Regenerative braking and one-pedal driving
Turning the motor into a generator, and why your brake pads last forever.
You'll learn
- Explain regenerative braking and one-pedal driving in plain language
- Recognise the key vocabulary
- Apply the idea to a real vehicle
Overview
Lift off in an EV and the motor is spun by the wheels instead of driving them. It becomes a generator, slowing the car and refilling the battery.
In depth
Regen in motion
1
Wheels
2
Motor as gen
3
Inverter
4
Battery
One-pedal driving
With strong regen selected, lifting the accelerator slows the car firmly enough to stop entirely. After a few days most drivers barely touch the brake pedal in town.
Quiz
Check your understanding
- 1
During regenerative braking, the motor acts as a…
- 2
Regen works just as strongly with a full battery.
Key takeaways
Remember this
- Regen recovers energy that a petrol car turns into heat.
- One-pedal driving is smoother and more efficient in traffic.
- Regen weakens when the battery is full or very cold.
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