Lexus GS450h, 2013 GS450h User Manual

Hybrid

2013 Model

2

nd

Generation

© 2012 Toyota Motor Corporation
All rights reserved. This document may not be
altered without the written permission of Toyota Motor Corporation.

13 Lexus GS450h ERG REV – (02/14/12)

-i-

Foreword

In April 2006, Lexus release the 1st generation Lexus GS450h gasoline­electric hybrid vehicle in North America. To educate an d ass is t
emergency responders in the safe handling of Lexus GS450h
technology, Lexus published the 2007 GS450h Emergency Response
Guide.

With the release of the 2

nd

generation Lexus GS450h in March 2012, a
new 2013 Lexus GS450h Emergency Response Guide was published
for emergency responders. While many features from the 1

st

generation
model are similar, emergency responders should recognize and
understand the new, updated features of the 2

nd

generation GS450h

covered in this guide.

High voltage electricity powers the electric motor, generator, air
conditioning (A/C) compressor and inverter/converter. All other
automotive electrical devices such as the head lights, radio, and gauges
are powered from a separate 12 Volt auxiliary battery. Numerous
safeguards have been designed into the GS450h to help ensure the high
voltage, approximately 288 Volt, Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)
Hybrid Vehicle (HV) battery pack is kept safe and secure in an accident.

The GS450h utilizes the following electrical systems:

• Maximum 650 Volts AC

• Nominal 288 Volts DC

• Maximum 46 Volts AC

• Nominal 12 Volts DC

2

nd

generation GS450h Features:

• Complete model change with a new exterior and interior design.

• A boost converter in the inverter/converter that boosts the available

voltage to the electric motor to 650 Volts.

• A high voltage Hybrid Vehicle (HV) battery pack rated at 288 Volts.

• A high voltage motor driven Air Conditioning (A/C) compressor

rated at 288 Volts.

• A body electrical system rated at 12 Volts, negative chassis ground.

• Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) – dual stage frontal airbags,

knee airbags, front and rear seat side airbags, side curtain airbags
and front and rear outer seat belt pretensioners.

• An Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist motor rated at 46 Volts.

High voltage electrical safety remains an important factor in the
emergency handling of the GS450h Lexus Hybrid Drive. It is
important to recognize and un derstand the disabling procedures and
warnings throughout the guide.

Additional topics in the guide include:

• GS450h identification.

•

Major Lexus Hybrid Drive component locations and de scriptions.

•

Extrication, fire, recovery, and additional emergency response
information.

•

Roadside assistance information.

2013 Model Year GS450h 2007 - 2012 Model Year GS450h

This guide is intended to assist emergency responders in the safe
handling of a GS450h vehicle during an incident.

NOTE:

Emergency Response Guides for Lexus hybrid and alternative fuel
vehicles may be viewed at http://techinfo.lexus.com.

-ii-

Table of Contents Page

About the GS450h 1
GS450h Identification 2
Lexus Hybrid Drive Component Locations & Descriptions 5
Smart Access System with Push-Button Start 8

Lexus Hybrid Drive Operation 11

Hybrid Vehicle (HV) Battery Pack 13

46 Volt System 14

Low Voltage Battery 15
High Voltage Safety 16
SRS Airbags & Seat Belt Pretensioners 17
Emergency Response 19
Extrication 19

Fire 25
Overhaul 26
Recovering/Recycling of NiMH HV Batter y Pa ck 27
Spills 27
First Aid 27
Submersion 28

Roadside Assistance 29

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About the GS450h

The GS450h 4-door sedan joins the LS600h L, RX450h, HS250h and
CT200h as a hybrid model for Lexus. Lexus Hybrid Drive means that
the vehicle contains a gasoline engine and an electric motor for power.
The two hybrid power sources are stored on board the vehicle:

1. Gasoline stored in the fuel tank for the gasoline engine.

2. Electricity stored in a high voltage Hybrid Vehicle (HV) battery pack

for the electric motor.

