High Voltage Battery
These are High Voltage Battery Charge Level Indicator symbols. The image of a lightning bolt in a box or rectangle, is found on the instrument panels of some plug-in hybrid vehicles and is illuminated when the main battery’s charge is low. The image of cascading rectangles with plus and minus signs is found in some full electric vehicles.
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The vehicle needs to be plugged into a charging station or its gasoline engine needs to be operated to recharge the battery. Gasoline engine operation may not be possible in some vehicles until the main battery is charged via a charging station.
Many More Versions
Another manufacturer uses three versions with an outline in blue, yellow/amber or red. Blue indicates that the battery has a full charge. Yellow/amber indicates that the charge level is low. Red indicates that the battery must be charged.
And another uses this set of indicators. From left to right, the first image is in green with a checkmark and indicates a full charge. The second in yellow/amber and a lightning bolt inside indicates the vehicle is being charged. And the third, also in yellow/amber, indicates a time has been set to begin charging. The inset is a clock face. The charge indicator will go to red if the charge level drops too low.
Each manufacturer seems intent on creating their own set of charge indicators. This set shows a bar that moves right to left in a rounded rectangle, It changes color as the battery is drained and goes from yellow/amber/orange to red and finally adds an exclamation point as the the battery’s charge gets lower and lower.
Another set of images appear here. In Blue, the vehicle is charging. In Green, the EV is plugged in and ready to charge. In Red, charging is impossible. The indicator will also be blinking. The charge cable or battery may be over heated. The vehicle should be inspected by a competent technician.
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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.
These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.
Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.
The author has 25 years of automotive experience and has assembled the most extensive collection of symbols and warning lights anywhere (over 1,000!) and can help you open and start any keyless start car with a dead key fob battery. BA, St. Joseph’s College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
These are EV Charging Indicator 
Minor variations include color (
This pair of symbols is from Lincoln. The first in 
Finally, some hybrid vehicles include a SAVE mode indicator. When in Save mode, the vehicle drives in a way that maintains the charge level of the high voltage battery. The indicator will likely be shown in black and white in the information display.
This is the Low Brake Fluid Indicator 
This is a Turn Assist Indicator 
These are the EV (Electric Vehicle), Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Battery Charge and Warning 
This version essentially points to a total system failure, unless it is seen in 
This version, shown in the vehicle’s information display, will be seen when the Mild Hybrid System is charging its battery. a Mild Hybrid System uses a 48-volt battery to assist the drive train, much lower capacity than the majority of hybrid systems. It appears as a double A battery with a lightning bolt inside.
These two will also to be seen in the vehicle’s information display. The first indicates the hybrid battery is charging. The other indicates that the battery is holding its charge. We surmise that this means that everything is functioning as expected.
This is a hybrid Charge Mode indicator. The light in the instrument cluster comes on when Charge Mode is switched on. While a hybrid charges its high-voltage battery automatically, with this system from Mazda, the vehicle can be told to charge the battery only and not using its power while the gasoline engine is running. Power is generated to a preset target amount, and when reached, power is generated to maintain it.
This is a High Voltage System Fault Indicator symbol for a Plug-in hybrid. An exclamation point is shown in a drawing of what looks like a D battery, which is meant to invoke the system’s battery. It could also be described as a box or a rectangle. It is likely that only the vehicle dealer can correct a problem with this system.
We found this one in the owner’s manual for two hybrids, and only one made clear that this is a hybrid battery malfunction. It was also found in an EV and also in fact indicates a main battery or system malfunction. Also, there will likely be an additional message on the instrument panel. Look for it and please check with your dealer or qualified service shop! Do not continue driving!
Finally, this version is used as a Battery Charge Indicator. It is shown in conjunction with a gauge that shows the actual charge level. It is seen in gray scale and does not indicate any trouble with the system. 
This is the Automatic Shift Lock (
The symbol of a shoe, boot or foot on or very near a pedal is a reminder that the brake must be engaged to start a push button or keyless start car. The image may appear on an instrument panel or on the console near the shifter, but with a start push button or keyless start vehicle, the indicator will appear on the instrument panel.
Don’t confuse these symbols with either of those to the right. 
These are (Electric Vehicle) 
These variations also leave out the word mode. The first indicates that the vehicle is being driven as an electric vehicle only, as above. But the second symbol adds what is intended to be a clock in the corner. It means that EV mode and the high voltage battery is being saved for a more useful and economical time. It does not and can not indicate a specific time. The last one, with the line through the E and an arrowed circle, indicates that high voltage battery does not have enough juice to operate the vehicle without the help of the gas engine.
These symbols come by way of Jeep and their new hybrid models, and are Hybrid Drive Mode Indicators. They are seen in white in the information screen. In Electric (EV) Mode, the car runs exclusively on the high-voltage battery until its charge is used up. In Hybrid Mode, the vehicle operates on whatever on all the internal combustion engine and battery power available. In e-Save mode, the battery is reserved for later use.
This is a Green Zone Indicator. It depends on navigation information to tell a hybrid model to extend the use of EV mode in urban areas to protect the local atmosphere. These areas may be parks, hospitals, schools, and the like. Green zone operation can be expanded by the vehicle depending on driver history.
Finally, these three are associated with Subaru Intelligent (SI) Drive system. As in other cases, the system is designed to maximize hybrid battery life. ‘I’ indicates that intelligent mode is selected, where battery life is automatically maximized. ‘S’ indicates that sport mode is chosen, providing increased performance and leaving battery life in the driver’s hands.