Being able to drive an electric car using solely the accelerator pedal is one brilliant benefit of owning an EV. In most situations, instead of using the brake pedal (don’t worry – you still get one), simply lifting off the ‘gas’ will slow the car down sufficiently.
You can modulate this effect by not fully removing your foot from the accelerator pedal, so you don’t get the full braking force.
Alternatively – when approaching a junction or red traffic light, for example – you can coast to a complete stop without using the brake at all.
One-pedal driving harnesses the regeneration effect of the car’s electric motor. This can run in reverse, switching from a motor to a generator. The friction slows the vehicle down and creates electricity at the same time.
So-called regenerative braking can help recharge an electric car’s batteries, and offer you a bit of extra range. It won’t make a massive difference, but it may add a few miles over the course of a journey. It also makes driving easier, particularly around town.
One-pedal driving doesn’t suit every situation. On a motorway, you may not want a braking effect every time you lift off in the ebb and flow of traffic. The ability to coast down a long hill is lost, too.
However, there is always the option to switch the system off – and often to vary the amount of braking as well. The Honda e, for example, has paddles behind the steering wheel that allow three levels of regenerative braking, according to your preference.
The Nissan Leaf, meanwhile, has a dedicated ‘e-Pedal’ button on the dashboard for one-pedal driving. This increases the amount of deceleration – and thus energy regeneration – when you lift off. The infographic below explains how it works.
Not every electric car offers the option to drive with one pedal, but it’s increasingly common. The technology is also fitted to many hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars.
Even if your car is equipped with a one-pedal system, you can always switch it off and use the brake pedal in the normal way.
The reality, though, is that within half an hour, you will probably have acclimatised to one-pedal driving and enjoy its benefits. Once you have the technique mastered, we reckon you will use it most of the time. Making driving easier and boosting electric range is a win-win, after all.
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The post How does one-pedal driving work in an electric car? appeared first on Motoring Electric.
2021-09-04T12:30:04Z dg43tfdfdgfd