The result of combining these two power sources is improved fuel
economy and reduced emissions. The gasoline engine also powers an
electric generator to recharge the batter y pack; unlike a pure all electric
vehicle, the GS450h never needs to be recharged from an external
electric power source.

Depending on the driving conditions one or both sources are used to
power the vehicle. The following illustration demonstrates how the
GS450h operates in various driving modes.

n

During light acceleration at low speeds, the vehicle is powered by
the electric motor. The gasoline engine is shut off.

o

During normal driving, the vehicle is powered mainly by the
gasoline engine. The gasoline engine also powers the generator to
recharge the battery pack and to drive t he motor.

p

During full acceleration, such as climbing a hill, both the gasoline
engine and the electric motor power the vehicle.

q

During deceleration, such as when braking, the vehicle regenerates
kinetic energy from the rear wheels to produce electricity that
recharges the battery pack.

r

While the vehicle is stopped, the gasoline eng i ne and electric motor
are off, however the vehicle remains on and operational.

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GS450h Identification

In appearance, the 2013 model year GS450h is nearly identical to the
conventional, non-hybrid Lexus GS350. The GS450h is a 4-door sedan.
Exterior, interior, and engine compartment illustrations are provided to
assist in identification.

The alphanumeric 17 character Vehicle Identification Numbe r (VIN) is
provided in the front windshield cowl, engine compartment, and on the
driver side B pillar.

Example VIN: JTHBS1BL0D5000101

A GS450h is identified by the first 8 alphanumeric characters
JTHBS1BL.

Driver Side Windshield Cowl and Engine Compartment Cowl

Driver Side B Pillar

Exterior

n and logos on the trunk.
o logo on the rocker moldings.

p Gasoline fuel filler door located on the driver side rear quarter panel.

Exterior Driver Side View

Exterior Front and Rear View

Exterior Rear and Driver Side View

o

n

n

-3-

GS450h Identification (Continued)

Interior

q The instrument cluster (hybrid system indicator, READY indicator, and

warning lights) located in the dash behind the steering wheel, is different
than the one on the conventional, non-hybrid GS350.

r A switchable gauge in the instrument cluster showing either a hybrid

system indicator or a tachometer depending on driving mode.

NOTE:
If the vehicle is shut off, the instrument cluster gauges will be “blacked
out”, not illuminated.

Interior View

Instrument Cluster View

Hybrid System Indicator

Tachometer

q

r

READY Indicator

For U.S.A.

For Canada.

r

For U.S.A. For Canada.

For U.S.A. For Canada.

-4-

GS450h Identification (Continued)

Engine Compartment

s 3.5-liter aluminum alloy gasoline engine.
t Logo on the plastic engine cover.

Engine Compartment View

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Lexus Hybrid Drive Component Locations & Descriptions

Component Location Description

12 Volt
Auxiliary
Battery n

Driver Side of
Trunk

A lead-acid battery that supplies power to
the low voltage devices.

Hybrid
Vehicle (HV)
Battery Pack
o

Trunk Area,
Mounted behind
Rear Seat

288 Volt Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)
battery pack consisting of 40 low voltage
(7.2 Volt) modules connected in series.

Power
Cables p

Undercarriage
and Engine
Compartment

Orange colored power cables carry high
voltage Direct Current (DC) between
the HV battery pack, inverter/converter,
and A/C compressor. These cables also
carry 3-phase Alternating Current (AC)
between the inverter/converter, electric
motor, and generator.

Inverter/
Converter q

Engine
Compartment

Boosts and inverts the high voltage
electricity from the HV battery pack to 3­phase AC electricity that drives the electric
motor. The inverter/converter also converts
AC electricity from the electric generator
and electric motor (regenerative braking) to

DC that recharges the HV battery pack.
Gasoline
Engine r

Engine
Compartment

Provides two functions:

1) Powers vehicle.

2) Powers generator to recharge the HV

battery pack.

The engine is started and stopped under

control of the vehicle computer.
Electric
Motor s

Transmission

3-phase high voltage AC perm ane nt

magnet electric motor contained in the

transmission and drives the rear wheels

through the propeller shaft.

