2013 Prius losing power on hills

Gloria&Suzanne · Jun 30, 2026 at 5:15 AM

CR94 said: ↑

That's quite an elaborate reply to my 39-month-old post---yet still semi-relevant to Gloria&Suzanne's recent post. Thanks!

If a hill is too steep, you won't be able to use full-power engine speed without overspeeding (or overpowering) MG1---which the computers wouldn't allow. What was the engine speed with your sister driving?

I've taken I-64 over Rockfish Gap many times, most recently (and the only time in the Prius) last September en route from Toledo to Richmond. It didn't seem nearly as challenging or memorable as the hills on I-68 in western Maryland, and US40 crossing the southwest corner of Pennsylvania, the way we crossed the mountains in the other direction. I suspect the motors and inverter got hotter then than they'd ever been before, even at my moderate speed (roughly half maximum engine power). Meanwhile, the indicated battery charge didn't budge from its usual six of eight segments. (It does plummet when a traffic jam forces intermittently creeping uphill with engine stopped and air conditioning on.) Descending such hills is interesting, too.
Getting 7 horsepower to MG2 from the battery at 20 amperes would require it to supply over 261 volts---even after losses. Was Gen 1 battery voltage that much higher?
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Too much drag and resistance to go fast. Engine was revving high but gaining speed slowly. Now, THAT is NOT normal. I inspected my car.

2013 Prius losing power on hills

Gloria&Suzanne New Member

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2013 Prius losing power on hills

Gloria&Suzanne New Member