Road test of the Lexus 2008 Lexus LS 600h L
 

Some good info from the new model, I'm not sure if everyone has read this yet but it has some really neat features.

5,220lbs and still runs 14.0The temperature of the hybrid system cannot be too hot or too cold. In other words, if the car is left parked in Death Valley on a summer day or in Anchorage in the dead of winter, EV mode will not work. Same result if the car has sat for a long period of time or traveled long distances at high speeds.

Hmm, a lot of people live in those types of environments, may be a huge problem.

2008 Lexus LS 600h L

Re: Road test of the Lexus 2008 Lexus LS 600h L
 

That's no different from any other hybrid. HSD is very picky about how and when it uses the battery, and won't use it if it is too hot or too cold (32F is the lower limit). That's just to ensure that the pack lasts the life of the car, and I'm sure Honda has similar safeguards. No big deal.

Re: Road test of the Lexus 2008 Lexus LS 600h L
 

Gotcha, its never happend to me in my HCH I - so i guess I never thought about it!

Re: Road test of the Lexus 2008 Lexus LS 600h L
 

It looks like you just got your Civic (congratulations!) so you haven't had time to pick up on the nuances of its hybrid system. What you will probably see from a Honda under extreme hot or cold conditions is a reduced willingness to apply electric boost or charge the battery under braking. Current flows will be kept low until the battery gets to a more comfortable temperature. But since that ICE always spins anyway you won't notice much. Maybe a little slugishness and probably a temporary drop in fuel economy depending on what kind of driving you do.

Re: Road test of the Lexus 2008 Lexus LS 600h L
 

Off to News and Journalism for this News and Journalism story.