Regenerative braking advise/usage questions

[MachETX]

Hello all.
I wanted to find out how cam I maximize Regen braking on the MME? It seems like when I am using cruise control or Blue Cruise it it's in effect, but not under normal braking. I know someone will suggest one-pedal drive, but I am hesitant at trying this.

Reasons against one pedal:
1. I have bilateral peripheral neuropathy from military injuries. Which means the sensation, touch, pressure and other sensory functions in my legs are affected, in addition to minor motor function issues. 2. Both of my other vehicles are not similarly equipped. My old primary driver - a F250 drives like a bus, steers like one, and has the acceleration of a slug = hard gas pedal and brake pedal input is required. Learning to drive the MME was a challenge for myself and family, saying I was making them sick with my jerky accell/braking movements. The MME is now my primary driver,. I am alot smoother after 450 miles in two pedal mode.

How sketchy is it to learn to drive with one pedal? What's the learning curve? Will it affect me going back to a standard vehicle? Do I have to be able to feel the pedal? Does one pedal even use Regen braking more than just letting off the throttle in two pedal mode (is it even worth learning?)? Also it seems like there is more Regen braking input based on driving mode as well? With whisper having the lowest and unbridled the most, is this accurate?

TIA fellow MME members.
Jeff

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[MarkP213]

I’ve had my Mach E since April 2021 and was confused by and didn’t quite understand One Pedal Driving. In fact I had the very same concerns as you. But, several months ago I test drove the Lightning with my nephew. He tired One Pedal in the truck and convinced me is was intuitive and easy. I tried it and was amazed on how wrong I was to be concerned and worried! Since that afternoon, I’ve only driven my Mach E in One Pedal mode. Diving a standard two pedal car is not an issue either. You just drive like you always have.

There is a slight adjustment to be made using one pedal as the regen can be abrupt (at least in Unbridled) but you quickly learn to adjust to it. Try it. I think you’ll be amazed how easy it is!

 

[RickMachE]

Pushing on the brake pedal uses regenerative braking, then physical braking at the end.

Try all 3 drive modes, each has different regenerative braking.

All modes, and 1PD, have the same overall efficiency.

 

[Maquis]

None of us can say for sure how this will work for you, but I’ll offer this - have you ever driven a lawn mower or other machine with hydrostatic drive? If so, those essentially operate as 1PD. If you get along with those, I’d think 1PD in your MME will work for you.

Thank you for your military service.

 

[generaltso]

Using 1PD is really just personal preference. The MME has blended braking, so you will get just as much regen by using the brake pedal. Try all the drive modes with 1PD on and with it off and see which you like best. You can also use the L button if you really want more lift off regen when 1PD is off.

 

[Logal727]

I call it golf cart mode cause it’s like driving one of those

 

[JohnnyForensic]

1PD took me about 10 minutes to decide I was never turning it off again. I don't think it's so much about "sensation" in your foot as it might be more the ability to finely control it. If you have trouble making small, smooth movements with your foot, 1PD might not be for you, but if you just lack sensation, I think the rest of your senses are more in play here. You'll feel the deceleration in your body, you'll see how long it takes to stop the car, etc. After using it almost exclusively for the past year, I almost never touch the brakes. I intuitively know how long it's going to take to brake the car at a given speed in a given drive mode. (Well, for Unbridled and Engage, at least. I only use Whisper in heavy rain or snow.)

I'd suggest trying 1PD in Whisper first, as it's the least regenerative of the three modes when in 1PD and has the longest stopping distances to help you smooth out the stops. Once you're comfortable there (if you get comfortable), move up the drive modes.

That all said, the MME's brakes are basically regenerative until you get to the very end of a stop or if you hit them heavily at speed. Otherwise, it's primarily regenerative anyway. Maximize regen by longer, slower stops regardless if you're in 1PD or not.

Good luck!

