going down a slippery hill

No advantage to B mode. As for VSC, did you get a chime along with the trac control light?

Tom

 

Hang on a sec - B is exactly what you need to deploy. There's much less chance of locking the tyres and skidding when using the ICE/motors to slow you down than brakes alone.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pinball @ Dec 9 2006, 10:47 AM) [snapback]359782[/snapback]</div>

I'm not sure that's entirely accurate for the Prius - after all, when you're slowing, it's actually using the electric motor to slow you down as it regenerates power anyway so there wouldn't be much difference between the electric motor slowing the car as it regenerates, and the ICE slowing the car in B mode.

Dave

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Dec 9 2006, 08:08 AM) [snapback]359672[/snapback]</div>

With respect I completely disagree. My traction light illuminates when ever I am coming to a stop and my front tires slip on a man hole cover in the street. I am not on the gas and I am lightly braking when that happens. So I believe the condition as described exists. I would think B mode would assist with this problem too.

 

While it's usually a disadvantage to use "B" other than when needing
to blow off a little more downhill energy than the battery can suck
up, in the case of slippery roads all bets about energy recovery are
off and "B" actually helps keep a constant retardation going but
not wheel lockup [which, of course, would immediately be compensated
for by ABS but possibly not in a way the driver expects]. Near the
end of the B-mode article is some discussion about potential uses
of the "falls on its face" feeling when coming off the accelerator,
and snow and the like are probably one of those situations where you
want that. In a MT car you'd be gearing down, and possibly dropping
an automatic into "L" for the same effect.
.
But use your best judgement, find situations where you've got the
leisure to experiment, and PRACTICE to determine what works best.
You aren't likely to get great, efficient regen on stuff like that
so it should take a back seat to control.
.
_H*

 

For many years I lived in the Italian mountains teaching skiing.
The best mountain car I ever had was a VW Beetle.
With the engine over the rear wheels it had great traction on steep icy roads both up and down.
I only ever had to put chains on twice in 8 years.
The trick was to keep it in 2nd - and sometimes 1st gear, using the engine to slow you down rather than brake and risk inducing a skid.
Usually it was a bit of both....however - lock your wheels up on an icy downhill bend and you end up in the ditch - I know !
Incidentally in the mountains (Italy) the car coming down the hill has the right of way - think about it .

Anyway, I just applied the same principles to Prius on the basis that anything that will reduce your momentum down an icy slope has to be a good idea - except when skiing !
You'll also find that lowering the pressure in your tyres will give you a little more traction - but it'll affect your mpg.
Don't try getting into B half way down the slope either !!
Its either from the top or not all

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Dec 10 2006, 01:09 PM) [snapback]359997[/snapback]</div>

I guess we're down to this: Is B-mode + ABS + VSC safer on a steep icy slope than just ABS + VSC ?
I say Yes........... but then I say tomhato 'n you say tomato :lol: