traction LEXUS RX450H 2016 User Guide

841-3. Hybrid system
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WARNING
■Hybrid battery (traction battery)
●Never resell, hand over or modify the hybrid battery. To prevent accidents, hybrid
batteries that have been removed from a disposed vehicle are collected through
Lexus dealer. Do not dispose of the battery 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 hybrid vehicle. If the hybrid battery is used outside of your vehicle or modified in any way, accidents
such as electric shock, heat generation , smoke generation, an explosion and elec-
trolyte 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 without the hybrid battery having been removed, there is
a danger of serious 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 your Lexus dealer or a qualified service shop. If the hybrid bat-
tery is not disposed of properly, it may cause electric shock that can result in death or
serious injury.
NOTICE
■Hybrid battery (traction battery) air intake/discharge vents
●Do not place objects that will block the air intake vents. The hybrid battery (traction
battery) may overheat and be damaged.
●Clean the air intake/discharge vents regularl y to prevent the hybrid battery (traction
battery) from overheating.
●Do not get water or foreign materials in either the air intake/discharge vents 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 (tract ion battery), the battery may be damaged.
Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.

1002. Instrument cluster
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■The meters and display illuminate when
The power switch is in ON mode.
■Hybrid System Indicator Charge area
Shows regenerative charging.
Hybrid Eco area
Shows that gasoline en gine 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 dr iven in an Eco-friendly manner.
Power area
Shows that an Eco-friendly driving range is being exceeded (during full power driving
etc.)
●Depending on the selected driving mode, th e Hybrid System Indicator or tachometer
will be displayed. The Hybrid System Indica tor or tachometer can be set to always be
displayed on of the mult i-information display. (P. 109)
●The Hybrid System Indicator is disp layed in the following situations:
• When the tachometer setting is set to ch ange according to the driving mode and a
driving mode other than sport mode is selected
• When the tachometer setting is set to al ways display the Hybrid System Indicator
●By keeping the indicator needle (except F SPORT models) or bar display (F SPORT
models) within the Eco area, more Eco-friendly driving can be achieved.
●Charge area indicates “regeneration”* status. Regenerated energy will be used to
charge the hybrid battery (traction battery).
*: When used in this manual, re generation refers to the conversion of energy created by
the movement of the vehicle into electrical energy.
Except F SPORT modelsF SPORT models
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2
3
4

1252. Instrument cluster
2
Instrument cluster
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Navigation system screen
Press the “MENU” button on the
Remote Touch, then select on the
“Menu” screen, and then select “Fuel
Consumption”.
If the “Trip Information” or “Past Record”
screen is displayed, select “Energy”.
Multi-information display
Press the “ ” or “” of the meter control switches and select , and then press
the “ ” or “ ” to select the energy monitor display.
Energy monitor
Navigation system screenMulti-information display
When the vehicle is
powered by the elec-
tric motor (traction
motor)
When the vehicle is
powered by both the
gasoline engine and
the electric motor
(traction motor)
When the vehicle is
powered by the gaso-
line engine

1262. Instrument cluster
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These images are examples only, and may vary slightly from actual conditions.
When the vehicle is
charging the hybrid
battery (traction bat-
tery)
When there is no
energy flow
Hybrid battery (trac-
tion battery) status
LowFullLowFull
Navigation system screenMulti-information display

2064-1. Before driving
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■Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observin g the following precautions is recommended:
●For the first 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 500 miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer.
●For the first 1000 miles (1600 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 registration laws and confirm the availability of the cor-
rect fuel. ( P. 591)
■Eco-friendly driving
 P. 121
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 accelerator ped-
als to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator 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 difficulty in operat-
ing the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving po sture 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.
●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 flammable material nearby.