Electric
Generator t

Transmission

3-phase high voltage AC generator that

is contained in the transmissi on an d

recharges the HV battery pack.

Lexus Hybrid Drive Components

Components (Top View) and High Voltage Power Cables

-6-

Lexus Hybrid Drive Component Locations & Descriptions
(Continued)

Component Location Description

A/C
Compressor
(with
Inverter) u

Engine
Compartment

3-phase high voltage AC electrically driven

motor compre ssor.

DC-DC
Converter
for 12 Volt
Auxiliary
Batteryv

Engine
Compartment

Converts 288 Volts from the HV battery

pack to 12 Volts for low voltage vehicle

power.

DC-DC
Converter
for EPS w

On HV battery
pack

Converts 288 Volts from the HV battery

pack to 46 Volts for EPS. Dull yellow

colored sheathing identifies 46 Volts wires

that are routed under the vehicle body to

power the EPS.
Fuel Tank
and Fuel Line

Undercarriage
and Driver Side
and Center

The fuel tank provides gasoline via a

fuel line to the engine. The fuel line is

routed along the driver side and center

tunnel under the floor pan.

Fuel Tank and Fuel Line

-7-

Lexus Hybrid Drive Component Locations & Descriptions
(Continued)

Key Specifications:

Gasoline Engine: 289 hp (213 kW), 3.5-liter Aluminum Alloy Engine

Electric Motor: 200 hp (147 kW), Permanent Magnet Motor

Transmission: Automatic Only

HV Battery: 288 Volt Sealed NiMH

Battery

Curb Weight: 4,112 – 4,211 lbs/1,865 - 1910 kg

Fuel Tank: 17.5 gals/66.3 liters

Fuel Economy

Ratings: 29/34 (City/ Hwy) miles/gal

8.2/7.0 (City/ Hwy) liters/100 km

Frame Material: Steel Unibody

Body Material: Stee l Panels except for Aluminum Hood

Seating Capacity: 5 passenger

Steel Unibody

Aluminum Hoo

d

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Smart Access System with Push-Button Start

The GS450h smart access system consists of a smart key transceive r that
communicates bi-directionally, enabling the vehicle to recognize the
smart key in proximity to the vehicle. Once recognized, the smart key
will allow the user to lock and unlock the doors without pushing smart
key buttons, and start the vehicle without inserting it into an ignition
switch.

Smart key features:

•

Passive (remote) function to lock/unlock the doors, unlock the trunk,
and start the vehicle.

•

Wireless transmitter buttons to lock/unlock all 4 doors and unlock the
trunk.

•

Hidden metal cut key to lock/unlock the doors, glove box, and unlock
the trunk.

The GS450h is equipped with 2 types of smart keys:

• Smart key (fob)

• Card smart key (optional)

The card smart key is designed to be stored in a wallet and has all the
same functions as the smart key (fob), except push buttons.

Door (Lock/Unlock)

There are several methods available to lock/unlock the doors.

• Pushing the smart key lock button will lock all doors.

Pushing the smart key unlock button once unlock the driver door, twice
unlocks all doors.

• Touching the unlock touch sensor on the backside of the any exterior door

handle, with the smart key in close proximity to the vehicle, unlocks the
doors. Touching the lock touch sensor on the frontside of the any exterior
door handle locks the doors.

• Inserting the hidden metal cut key in the driver door lock and turning

clockwise once unlocks the driver door, twice unlocks all doors. To lock
all doors turn the key counterclockwise once. Only the driver door contains
an exterior door lock for the metal cut key.

Smart Key (Fob) Hidden Metal Cut Key for Door Loc k

Optional Card Smart Key and Hidden

Metal Cut Key for Door Lock

Driver Door Unlock Touch Sensor and

Lock Touch Sensor

Front Driver Door Lock

Release Button

Lock Touch Sensor

Unlock Touch Sensor

Release Button

Use the Hidden Metal Cut Key

Lock Touch Sensor