The Impact of Regenerative Braking System on EVs
If you own a hybrid or full-electric vehicle, you may be aware that your car is operating on a ‘regenerative braking system.’ What does this mean?
Regenerative braking is a system found in most electric vehicles. It is designed to capture the kinetic energy from braking and convert it into electric power that the vehicle can then use to charge its battery.
Let’s take a look at the importance of regenerative braking in electric vehicles.
How does Regenerative Braking work?
In electric vehicles, the batteries power the drive train which then powers a series of motors that create torque (rotational force) on the wheels. This is the process that spins the wheels and moves the car forward. Regenerative braking essentially reverses the power provided by the drivetrain and sends it back to the batteries.
Regenerative braking takes the kinetic energy that is provided by the spinning wheels of the car and reverses the energy to the batteries. In most electric cars, the vehicle operator only has to remove their foot from the accelerator for this process to engage.
By regenerating the energy in the car back to the battery, the braking process actually helps the car slow down too. This can take a lot of the impact off of the brake pads and rotors throughout the lifetime of the vehicle.
Pros and Cons of Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking has some obvious benefits for your electric vehicles. However, it’s important to weigh both the advantages and disadvantages to understand the system fully.
Pros of Regenerative Braking
1. Brake Pads and Rotors can last longer: Much of the lifetime of your braking system will depend on your driving style and driving environment. However, regenerative braking as a whole does put less pressure and use on the brake pads and rotors of your vehicle. Hence why a mechanically attached backing plate is so important.
2. Extended Driving Range: Certain estimates show that regenerative braking can add up to a thousand miles of electric driving range throughout the year. As your car is partially powered by redirected kinetic energy, you can spend less time charging and more time on the road.
3. Better Fuel Efficiency for Hybrids: While they still use their combustion engines quite a bit, regenerative braking helps power the electric motors in hybrids. This can help hybrid vehicle drivers rely less on their combustion engines and improve overall fuel efficiency.
Cons of Regenerative Braking
1. Braking can “feel” different: When switching over to an electric vehicle, many vehicle owners notice a difference in the way braking feels. In the past, the brake pedal may not have compressed as smoothly, but the brake pedals in newer EVs are getting more responsive.
2. Potentially Less Stopping Power: This is another aspect of EVs that has improved with newer vehicles, but it is still noticeable for many vehicle owners. Regenerative braking systems have left many EV owners feeling like they have to press harder on the brakes to achieve effective stopping power. This places an importance on the quality of brake parts EV owners outfit their vehicle with, such as brake pads and rotors.
What are the Best Brake Pads for EVs?
The best brake pads for EVs are NRS Galvanized Steel Brake Pads. Many EV owners have run into problems of rust and corrosion with traditional brake pads. As EVs’ regenerative braking coincides with less use in the car’s brakes, a buildup of moisture, corrosion, and rust can occur.
NRS Galvanized Brake Pads are made specifically for EVs as they utilize materials, such as galvanized steel, that are resistant to rust and corrosion. NRS Brakes also uses premium friction materials and a special attachment technology to further ensure the stopping power of you EV. If you’re ready to outfit your vehicle with brake pads made specifically for EVs, be sure to check out everything NRS Brakes has to offer.