On Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 2:24:35 PM UTC-4, nib wrote:
> On Sun, 04 Jun 2023 10:26:26 -0700, Bob F wrote:
>
> > On 6/4/2023 3:00 AM, Ian Jackson wrote:
> >> In message <op.15zhd...@ryzen.home>, Commander Kinsey
> >> <C...@nospam.com> writes
> >>> On Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:07:18 +0100, SteveW <st...@walker-family.me.uk>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> On 19/04/2023 14:07, Theo wrote:
> >>>>> In uk.d-i-y Carlos E.R. <robin_...@es.invalid> wrote:
> >>>>>> On 2023-04-19 14:12, Theo wrote:
> >>>>>>> That's called 'one pedal driving', and on many EVs you can adjust
> >>>>>>> the retardation (regen) in a number of steps from coasting through
> >>>>>>> to quite aggressive braking. Coasting is more like a regular
> >>>>>>> transmission where you have to use the brake pedal, whereas with
> >>>>>>> higher levels you can drive with accelerator alone.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> By "regular transmission" you mean "automatic"?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Most cars here have a manual transmission, and on those the
> >>>>>> (gasoline)
> >>>>>> car brakes somewhat when the accelerator pedal is released. We use
> >>>>>> that to maintain the speed when going down long slopes, instead of
> >>>>>> using the brake. If we need more brake action, we shift to a lower
> >>>>>> gear.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Both. With a manual transmission you get some degree of engine
> >>>>> braking, but you coast if you open the clutch. Without actively
> >>>>> changing down gear the amount of engine braking is not massive - if
> >>>>> you purely let off the accelerator doing 70mph on a flat road in top
> >>>>> gear you don't get very much retardation.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> It is possible to change down for more, but the engine isn't happy
> >>>>> about it unless you match revs first, so in general it's easier to
> >>>>> use the brakes.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Engine braking is not something you'd do around town or on a regular
> >>>>> motorway unless you're in a hilly area, so most people don't use it
> >>>>> very often.
> >>>>
> >>>> Many of us were taught to change down through the gears and use
> >>>> engine braking for almost all stops, including around town.
> >>>
> >>> I was, in 1997. I stopped doing that as soon as I passed the test.
> >>> Braking is much more controllable. Engine braking is all or nothing,
> >>> completely unsuitable for gracefully changing speed.
> >>
> >> That's only because you don't know how to do it properly.
> >>
> >>> Think about the erson behind you seeing a car lurching about with no
> >>> brakelights.
> >>
> >> They soon learn not to drive too close to you.
> >>>
> >>>> These days they tend to rely on brakes and just change down to
> >>>> whatever gear they expect to need as the set off or speed up again.
> >>>
> >>> A much more sensible idea.
> >>
> >> The best idea is to compromise with a sensible mixture of gear-changing
> >> and braking.
> >
> > After I used engine braking as I stopped at his motorcycle shop, the
> > owner told me that brake shoes were way cheaper than engine,
> > transmission and clutch repairs.
> It's all old-hat anyway. The cars of the future, and a lot of them now,
> use regenerative braking. Which is another new skill to learn.

"Skill"? You press on the accelerator to go faster, you press on it less to slow down. Didn't you already know that???

When I got my Tesla, they seemed to have a "partial" mode. I asked how to engage that for a couple of weeks to get used to it, before I used the full Monty. The saleswoman reacted a bit strongly, saying I shouldn't do that as it's an important feature of the car. So I didn't, and two days later I was used to it.

What does take some getting used to, is not having the regenerative braking if you charge close to 100%. So I don't do that. It's also a bit more wear on the battery.

> Mine may be a bit elderly, but the level of regen available depends on
> battery temperature and level of charge. Ideal for energy use
> minimisation is to not use the brake pedal at all except to hold when
> stopped, which means slowing down earlier when it's cold or you are
> starting out with a full battery.

I don't recall a loss of regeneration in the cold. I think it has to be pretty severe cold. Just getting down to freezing doesn't make so much of an impact, from my recollection.

--

Rick C.

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