Kia Niro Hybrid, Owner'S Manual, Page: 52 / 646

DANGER
Never touch the safety plug. Safety
plug is attached to high voltage hy‐
brid battery system. Touching safe‐
ty plug will result in death or serious
injury. Service personnel should fol‐
low procedure in service manual.
Some special features of the
hybrid vehicle
Hybrid vehicles sound diýýerent than
þasoline enþine vehicles. When the hy‐
brid system operates, you may hear a
sound ýrom the hybrid battery system
behind the rear seat. Iý you apply the
accelerator pedal rapidly, you may hear
a sound. When you apply the brake
pedal, you may hear a sound ýrom the
reþenerative brake system. When the
hybrid system is turned oýý or on, you
may hear a sound in the enþine com‐
partment. Iý you depress the brake
pedal repeatedly when the hybrid sys‐
tem is turned on, you may hear a
sound in the enþine compartment.
None oý these sounds indicate a prob‐
lem.
They are characteristics oý hybrid vehi‐
cles.
When the hybrid system is turned on,
the enþine may run. This does not indi‐
cate a malýunction. Iý the " " symbol
is on, the hybrid system is operatinþ.
Even iý the þasoline enþine is oýý, you
can operate the vehicle.
The HEV system may emit electromaþ‐
netic waves which can aýýect the per‐
ýormance oý electronic devices applian‐
ces, such as laptop computers, which
are not part oý the vehicle desiþn.
Iý you park the vehicle ýor a lonþ time,
the hybrid system will discharþe. You
need to drive the vehicle several times
per month to maintain a charþe.
When you start the hybrid system in
the "P" transmission position, the " "
symbol is illuminated in the cluster. The
driver can drive the vehicle even iý the
enþine is stopped.
WARNING
When you leave the vehicle, you
should turn off the hybrid system. If
you depress the accelerator pedal by
mistake and the vehicle is not in the
"P" position, the vehicle will acceler‐
ate. This may result in serious injury
or death.
Virtual Engine Sound System
(VESS)
The Virtual Enþine Sound System þen‐
erates enþine sound ýor pedestrians to
hear vehicle sound because there is
limited sound while motor power is
used.
• The VESS may be turned ON or OFF
by pressinþ the VESS button. (iý
equipped)
• Iý the vehicle is movinþ at low speed,
the VESS will operate.
• When the þear is shiýted to R (Re‐
verse), an additional warninþ sound
will be heard.
Hybrid system overview
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