Kerbs & Reversing

[phil4]

Twice now I've tried to reverse up a kerb in my Prius. Each time, I've found that unless I get a run up.... I'm stuck. If I stop for whatever reason, no matter how much I press the accelerator, the car will not go up the kerb. Instead I have to shift into D, pull forward, and then get another running start.

Bit of a pain if limited room after the reverse, also hard to judge the speed needed.

Wondered if I was missing a trick, some special button to press or similar?

[Ikelos]

not sure it will do the tracking much good bouncing up the kerb........................

[ian rooke]

Hi Phil had the same on gravel on a incline had to go forward then take a run up

[phil4]

not sure it will do the tracking much good bouncing up the kerb........................

Agreed, which is why having had to do it twice, I decided to ask if there's some trick... and yes, appreciate rotating the car 180 degrees is one solution, I was hoping for some other.

Hi Phil had the same on gravel on a incline had to go forward then take a run up

And there's what I fear, a scenario where you end up looking like a talentless prat with a useless car, because.... for some strange reason you can't reverse up a slope.

[timberwolf]

Did the traction control light flash?

[phil4]

Did the traction control light flash?

No, nothing happens, the pedal goes down to the floor, no noise and no movement.

[timberwolf]

Traction control is designed to remove power from the drive wheels, so if it kicks in there is going to be nothing except the slip indicator on the dash.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Isn't it something to do with the fact that the car only runs on electric in reverse? I'm sure I've read somewhere that San Fransisco owners had problems with the gen2 when trying to reverse out of parking bays on those steep hills, but the gen3 was going to address this problem.

I might be wrong though.

[johalareewi]

Pretty sure GC is right. I have a steep drive and i once tried to reverse up it in the Prius. The electric motor was not a happy bunny but did it slowly. I can imagine trying to reverse over a kerb could be a problem for electric only propulsion.

[Fujisan]

Isn't it something to do with the fact that the car only runs on electric in reverse? I'm sure I've read somewhere that San Fransisco owners had problems with the gen2 when trying to reverse out of parking bays on those steep hills, but the gen3 was going to address this problem.

I might be wrong though.

Pretty sure GC is right. I have a steep drive and i once tried to reverse up it in the Prius. The electric motor was not a happy bunny but did it slowly. I can imagine trying to reverse over a kerb could be a problem for electric only propulsion.

I reverse out of my drive (I know, I should reverse into the drive but after a hard day at work I can't be bothered messing around with 3 point turns in our little cul-de-sac! ) and during the cold weather, I know the ICE cut in, either before I started reversing or during reversing.

Now, I couldn't say if the power from the ICE was going directly to the wheels or just charging the Battery....I tend to be looking at other things when reversing not the energy monitors! But the ICE will run while reversing.

Has for the question of the kerbs, sorry pass......I avoid driving up kerbs if possible.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Well Mr Fuji I believe the engine will run in reverse but it isn't directly driving the wheels but acting as a generator. I'm sure I've read somewhere that the Prius doesn't have a reverse gearbox (to cut down on parts) but just puts an opposite voltage into the motors.

Please somebody clarify if I'm right or wrong. :)

[Fujisan]

Well Mr Fuji I believe the engine will run in reverse but it isn't directly driving the wheels but acting as a generator. I'm sure I've read somewhere that the Prius doesn't have a reverse gearbox (to cut down on parts) but just puts an opposite voltage into the motors.

Please somebody clarify if I'm right or wrong. :)

[DrCez]

Well Mr Fuji I believe the engine will run in reverse but it isn't directly driving the wheels but acting as a generator. I'm sure I've read somewhere that the Prius doesn't have a reverse gearbox (to cut down on parts) but just puts an opposite voltage into the motors.

Please somebody clarify if I'm right or wrong. :)

I think that's correct. Some explanations including animations which I found useful:

What's Going On as I Drive my Toyota Prius?

Prius Power Split Device (PSD)

For the record I originally linked through to these from somewhere else (PriusChat maybe) but can't remember where now.

Does the electric only power limit in reverse mean that you can get a Prius stuck if you park it nose first down a steep driveway?

[Sagitar]

I believe the engine will run in reverse

but only when it eats shoots and leaves . . . . . :D

[johalareewi]

Does the electric only power limit in reverse mean that you can get a Prius stuck if you park it nose first down a steep driveway?

There are a couple of choice drives in my neighbourhood. very steep downhill to a garage door. I often wonder where all the rain goes. :o

[Fujisan]

I often wonder where all the rain goes. :o

At my old house...straight into my neighbour's garage!

His garage being a few inches lower than the level of my drive! :lol2:

[phil4]

Does the electric only power limit in reverse mean that you can get a Prius stuck if you park it nose first down a steep driveway?

This is what I worry about. There may be other similar scenarios, where a wrong turn, ill placed bump or hump may prevent you using reverse. Rather troubling in fact.

And there was me thinking that electric motors had bags of torque and flat band, so almost max torgue at 1rpm.

Oh well, something to be aware of I guess.

[Jonathan Mason]

I have a very steep drive, and I find when its all 3 of us in the car it struggles to go backwards in EV mode, but when the ICE kicks in all is fine. The one time I reversed out in power mode, progress was substantially quicker.

I meant to try a kerb today but forgot.

Phil4 - what height was the kerb. Might as well destroy the tracking/suspension scientifically! :)

[phil4]

Phil4 - what height was the kerb. Might as well destroy the tracking/suspension scientifically! :)

Pretty standard residential kerb, so ballpark, 10cm.

[johalareewi]

I have a very steep drive, and I find when its all 3 of us in the car it struggles to go backwards in EV mode, but when the ICE kicks in all is fine.

Must be something to do with the rate at which current can be taken from the HV Battery. When the ICE kicks in, there is more electrical power available direct from the generator.

[Fujisan]

I think that's correct. Some explanations including animations which I found useful:

What's Going On as I Drive my Toyota Prius?

Prius Power Split Device (PSD)

For the record I originally linked through to these from somewhere else (PriusChat maybe) but can't remember where now.

Does the electric only power limit in reverse mean that you can get a Prius stuck if you park it nose first down a steep driveway?

Now I've had a little time to look at them, thanks for the great links.

[Jonathan Mason]

Tried the kerbs today :) Found that getting one wheel over at an angle was no problem at all.

When I got both wheels against the kerb it took a bit more oomph. In EV & ECO mode, the accelerator was nearly on the floor and then the ICE kicked in and moved the car up the kerb at a good pace.