When a Brake Pedal ISN’T a Brake Pedal

In Electric Vehicles the one pedal car is a reality.

When comparing driving a conventional car with an electric car, the first thing you will notice is that the brake pedal isn’t really a brake pedal and that the accelerator controls both the speeding up and slowing down. Pressing the pedal makes the car go, as usual, but lifting your foot makes the car slow down, hard.

Most drivers get used to the action and say that they prefer it because it makes inching forward in traffic much easier than accelerating and braking.

This method of braking is used to charge the onboard batteries in the Electric Vehicle via a process called Regenerative Braking.

Regenerative braking is an energy recovery mechanism which slows a vehicle and converts its kinetic energy into a form which can be either used immediately or stored until needed. In this mechanism the electric motor uses the vehicle’s momentum to recover energy that would be otherwise lost to the brake discs as heat. This contrasts with conventional braking systems, where the excess kinetic energy is converted to unwanted and wasted heat by friction in the brakes, or with dynamic brakes, where energy is recovered by using electric motors as generators but is immediately dissipated as heat in resistors. In addition to improving the overall efficiency of the vehicle, regeneration can greatly extend the life of the braking system as its parts do not wear as quickly.

Nissan is the first automaker to introduce full one pedal driving in the latest iteration of the electric Leaf. It has an “e-Pedal” option. The pedals will still look the same, but the brake will be pretty much redundant, and computer controls will give the traditional accelerator extra functions.

In a Tesla, owners can already choose exactly how much lifting off of the accelerator will slow the car down by selecting the level required on the giant touchscreen.

Researchers have cited regenerative braking, stop-start engines, and “a novel transmission system” as factors that increase the manufacturing costs for low-emission vehicles. On the other hand lower operating costs (including items like less wear on brakes, no oil etc.), lower fuel costs, and savings on taxes and maintenance all help offset these. Generally, the most expensive difference between an electric or hybrid vehicle and an ICE vehicle is the cost of the battery, but that cost has been rapidly falling making the Total Cost of Ownership much less than an old fashioned Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle.

Some owners report that their EV ‘Brakes’ last three times longer than conventional brakes.

You can help the quiet revolution along by installing an EV Charging station outside your Guest House, Hotel, Coffee Shop, Restaurant, Shopping Centre or in your forecourt. Contact Straton Electrical for EV Charging Station options.

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