Does the 350h do any type of active warming on its battery pack when it’s cold?

 

"Yes, the Lexus 350h does perform active warming on its battery pack when it's cold, essentially heating the battery to optimize its performance in low temperatures; this is a standard feature in most hybrid vehicles to ensure efficient battery operation in cold weather.

Key points about the Lexus 350h battery warming:

• Automatic activation:
  The system automatically activates when the ambient temperature drops below a certain threshold.
• Heat source:
  The car's engine coolant is typically used to provide heat to the battery pack.
• Improved performance:
  Warming the battery improves its ability to store and deliver power, leading to better fuel economy and driving performance in cold conditions."

 

Thanks Rath.

 

Just curious, what does the cold weather pkg in USA get you? In Canada it's not optioned this way, I think it's just built in standard, we get heated steering wheel and seats, wiper blade de-icer, side mirror defrost. I ask because anyone who's ever looked at a map can see some northern states are further north than southern Ontario is, yet most manufacturers charge extra or don't offer heated steering wheels or seats in US.

 

As luck would have it. The Car Care Nut has just put out a YouTube video on Hybrid Batteries for your viewing pleasure!

 

Good video. Thanks. He talked about cooling of the battery but no mention of heating. He was working m a 2007. Maybe things have changed on the 2025?

 

Good Question. It is confusing! There are so any models of the NX (hybrid, non-nybrid, AWD or just FWD, base, premium or lux) and it seems the features of added packages can vary depending on model specifics. All I can tell you is that on the Premium level 350h AWD in the lower 48 states the cold area package adds: Heated steering wheel; Fast-response interior heater; Windshield wiper de-icer. For $250 it is a no brainer. I'd gladly pay that for the windshield de-icer alone. A lot of people in the plains states south of WI were wishing they had a cold area package last week!

 

I did some looking around on the web. The plug in hybrid the 450h+ conditions the battery itself with a separate cooling system much like for the engine, so it can utilize the ICE heat to help warm up the larger battery which for the plug in sits outside under the vehicle. It has a separate coolant reservoir under the hood.

The 350H has a smaller battery under the back seat and has a fan with a filter on right side of seat bottom. I don't believe this traction battery has any cooling lines going to it, just the air cooling from the fan. It does however have a coolant system, just as the 450H+ has, to cool the Inverter Converter only, which is located under the hood. This can get very hot. So the 350H has a coolant reservoir and separate system just for the Inverter Converter. Since the 350H battery is actually inside the cabin, it relies on the driver to moderate the interior temperature and thus the same for the traction battery plus it's fan.