There's a paved road near me that is about a 35% grade (estimated) for several hundred feet. Twice now I've climbed this hill in the FEH and both times noticed the same performance. Starting from stopped, the vehicle accelerates to about 4mph and 1800rpm, and holds those numbers all the way to the top regardless of what I do with the accelerator pedal. It feels like it is simply maxed out and no additional power is available. I have not tried WOT, but have gone to 3/4 throttle or more with no difference in performance.

Anyone else experience this, and what do you make of it?

 

I don't know about the 35% estimate.
That is steeper than 90% of all ski slopes.
That would mean you rise 35 feet in 100 feet of moving forward.

However, just push it to the floor next time and see what happens.
I'm 99% sure the computer won't let you exceed 6000 RPM.
I floored it the other day on the highway and it would not exceed 5960.

 

I'm not sure I understand. You say "...regardless of what I do with the accelerator" but then (unless I'm mistaken) you say you haven't put the pedal to the floor. Is that right? I'm assuming that's what the "WOT" reference is meant to represent.

If that's so then that's the problem. Unless you ask for more puff, you won't get more puff. Floor it.

At the risk of discussing something which people may have already talked-out, I have an urge to point out that the term WOT usually has an asterisk by it in the drive-by-wire context. And more so with the Prius and possibly the FEH.

WOT is the best state for an engine for efficiency. Prius early-adopters were initially surprised when their scan-things often indicated a WOT condition even under light pedal pressure. We associated WOT with high fuel use in the past but the Aisin "transmission" changed that. WOT could be held and the PSD divides the power. Let up on the pedal, but the highly efficient WOT condition is maintained. The computer simply re-routes the power to battery charging instead of to the wheels. Brilliant!!

Maybe one of our scangauge-equipped friends can tell us if that device displays throttle position and can validate if the FEH is similar, i.e runs at WOT a lot like the Prius.

 

It's at least as steep as Fargo St, which is 33%. Here's a link http://www.lawheelmen.org/fargo.htm

I'll try it again at full throttle and see what happens.

 

I noticed in the photos of the bike riders on Fargo St. that they were all doing "switchbacks". Not one was ( or could ) going straight up!

 

That is a rediculous grade. If I was going to take my Kona up it, I would call a cab and ride it down. Even my skateboard would only get 12 BPH (beers per hour).