United Tire and Service News

Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles both have a number of features to make driving more efficient. One of these features is regenerative braking. Regenerative braking might sound complicated, but it is actually relatively straightforward. Simply put, regenerative braking captures the energy that the car would otherwise lose during the braking process. 
After that, this energy is then used to recharge the battery of the hybrid or electric vehicle. As you might expect, regenerative braking cannot fully recharge the car's battery in most cases. However, it does help the car recharge the battery more easily. Let's dive into how regenerative braking works. 

How Does It Work?

It is important for you to clearly understand how a conventional braking system works before moving on to how regenerative braking works. Stepping on your car's brake pedal causes the brake pads and discs to meet and create friction. The friction then creates kinetic energy. The kinetic energy created by braking then dissipates as heat into the environment. 

Regenerative braking works by recovering a portion of the kinetic energy that will dissipate as heat and turns that kinetic energy into electricity. If your car has regenerative braking, it means that the motor drives the car's wheels while it is cruising or accelerating, but the wheels drive the car's motor while it is decelerating. As a result, the energy flows two ways, and therefore the motor can function as a generator. The motor functions as a generator by resisting the wheels' rotation and generating electricity in order to recharge the battery of the vehicle.

The vehicle's regenerative braking can happen in two different ways. Regenerative braking can happen when you step on the brake pedal of your vehicle. Regenerative braking can also happen when your car is coasting and you release your car's accelerator pedal. The regenerative braking system generates electricity for the purpose of recharging the battery in both cases. Now that you know how regenerative braking works, you should know the pros and cons of regenerative braking. 

Pros of Regenerative Braking

There are a number of benefits that regenerative braking provides. One of the benefits of regenerative braking is that your vehicle's rotors and brake pads might last longer as a result of this type of braking. Regenerative braking provides plenty of stopping force by itself. However, you should keep in mind that hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles also have conventional hydraulic brakes. Regenerative braking handles a large part of the process of slowing down the vehicle, though. 

This means that your vehicle uses its rotors and brake pads much less often due to its regenerative braking. Because of this fact, it means that you do not need to get your vehicle's brake pads and rotors serviced as often as hydraulic brakes. 

Another benefit of regenerative braking is that it makes hybrid vehicles more fuel-efficient. As you likely know, hybrid vehicles are made to utilize their electric motor as often as possible despite including an internal combustion engine. This means that regenerative braking directly recharges the hybrid vehicle's most often-used source of power.

Since regenerative braking recharges the hybrid vehicle's electric motor, your vehicle doesn't have to use its engine as frequently. Your vehicle will consume less fuel since it does not use its engine as frequently thanks to regenerative braking. You can save money on fuel for your hybrid vehicle since the regenerative braking system lets your hybrid use the electric motor more often. 

Cons of Regenerative Braking

One disadvantage of regenerative braking is that it might be less effective when you are driving at a lower speed. If you are driving more slowly, your car has a smaller amount of kinetic energy and does not need as much braking force. 

This means that the regenerative braking system receives less energy and does not recharge your vehicle's battery very much. Another disadvantage of regenerative braking is that the regenerative braking system might provide you with less stopping power than a conventional braking system. 

Regenerative braking works well in the majority of braking situations where your vehicle gradually slows down and stops. However, regenerative braking may not give you the same stopping power as conventional braking. 

You might have to press down harder on your vehicle's brakes to get the same stopping power when driving a hybrid or electric vehicle with regenerative braking. Newer types of regenerative braking systems are addressing this issue, though. You may not feel a difference in the car's stopping power in newer car models. 

Stop By Your Local United Tire For Brake Service Today

If you live in the Philadelphia, PA area and you need brake service, visit your local United Tire location today. We can perform brake maintenance, brake repair, and much more. Our mechanics are knowledgeable, experienced, and friendly. Call to make your next appointment or schedule online.