parts See Owner’s Manual” is shown on the
multi-information display, the air intake vent and filter may be clogged. Refer to P.504 for informa-
tion on how to clean the air intake vent.
Emergency shut off system

1002-1. Plug-in hybrid system
stops the fuel pump to minimize the
risk of electrocution and fuel leak-
age.
If the emergency shut off system
activates, your vehicle will not
restart. To restart the hybrid sys-
tem, contact any authorized Toyota
retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
A message is automatically dis-
played when a malfunction occurs
in the hybrid system or an improper
operation is attempted.
If a warning message is shown on
the multi-information display, read
the message and follow the instruc-
tions.
■If a warning light comes on, a warn-
ing message is displayed or the 12-
volt battery is disconnected
The hybrid system may not start. In that
case, try to start the system again. If the
“READY” indicator does not come on,
contact any authorized Toyota retailer or
Toyota authorized repairer, or any reli-
able repairer.
Primarily using EV mode and
AUTO EV/HV mode when driving in
cities and using HV mode when
driving on highways (or freeways)
can help conserve fuel and electric-
ity. (P.86)
When using Eco drive mode, the
torque corresponding to the accel-
erator pedal depression amount
can be generated more smoothly
than it is in normal conditions. In
addition, the operation of the air
conditioning system (heating/cool-
ing) will be minimized, improving
fuel and electricity economy.
(P.411)
Eco-friendly driving is possible by
keeping the Hybrid System Indica-
tor within Eco area. (P.190, 196)
Hybrid warning message
Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle driving tips
For economical and ecological
driving, pay attention to the
following points:
Using EV mode, AUTO
EV/HV mode and HV mode
effectively
Using Eco drive mode
Use of Hybrid System Indi-
cator

101
2 2-1. Plug-in hybrid system
Plug-in hybrid system
Shift the shift lever to D when
stopped at a traffic light, or driving
in heavy traffic etc. Shift the shift
lever to P when parking. When
using the N, there is no positive
effect on fuel consumption. In the
N, the gasoline engine operates but
electricity cannot be generated.
Also, when using the air condition-
ing system, etc., the hybrid battery
(traction battery) power is con-
sumed.
Drive your vehicle smoothly.
Avoid abrupt acceleration and
deceleration. Gradual accelera-
tion and deceleration will make
more effective use of the electric
motor (traction motor) without
having to use gasoline engine
power.
Avoid repeated acceleration.
Repeated acceleration con-
sumes hybrid battery (traction
battery) power, resulting in poor
fuel consumption. Battery power
can be restored by driving with
the accelerator pedal slightly
released.
Make sure to operate the brakes
gently and a timely manner. A greater amount of electrical energy
can be regenerated when slowing
down.
Repeated acceleration and decel-
eration, as well as long waits at traf-
fic lights, will lead to high fuel and
electricity consumption. Check traf-
fic reports before leaving and avoid
delays as much as possible. When
driving in a traffic jam, gently
release the brake pedal to allow the
vehicle to move forward slightly
while avoiding overuse of the accel-
erator pedal. Doing so can help
control excessive electricity and
fuel consumption.
Control and maintain the vehicle
at a constant speed. Before stop-
ping at a toll booth or similar,
allow plenty of time to release
the accelerator and gently apply
the brakes. A greater amount of
electrical energy can be regener-
ated when slowing down.
Electricity consumption will
increase significantly when driv-
ing at high speeds in EV mode or
AUTO EV/HV mode. If there will
be a long distance to the next
external charging point after
leaving a freeway, it is recom-
mended to drive in HV mode
while on the freeway and change
Shift lever operation
Accelerator pedal/brake
pedal operation
When braking
Delays
Highway driving

1022-1. Plug-in hybrid system
to EV mode or AUTO EV/HV
mode after leaving the freeway.
(P.86)
Turn the “A/C” switch off when it
is not needed. Doing so can help
reduce excessive electricity and
fuel consumption.
In summer: When the ambient tem-
perature is high, use the recirculated air
mode. Doing so will help to reduce the
burden on the air conditioning system
and reduce electricity and fuel con-
sumption as well.
In winter: Avoid excessive and unnec-
essary use of the heater. Usage of the
heated steering wheel (if equipped) and
seat heaters are effective. (P.440)
Using the Remote Air Condition-
ing System (P.438) while the
AC charging cable is connected
to the vehicle can reduce elec-
tricity consumption immediately
after starting off by operating air
conditioning mainly using elec-
tricity from an external power
source.
When setting the charging
schedule, setting the charging
mode to “Departure” or “Depar-
ture time” and “Climate Prep” or
“Climate preparation” to on can
reduce electricity consumption
immediately after starting off by
operating air conditioning before
charging is completed. (P.144)Make sure to check the tire inflation
pressure frequently. If there is
improper tire inflation pressure in
the tires, the EV driving range will
become shorter, and fuel consump-
tion when in HV mode will increase.
Also, as snow tires can cause large
amounts of friction, their use on dry
roads can lead to increased fuel
and electricity consumption.
Carrying heavy luggage will lead to
poor fuel economy. Avoid carrying
unnecessary luggage. Installing a
large roof rack will also cause poor
fuel economy.
Since the gasoline engine starts up
and cuts out automatically, warm-
ing up is not necessary.
Air conditioning
Checking tire inflation pres-
sure
Luggage
Warming up before driving