 

[ctenidae]

If you're familiar with driving a stick, 1-pedal will come quickly and easily. If you're not used to driving a stick, 1-pedal will come ever so slightly less quickly.

It does benefit from a light touch on the foot, which may be an issue for you, though one which I suspect can be mitigated by the mode selection (whisper-engage-unbridled). You are correct that regen becomes progressively more aggressive.

I find the difficulty in transitioning to an ICE has more to do with dealing with the mechanical lag vs the instant-on of an EV, rather than any 1-pedal issues. Though, you may find yourself unconsciously leaning back to counteract braking forces that aren't there when you lift off the gas in an ICE. Makes me feel silly sometimes (not that I need any help there).

Give it a try, running through the modes. The biggest conceptual hurdle, I think, is to think of the go pedal as a rheostat - turn it up to go faster faster, turn it down to go slower faster. Just give it an honest go - a couple of days, and at some point you'll realize you just did an entire drive without ever touching the brake pedal.

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

How to maximize regenerative braking:
Stop, but not too quickly. (On pedal or two doesn’t matter)
If you want to know how quick is too quick, put the car in engage mode and turn on the brake coach. You will see a percentage each time you stop. This percentage represents how much energy you recaptured versus how much was possible. If you use engage and one pedal, you’ll see 100% every time. If you use two pedals, just don’t stop too quickly and it’s pretty easy to achieve 100%.

 

[AKgrampy]

I hope you understand from the previous responses that your regen is just as good if you continue with 2 pedal mode. No reason to change to 1 pedal unless you want to give it a go. I guess I would operate in Whisper mode if I were you to have the smoothest ride feel (my opinion) but maybe you have got your driving smooth enough to choose whatever mode you prefer.

 

[HuntingPudel]

As has been said previously, try the different drive modes. Observe the Brake Coach in Engage mode. It’s quite informative. You don’t need 1PD unless you prefer it. ??

 

[MachETX]

I will try out the brake coach as step one. To see if I even need to switch. Thank you everyone.

 

[Arsenic17]

I wouldnt worry to much about specific modes to maximize breaking. In theory 1PD should offer the most regen since you are not using the actual breaks at all, but just barely. Turn on break coach and see how you are doing in 2PD. I was getting 90% most of the time before I switched permanently to 1PD. In 1PD, you get 100% every time.

If you do not have fine control over your pedal pressure, I would recommend Whisper mode which has a more gradual acceleration curve compared to the other two.

 

[SnBGC]

I will try out the brake coach as step one. To see if I even need to switch. Thank you everyone.

Good idea. After a while you will consistently see scores of 100% and then you know you have reasonable braking habits. While driving in 2PD, you can select L at any time for "Unbridled Regen on Demand". You may find it useful for freeway off ramps, parking garages, congested areas, construction zones etc.

I prefer 2PD in the Mach-E but that doesn't mean I don't like 1PD driving. I think it is very nice in the Polestar 2 and in the Lightning (after I adjust the pedals to a certain position). I get very good overall efficiency in the MME in 2PD. There would be zero improvement in range if I switched to 1PD.
As was said already....EV efficiency has more to do with driving style vs driving modes. ?

 

[Woeo]

You can also use the L button if you really want more lift off regen when 1PD is off.

I used one pedal exclusively for 6-8 months. Now prefer ‘coasting’ in Engaged mode. There is some subtle regen when lifting off the accelerator, less than when in Unbridled and more than when in Whisper. I toggle the L button on and off when I’d like some extra regen applied to scrub off speed. Could lightly brake as that first uses regen to slow the car, but I find it easy to use the button.

Using 1PD, and you should experiment with it, requires the driver to modulate the accelerator carefully. If you lift off quickly you will get max regen which is akin to braking. As the driver you know what is happening and why, so you expect the slowing sensation. Your passengers may not anticipate it if there is an absence of contextual clues…such as an upcoming traffic signal, stop sign, turn...and they may report feeling uncomfortable or queasy as a result.

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