What is Regenerative Braking?
Regenerative braking is a system in electric vehicles (EVs) that captures energy during deceleration and sends it back to the battery. Instead of wasting kinetic energy as heat like traditional brakes, the EV's electric motor runs in reverse to slow the car down, converting motion into electrical energy.
How It Affects Driving
- Extended Range: By recovering energy during braking, regenerative braking improves overall efficiency and helps extend driving range.
- One-Pedal Driving: In many EVs, strong regen allows for slowing down just by lifting off the accelerator, reducing the need to use the brake pedal.
- Reduced Brake Wear: Since regen handles part of the braking, physical brake components wear out more slowly.
- Adjustable Levels: Some EVs let you choose how strong regen braking feels — from light coast-like behavior to strong deceleration.