Hello again! I've had my '12 450 for about 4 months now. I previously had an 06 rx400. I have noticed that the battery on the new one is almost always at the top bar of the battery pack or it is completey full. With the 06 I only saw a full battery once. The 06 was FWD where the new one is Awd. I'm assuming I'm getting extra regen from the rear motors. Does this seem normal to everyone? I have had several Toyota hybrids and this is a first for me. Thanks for any help! I'm not sure what is normal on the newer rx's

 

My 2013 RX450h AWD reaches "full" upon occasion -- I can't say for sure if it's really more or less than my previous RX400h AWD, as it varies so greatly from so many conditions. I would expect Toyota/Lexus has some way made improvements or at least changes to the programming from what Lexus' (and my) original 2006 Gen2 Hybrid had, to how my present Gen3 RXh operates that's 7 years older. I personally don't try to second guess what the hybrid computer is doing, and would not be concerned.

Enjoy that new-to-you RX450h!!!

 

Technically, the battery is never fully charged or discharged. For longevity reasons, the battery is shallow-cycled. The actual working range may be somewhere between 38% and 82% (Gen II Prius). The hybrid system will try to keep it somewhere in the middle, so you can benefit from regen braking and idling when cold.
What changed is likely how the battery levels are displayed. What used to be middle may now be full. This is likely to give more confidence to hybrid drivers, who could have thought not having a "full" battery was a sign of battery loosing its capacity with age.

 

What a great answer! It makes so much sense, and it would be just like Lexus! Seriously, it's well researched and well reasoned responses like this that keep me coming back to this forum!

Thank you

 

Woody, I'm glad you like my reasoning and a bit of technical knowledge of Toyota's hybrid implementation.