2374-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
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Turns EV drive mode on/off
When EV drive mode is turned on, the
EV drive mode indicator will come on.
Pressing 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 cannot be turned on
It may not be possible to turn EV drive mode on in the following situations. If it cannot be
turned on, a buzzer will sound and a message will be shown on the multi-information dis-
play.
●The temperature of the hybrid system is high.
The vehicle has been left in the sun, driv en 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 (tra ction battery) is low.
The remaining battery level indicated in the “Energy Monitor” display is low. (P. 125)
●Vehicle speed is high.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill, etc.
●The windshield defogger is in use.
EV drive mode
In EV drive mode, electric power is su pplied by the hybrid battery (traction
battery), and only the electric motor (traction motor) is used to drive the vehi-
cle.
This mode allows you to drive in reside ntial areas early in the morning and late
at night, or in indoor parking lots, etc., without concern for noises and gas
emissions.
However, when the vehicle proximity noti fication system is active, the vehicle
may produce sound.

2384-2. Driving procedures
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■Switching to EV drive mode wh en the gasoline engine is cold
If the hybrid system is started while the gasoline 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 gasoline engine starts to switch to EV drive mode.
■Automatic cancelation of EV drive mode
When driving in EV drive mode, the gasoline engine may automatically restart in the fol-
lowing situations. When EV drive mode is canceled, a buzzer will sound, the EV drive
mode indicator will go off afte r flashing, and a message is displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display.
●The hybrid battery (traction battery) becomes low.
The remaining battery level indicated in the “Energy Monitor” display is low. (P. 125)
●Vehicle speed is high.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill, etc.
■Possible driving distance when driving in EV drive mode
EV drive mode’s possible driving distance ranges from a few hundred meters to approxi-
mately 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 th e best possible fuel economy during normal
driving (using the gasoline engine and electr ic motor [traction motor]). Driving in EV
drive mode more than necess ary may lower fuel economy.
WARNING
■Caution while driving
When driving in EV drive mode no engine noise is made. As such, pedestrians, people
riding bicycles or other people and vehicles in the surrounding area may not be aware
of the vehicle starting off or approaching th em. Therefore, take extra care while driving
even if the vehicle proximity notification system is active.

2434-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
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WARNING
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Be careful of downshifting and sudden acceleration, as this could result in the vehicle
skidding to the side or spinning.
NOTICE
■Hybrid battery (traction battery) charge
If the shift lever is in N, the hybrid battery (traction ba ttery) will not be charged even
when the engine is running. Therefore, if the vehicle is left with th e shift lever in N for a
long period of time, the hybrid battery (t raction battery) will discharge, and this may
result in the vehicle not being able to start.

3814-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
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◆ECB (Electronically Controlled Brake System)
The electronically controlled system generates braking force corresponding
to the brake operation
◆ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps to prevent wheel lock when the br akes are applied suddenly, or if the
brakes are applied while drivin g on a slippery road surface
◆Brake assist
Generates an increased level of br aking force after the brake pedal is
depressed when the system detects a panic stop situation
◆VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
Helps the driver to contro l skidding when swerving suddenly or turning on
slippery road surfaces
◆Enhanced VSC (Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control)
Provides cooperative control of the ABS, TRAC, VSC and EPS.
Helps to maintain directional stability when swerving on slippery road sur-
faces by controlling steering performance.
◆TRAC (Traction Control)
Helps to maintain drive power and pr event the drive wheels from spinning
when starting the vehicle or accelerating on slippery roads
◆Hill-start assist control
Prevents the vehicle from rolling backward when starting on an incline or slip-
pery slope
◆EPS (Electric Power Steering)
Employs an electric motor to reduce the amount of effort needed to turn the
steering wheel
Driving assist systems
To help enhance driving safety and perf ormance, the following systems oper-
ate automatically in response to variou s driving situations. Be aware, however,
that these systems are supplementary and should not be relied upon too heav-
ily when operating the vehicle.

3834-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
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The slip indicator light will flash while
the TRAC/VSC/Trailer Sway Control/
ABS systems are operating.
If the vehicle gets stuck in mud, dirt or snow, the TRAC system may reduce
power from the hybrid system to the wheels. Pressing to turn the system
off may make it easier for you to rock the vehicle in order to free it.To turn the TRAC system off, quickly
press and release .
The “Traction Control Turned Off”
will be shown on the multi-informa-
tion display. Press again to
turn the system back on.
When the TRAC/VSC/Tra iler Sway Control/ABS systems are operat-
ing
Disabling the TRAC system