[lug] OT: Runaway Prius

[Maxwell Spangler]

We were chatting about this last night at the meeting so I thought I'd mention it here.

Prius owner allegedly $700K in debt and hadn't been making payments on
his Prius.

http://jalopnik.com/5488716/runaway-toyota-prius-stopped-by-california-patrol-car

"Brake test: Turns out there's a brake override feature in a Prius.
As soon as I press on the brakes with anything more than casual effort, 
the wide-open engine and electric motors stop propelling the car forward 
and the brakes take over. Brake pedal effort is by no means what I would 
consider high. In a panic, with adrenaline pumping, this would be easy.
 Without adrenaline, it's still easy. What's more, it's not even startling
 because the gas engine goes to idle instead of revving to redline as a non-hybrid car would.

This system is necessary in a hybrid because, in simplified terms, the
motor/generator at the heart of the system cannot simultaneously drive
the car forward and supply regenerative braking force. It has to choose
one, and the default is to choose brakes."

http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/03/2004-toyota-prius-three-ways-to-deal-with-a-stuck-throttle.html

Still happy with my HONDA fit and it's drive-by-wire throttle. :-)

-- 
Maxwell Spangler