[atr_hugo]

Originally Posted by carve

That 5% buffer allows you to get full power...for short bursts. Climbing 7000' from Denver to the mountains is not a short burst and you'll quickly deplete that buffer.

By the time you get way up there, power will probably be 50 hp due to the thin air.

Bingo! When I talked to the GM Volt guru at the Chicago Auto Show I tried to get as much info about the 1.4L engine as possible - specifically if it utilized a turbo - and it doesn't.

IIRC, the Prius has an odd duck gearshift position called 'B' which provides engine braking. I'm not sure how much of the total braking required on the downhill side of the Berthoud Pass can be absorbed by the regenerative brake system. ; -)