"L" mode regen braking doesn't activate brake lights

[jay1122]

The deceleration in L mode is not strong enough to trigger the brake light. I daily drive in Engage mode 2 pedal. The deceleration in engage mode is about right without triggering the brake light. One pedal requires more control with footwork. It may appear like brake checking if you are not smooth. Which is even worse if you ask me. Saw a tesla do that, definitely pisses me off. Brake light goes on every few sec on a straight line no traffic road.

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[superdave80]

Just use 1PD, stop trying to reinvent the wheel

There are good reasons that people don't use 1PD. For example, I still frequently drive our ICE vehicle, and I'm not going to switch between two different pedal modes on two different vehicles.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

The deceleration in L mode is not strong enough to trigger the brake light. I daily drive in Engage mode 2 pedal. The deceleration in engage mode is about right without triggering the brake light. One pedal requires more control with footwork. It may appear like brake checking if you are not smooth. Which is even worse if you ask me. Saw a tesla do that, definitely pisses me off. Brake light goes on every few sec on a straight line no traffic road.

I agree. I drove behind another MME and found the brake application very irritating. Of course since I’m the one doing it, I don’t care, but can see how it can upset someone driving behind me. I think this behavior can be fine tuned over time.

 

[ctenidae]

I agree. I drove behind another MME and found the brake application very irritating. Of course since I’m the one doing it, I don’t care, but can see how it can upset someone driving behind me. I think this behavior can be fine tuned over time.

It's really good for keeping people off your bumper in traffic, though.

 

[Panzer948]

I had a first generation 2011 Chevy Volt before the Mach E (Mach E replaced it). For those first generations, L Mode was the Volt's main way to have aggressive regenerative braking (It didn't have a one pedal drive mode and without L mode it would coast similar to Mach E with one pedal drive turned off). So basically L mode in the Volt did the same thing, which is aggressively slow the car down without turning on the brake lights. I know many Volt owners used this daily so there were lots of posts on the forum/FB page about how dangerous that was and some opted not to use it. On top of that, I think GM changed this for the 2nd generation. Because I like aggressive regenerative braking, I used it all the time but learned to lightly tap the brake if I wanted someone behind me to notice i am slowing down. I will be honest, I don't have much use for it on the Mach E as one Pedal Drive seems to do the trick for me but I also don't like my brake lights being overly sensitive so kind of miss the manual control I had in the Volt...

 

[Reality Check]

Anyone know if the brake lights stay on while stopped without foot on the brake pedal (eg at a traffic light) in hold mode?

Should help prevent being rear ended if they do.

 

[generaltso]

There are good reasons that people don't use 1PD. For example, I still frequently drive our ICE vehicle, and I'm not going to switch between two different pedal modes on two different vehicles.

Yup, that’s why I don’t use it. But I also don’t use L. When I want more regen, I just use the brake pedal. That’s the beauty of blended braking.

 

[Woeo]

[Ford] never intended for people to drive around in L mode all the time.

Haven‘t seen or read any suggestion from Ford that we shouldn’t.

 

[generaltso]

Haven‘t seen or read any suggestion from Ford that we shouldn’t.

They didn’t say that you shouldn’t. But that doesn’t mean that’s what L was intended for.

 

[Woeo]

because "L" or Low Range isn't meant as a normal braking mechanism. It's to simulate the Low Range mode on an ICE vehicle to use gearing down and engine braking. The brake lights don't activate on an ICE vehicle either.

Not sure that is so. I think they are repurposing an existing part to do something other EVs accomplish using paddles or twist stalks or buttons.

The L button toggles in and out of a mid-level of regeneration. Less than is applied in 1PD (that varies in the regen applied based on Drive Mode) but more than the base level of regen when 1PD is not active (which also varies with drive mode).

 

[HuntingPudel]

I agree with @generaltso in using the brake pedal lightly to increase the amount of resistance created by regeneration. I drive in Unbridled mode and sometimes I apply the pedal very lightly to increase slowing power. You can do this without engaging the brake pads until the car gets under 5mph. ??

 

[generaltso]

Not sure that is so. I think they are repurposing an existing part to do something other EVs accomplish using paddles or twist stalks or buttons.

The L button toggles in and out of a mid-level of regeneration. Less than is applied in 1PD (that varies in the regen applied based on Drive Mode) but more than the base level of regen when 1PD is not active (which also varies with drive mode).

Yes, it increases lift-off regen, and Ford says you can use it all the time if you want. So you aren't doing anything wrong if you choose to do that, but its intended use is for going down long hills. Just don't expect your brake lights to illuminate if L is the only thing you're using to slow down.

 

[cvk71]

I love the fact that the brake lights don't come on. Lets me slow down when I see a police car and it doesn't flash bright LED brake lights. Like how I used to pull the e brake handle in my stick shift cars.

 

[Maquis]

Anyone know if the brake lights stay on while stopped without foot on the brake pedal (eg at a traffic light) in hold mode?

Yes, they do.

 

[MarkP213]

There are good reasons that people don't use 1PD. For example, I still frequently drive our ICE vehicle, and I'm not going to switch between two different pedal modes on two different vehicles.

It’s really no different than going back and forth between a manual and automatic transmission car. I don’t even think about it. One pedal, two pedals, three pedals - I just get in and drive.

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