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240 4-2. Driving procedures ■ Situations in which EV drive mode cannot be turned on It may not be possible to turn EV drive mode on in the following situa- tions. If it cannot be turned on, a buzzer will sound and a message will be shown on the multi-informa- tion display. ● The temperature of the hybrid sys- tem is high. The vehicle has been left in the sun, driven on a hill, driven at high speeds, etc. ● The temperature of the hybrid sys- tem is low. The vehicle has been left in tem- peratures lower than about 68°F (20°C) for a long period of time etc. ● The gasoline engine is warming up. ● The hybrid battery (traction bat- tery) is low. The remaining battery level indi- cated in the Energy monitor dis- play is low. ( ● Vehicle speed is high. ● The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill etc. ● The windshield defogger is in use. Use the EV drive mode when it ■ Switching to EV drive mode when the gasoline engine is cold If the hybrid system is started while the gasoline engine is cold, the gas- oline engine will start automatically after a short period of time in order to warm up. 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 following situations. When EV drive mode is canceled, a buzzer will sound, the EV drive mode indicator will flash and go off and a message will be shown on the multi-information display. ● The hybrid battery (traction bat- tery) becomes low. The remaining battery level indi- cated in the Energy monitor dis- play is low. ( ● Vehicle speed is high. ● The accelerator pedal is depressed firmly or the vehicle is on a hill etc. Drive the vehicle for a while before attempting to turn on the EV drive mode again. ■ Possible driving distance when driving in EV drive mode EV drive mode’s possible driving distance ranges from a few hundred meters to approximately 0.6 mile (1 km). However, depending on vehi- cle conditions, there are situations when EV drive mode cannot be used. (The distance that is possible depends on the hybrid battery [trac- tion battery] level and driving condi- tions.) ■ Fuel economy The hybrid system is designed to achieve the best possible fuel econ- omy during normal driving (using the gasoline engine and electric motor [traction motor]). Driving in EV drive mode more than neces- sary may lower fuel economy. ■ If “EV Mode Unavailable” is shown on the multi-information display The EV drive mode is not available. The reason the EV drive mode is not available (the vehicle is idling, |