Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Information

What is a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor and a rechargeable high-voltage battery, which allows you to use only electricity to drive your vehicle.

How a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Works

Charging your vehicle adds electrical energy that powers the vehicle. Regularly plug in your vehicle to get optimum electric-only driving range from the high-voltage battery. The system maximizes the use of electric-only mode in normal driving mode whenever possible. System conditions may require the engine to operate when necessary.

When the electric-only driving range reaches zero, the powertrain system switches to hybrid operation. This means you have depleted the energy obtained from plugging in and charging the vehicle. Both the gasoline engine and electric motor power your vehicle and maximize fuel economy while operating in hybrid mode. You will get some electric driving with hybrid operation as the powertrain system maintains the high-voltage battery charge within functional limits.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Driving Characteristics

The gasoline engine automatically starts and stops to provide power when required and save fuel when it is not needed. Restarting the vehicle is not required. Simply depress the accelerator pedal when you are ready to drive. When coasting at low speeds, approaching a stop, or stopped, the gasoline engine normally shuts off and your vehicle operates in electric-only mode.

Conditions that may cause the gasoline engine to start or continue running include:

• Significant vehicle acceleration.
• Driving uphill.
• The high-voltage battery state of charge is low.
• Heating or cooling the cabin at high or low outside temperatures.
• The gasoline engine is below normal operating temperature.
• Towing a trailer.
• Some driving modes may cause the engine to start.

Your plug-in hybrid electric vehicle has several electric vehicle driving modes to improve your driving experience.

Your hybrid vehicle also features standard hydraulic braking and regenerative braking. Regenerative braking is performed by your transmission and captures braking energy and stores it in the high-voltage battery.

You may also notice that your engine continues to run rather than shutting off during extended downhill driving. The engine remains on during this engine braking but does not use any fuel.

You may also hear a slight whine or whistle while driving. This is normal operation of the electric motor in the hybrid system.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Indicators

When you start the vehicle, the green Ready indicator appears in the instrument cluster to let you know that your vehicle is ready to drive.

The engine may not start because your vehicle has a silent key-start feature. This fuel-saving feature allows your vehicle to be ready to drive without requiring the gasoline engine to run.

The indicator remains on while your vehicle is on, whether or not the engine is running, to indicate that your vehicle is capable of moving under electric motor power, gasoline engine power, or both.

Generally, the engine does not start if the vehicle is cold, a climate control change is requested, or you press the accelerator pedal.

What is Low Engine Use Mode

Low Engine Use Mode maintains proper engine lubrication at sufficient temperature and is activated when you drive your vehicle with limited engine operation.

How Low Engine Use Mode Works

In Low Engine Use Mode, your vehicle starts the engine as needed. When Low Engine Use Mode begins, a message appears in the information display. If Low Engine Use Mode is not completed before you switch off the vehicle, it will continue the next time you start the vehicle, and the message appears again.