A method of operating an elevator system, the method comprising: detecting, using a controller, when an external power source is unavailable; when the external power source is unavailable, the method comprising: controlling, using the controller, a plurality of components of the elevator system, wherein controlling comprises operating at least one of an elevator car, a drive unit, an inverter and a brake; detecting, using the controller, an original direction of travel of the elevator car; detecting, using the controller, a mode of the elevator car, wherein the mode includes at least one of a motoring mode, a near balance mode, and a regenerative mode; determining, using the controller, a target floor; adjusting, using the controller, a velocity of the elevator car to reach the target floor in response to the mode detected; allowing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car to decrease to about zero velocity, when the motoring mode is detected; and allowing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car to increase in a direction opposite the original direction of travel to a selected creep velocity, characterized by deactivating, using the controller, the inverter when the selected creep velocity is less than a selected velocity in the direction opposite the original direction of travel; increasing, using the controller, the velocity of elevator car in the direction opposite the original direction of travel to a selected alternate creep velocity; maintaining, using the controller, the selected alternate creep velocity for a selected duration of time; decreasing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car in the direction opposite the original direction of travel, when the selected duration of time ends; adjusting, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car as the elevator car approaches the target floor; and applying, using the controller, the brake when the elevator car is at the target floor. controlling, using the controller, a plurality of components of the elevator system, wherein controlling comprises operating at least one of an elevator car, a drive unit, an inverter and a brake; detecting, using the controller, an original direction of travel of the elevator car; detecting, using the controller, a mode of the elevator car, wherein the mode includes at least one of a motoring mode, a near balance mode, and a regenerative mode; determining, using the controller, a target floor; adjusting, using the controller, a velocity of the elevator car to reach the target floor in response to the mode detected; allowing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car to decrease to about zero velocity, when the motoring mode is detected; and allowing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car to increase in a direction opposite the original direction of travel to a selected creep velocity, characterized by deactivating, using the controller, the inverter when the selected creep velocity is less than a selected velocity in the direction opposite the original direction of travel; increasing, using the controller, the velocity of elevator car in the direction opposite the original direction of travel to a selected alternate creep velocity; maintaining, using the controller, the selected alternate creep velocity for a selected duration of time; decreasing, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car in the direction opposite the original direction of travel, when the selected duration of time ends; adjusting, using the controller, the velocity of the elevator car as the elevator car approaches the target floor; and applying, using the controller, the brake when the elevator car is at the target floor.