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Hybrid Vehicles Lexus RX 400h Lexus RX 400h: Driving Tips & Tricks
110 messages, Last post on Sep 10, 2007 at 8:21 AM
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Just got my RX400h Friday night and still learning a lot. Just over 100 miles on it and wondering a few things about the hybrid battery. - So far have not seen the charge level go to the top of the battery, just up to the + - signs. Will it normally go higher after running more? - I have been surprised at how quickly the battery level drops down with the car not running for a few hours or overnight. Is this typical? - Coast or brake? When I coast, the display shows energy going from wheels to battery but the power meter is at 0. When I brake, the power meter goes down into the blue showing it is charging a lot. So is it better in the long run to wait until brakes are needed to slow down or start coasting and slowing down as soon as possible? - Brake vs B? What are pros and cons of using B shift position compared to using brakes? Any point to to using B position when approaching stop signs/lights? jc
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Replying to: hilandr05 (Mar 06, 2006 7:26 pm)  The batt meter will show a charge all the way to the top under certain conditions like long down hills where brakes are used alot. But normally it keeps it at about 2 bars below "full" and will turn off the engine before it goes above that. The HSD batteries are very small. They are only good for short operation and peak demand. The batteries are also very sensitive to temperature so when you come out to the car in the morning they are cold and therefore may display a lower charge level. It is not that they have drained overnight. In fact the propulsion batteries (the ones displayed on the screen) are not used at all when the car is off. That drain is taken from the 12v battery under the hood. It is always better to coast. Braking (even regenerative braking) has parasitic losses associated with it that eat away at your economy. As soon as you see a need to reduce speed ahead take your foot off the acc pedal completely. This "foot off" (then gradually back on) technique can also be used to maintain a constant speed once you are at cruise. It seems to trick the HSD system into using the eclectics and the ICE together more than it would if you just eased off on the acc. The B pos uses ICE engine compression to slow the car rather than the electrics. This means you lose the energy that could have been put back into the batteries. It is mostly for long down hills where the batteries are full and you loose the drag caused by the regeneration. It keeps you from having to ride the brakes (disks) so that they will work when you really need them. Hope this helps you better understand the amazing vehicle you have just purchased. Good luck, have fun. I sometimes use the B pos to maneuver in traffic without having to move my foot to the brake pedel. But as soon as the need is past, I move it back into D.
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Replying to: skyfish400h (Mar 07, 2006 3:17 pm) 
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| I just got my 400h yesterday. How does the ICE get started? You don't hear any kind of starter noise as it engages. It just seems to start running magically. | |
Does anyone have any experience with driving the RX400h on dirt roads? The Owner's Manual and the Lexus web site say not to the drive the 400h "off road". Does that mean you can't drive it on dirt roads? Or does it mean you can't drive it on very uneven terrain that you would normally think of as 4 wheel drive country? It kind of stinks if you can't even drive it on a dirt road.
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Replying to: lonlin68 (Oct 02, 2006 9:29 am) The rear wheels have electric motors whic will overheat if they are used too often. So you could go on those dirt roads, but probably not mud. The AWD is designed for infrequent use, when the front wheels temporarily lose traction. Don't plan on driving it anywhere that you would need a lot of 4WD. |
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Replying to: lonlin68 (Oct 02, 2006 9:29 am) "Thank you for contacting Lexus Customer Satisfaction. We are dedicated to providing superior service. In circumstances that require our attention, we will assist in the resolution process. The RX 400h is intended for use for paved driving. Off-road use should be limited, for example: a flat dirt road will be fine. Serious off-roading like large mud puddles, fording streams, rock climbs, etc. should NOT be performed by the RX 400h. Your local Lexus dealership may be able to tell you if your RX 400h can handle your local road conditions. We apologize for any misunderstanding you may have had. Please be assured that your inquiry has been documented. If you require further assistance, please respond to this e-mail, or contact Lexus Customer Satisfaction at 1-800-255-3987, Monday through Friday, 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time." Looks like we can do some driving on non-paved roads.
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Replying to: lonlin68 (Oct 05, 2006 5:05 pm) |
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| Now that some parts of the country are getting some serious snow I am interested in how the 400h handles in the snow. I am particularly interested in finding out if it has any advantages over the 330 given the electric motors. | |
A foot of wet snow should be a decent test of the new hybrid. Two feet would be a better test. May have to wait for that to happen.
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