Regenerative Braking in Hybrid and Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are changing and improving automotive engineering and the entire vehicle manufacturing industry. The main selling points of electric vehicles are that they are economical and lenient on the environment. So every opportunity to conserve energy should be taken advantage of, which is why regenerative braking was implemented. It captures the excess energy created while braking to charge the EVs battery.

Regenerative Braking Technology

When the driver presses the brake, the brake discs and pads create friction when they meet. Anyone who has studied basic physics will know that when something creates friction, it also produces energy. This energy, also known as kinetic energy, will be released from the brakes in the form of heat.

This kinetic energy or heat would be unused and lost in traditional, gas-powered vehicles. Through the power of regenerative braking, this heat is changed into electricity. This system then uses electricity to charge the vehicle’s battery.

When the driver uses the brakes, the energy created has a dual purpose. Most of the energy is used to operate the brakes. At the same time, the excess energy not used to slow down the car is used to charge the battery within the car. By creating extra electricity, this should be reflected on the vehicle’s charging gauge.

The amount of energy created is relative to how much the brake is used and the velocity of braking, i.e., the speed of the vehicle. So, for example, driving in a city would create more energy as the driver would brake more compared to a long-haul drive on a freeway where minimal braking would occur.

This braking system is added to hybrid and electric vehicles to improve their batteries and expand their driving range.

Are Regenerative Braking Systems Efficient?

Hybrid and electric vehicle technology is improving every year, which is why it is gaining so much popularity, and the regenerative braking system is no different. As the technology develops, it is becoming more economical, sophisticated, and valuable to the vehicle owner. The newest regenerative braking systems can utilize up to 70% of the energy created while braking.

Depending on how much the vehicle is used, this braking system can add hundreds of miles to the charging gauge, saving the owner a lot of money. Also, it is environmentally friendly as it is self-generating energy instead of relying on fossil fuels or green energy.

Why Does Regenerative Braking System Feel Different?

Every car seems slightly different to drive; the same can be said for regenerative braking systems. If you want to recover the highest amount of energy, you can choose the highest setting. Also, you can turn the system off if you do not want the car to break on its own, as it is trying to generate energy.

In the Nissan Leaf, its regenerative braking system is called the e-pedal. It is located on the car’s dash, which can be switched on and off depending on the driver’s wants. In the Kia Nero, levers around the steering wheel change the different levels of regenerative braking.

Also, a phenomenon called one-pedal driving may occur. In some cars, when the driver takes their foot off the brake, it still feels like it is being used. So the driver has to control the car’s speed by modulating your right foot instead of using the acceleration and brake.

In other cars, the regenerative force isn’t as intense. All drivers will need to get used to the feeling of this braking system, but it is worthwhile in the long term.

Regenerative Braking Drawbacks

While it sounds like regenerative braking couldn’t have any disadvantages, it can be ineffective in some scenarios. In a stop-and-go environment, like rush hour, where energy is not getting the chance to build up due to lack of speed, little electricity is generated. Someone who lives in a city and thinks that regenerative braking will have a massive impact on fuel consumption may have to think again.

Many newer regenerative braking systems perform more naturally and are becoming more seamless. The older systems still require the driver to be forceful when using the brake to ensure it stops the car as well as charges the battery. It is something all buyers need to be aware of when test-driving their new hybrid or electric vehicle.

Regenerative braking is one of the first systems within a car to become self-sufficient. It does not rely on a battery or a power grid to produce energy to power the vehicle. It optimizes efficiency, is economical, and has hardly any environmental impact. The benefits of this technology vastly outweigh the negatives; in the future, more automotive engineering will follow in its footsteps.