Design question electric motor cutoff in snow?

[thelemite]

Does the insight cut power to the wheels from the electric motor when the wheels are spinning? ( like a Prius) If so, is this "feature" something that can be turned off? I had about 50k on a Prius until it tried to kill me via backsliding on a snowy day.

[thelemite]

Sorry wrong part of the forum!

[mrkcohen]

Yeah nothing to do with the MPG but to answer your question the Insight is equipped with Vehicle Stability Assist and will attempt to send power to the wheel that isn't spinning, so in a case when both wheels want to spin the car will just sit there and not move.

I had this happen only once on a steep hill with about 4-5 inches of unplowed snow and the OEM tires.

There is however a switch to deactivate the VSA. The one time I was stuck I simply turned off the VSA and spun my way the rest of the way up the hill.

[thelemite]

Thanks!
300 foot pitched driveway on top of a mountain. I have had to do some interesting things to get home.

[Cobb]

The i2 reduces power to the wheels when it see a slip like any other car with trac or skid control. Its very aggressive so it may be necessary to push the button for 5 seconds to turn it off. I had to do that when I got stuck in heavy snow up to my bumper.

Its mostly under gas operation with electric assist. Unless you are going at least 12 mph its not really possible to get into electric only mode and at that, it needs to be warmed up with very light throttle pressure.