An elevator system includes a battery; a machine having a motor to impart motion to an elevator car; an inverter having a plurality of switches to convert DC power from the battery to AC power for the machine in a motoring mode; a speed sensor coupled to the machine, the speed sensor to generate a speed signal indicative of machine speed; and a controller to apply braking signals to a group of the switches in a braking mode, the braking signals having a duty cycle in response to the speed signal.