So I know that you generally don't want to leave a hybrid's battery charged up to the top. If the state of charge gets too high it can actually reduce the battery's life (or so I was told).
Imagine my shock when, driving home, this happened.
The battery reached charge level 7. Of the 8 "levels," only 4 are used in the Highlander (at least from what I've seen).
1 - Critically low. Never seen this, because...
2 - Engine runs constantly to recharge even if the vehicle is physically stopped (i.e. stuck in traffic). Great way to waste gas and kill fuel economy.
3 - Low
4 - Middle
5 - High
6 - "Full"--engine will not charge battery above here.
7 - Overcharge 1 (shown above). Only achievable with epic regenerative braking--the engine will not charge the battery to this.
8 - Overcharge 2 (theoretical maximum the battery can actually hold).
Do other hybrid drivers (mainly Toyota) frequently see "overcharge" capacities? Does it relate to the weather? (It's 44F or colder--batteries hate heat and love cold to a point.)
I've also discovered that the fastest charge on braking is halfway into the "blue" (not all the way).