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How Does Regenerative Braking Work

April 29, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Braking is an essential part of motoring and the latest in the braking technology is the regenerative braking. To understand it fully you must know how regenerative braking works. While you are driving your car, every time you step on the brake pedal you are wasting energy by way of losing the kinetic energy that is used to move your car forward. As energy can neither be created nor destroyed a form of energy is converted into another form of energy. Usually kinetic energy is converted into heat energy in the ordinary cars.

In the present day electric vehicles the primary concern of the engineers is to keep the battery charged at all times in all possible manners. Towards this the regenerative braking system has been designed to put more power into the batteries whenever you apply brakes in your electric vehicle. When you study how does the regenerative braking system works you will be surprised to find the same electric motors that move your car forward by taking power from the batteries give back power to them acting as a generator whenever you apply brake.

By using the regenerative braking system you can easily recapture much of the car’s kinetic energy and is converted into electricity and this is sent back to the battery to add to the mileage range of the electric car. This type of regenerative braking system is found in most of the high end electric vehicles and the best part of the system is that it is becoming more popular now. This technology is being extended even to the electric bicycles and even in Formula one race cars.

By knowing how does a regenerative braking works you can easily understand, that this system is totally different from the conventional braking system we find in the oil run vehicles. The traditional braking system uses brake pads to increase friction with the moving parts of the wheels of the vehicles to reduce the speed or stop it altogether. Additional friction develops between the slowing down wheel and the surface of the road and this leads to the generation of heat.

But in the regenerative braking system the braking is done with the use of the same motors or the power train that drives the wheels of the electric wheel. When you press the brake pedal in the electric vehicle the driving motor itself brings in the braking effort by just changing the direction of rotation of the motor and makes it run in reverse direction thereby dragging the wheels and making them reduce speed or come to a halt. During this reverse motion the motor that was drawing power from the batteries generate electricity just like a generator and this electricity is fed into the batteries and stored for use.

Though, this is a simple schematic description of how does regenerative braking system works, it uses many related technologies to bring in more braking power as well as capture more electricity for the batteries to get charged every time you are applying the brakes. In case of a hybrid vehicle or an all electric vehicle these regenerative brakes work more efficiently at certain situations and at certain speeds and to avoid unnecessary panic in drivers back up friction based brakes are also available in certain vehicles.

In the present day electric cars the regenerative braking system has advanced much and the driver is given more options to select which type of braking must be used in a given situation. Advancements in electronics have made it possible for the driver to have a variety of options to make use of this advanced braking system in an efficient manner. However it is necessary that you must know how does regenerative braking system works to use it in the best way and achieve better recharging of your batteries even when you are driving your electric vehicle.

The Future of Electric Cars

November 12, 2015 By Jenni Crenshaw Leave a Comment

Every innovation is eventually eclipsed by superior technology or a new, unique application of the innovation. In just the last few decades we’ve seen cassette tapes, CD-ROMs, and even traditional television, among others, get passed by in favor of better performing products and applications of technology. In the automotive industry, we are on the cusp of seeing a similar mass shift away from traditional gas engines to fully electric vehicles. The speed of this shift will be determined by three things: battery performance, automation of the vehicle, and the serviceability experience.

Current lithium-ion batteries are constantly improving, but reaching a sustainable and affordable price per kilowatt-hour is still several years away. Without the subsidy-free price competition against gas powered combustion engines, mass adoption is not likely to be sustained. Several non-lithium-ion battery technologies show potential, such as magnesium-ion and lithium-sulphur, but these technologies are behind the adoption curve of lithium-ion and time to market is still at least a decade away. In that time, companies like Tesla have said they will have an affordable lithium-ion battery comparable to gas costs through use of its Giga factory production.

One way manufacturers are enhancing battery performance without touching the battery is through the use of lighter weight materials in the vehicle. Reducing the overall weight reduces the stress on the battery and manufacturers are seeing 15-20 percent gains in efficiency when vehicle weight is reduced by 20 percent. Instead of steel, manufacturers are turning to aluminum or carbon, both stronger that steel, in an attempt to reduce vehicle weight.

Just like improvements in the battery will enhance adoption of electric vehicles, so too will the improving performance of automation within vehicles. Manufacturers have been slowly introducing automation over the last several years in features like parking assist, automatic braking, and smart cruise control. The idea of a fully-automated driving experience is the next big step. Recently, Tesla introduced fully autonomous highway driving technology in its Model S vehicles. According to a recent Jabian Consulting survey of 1000 U.S. consumers, more than half of those surveyed believe safety would be enhanced if everyone had an autonomous vehicle, and 40 percent believe we will have fully-autonomous vehicles within the next five years.

Automation will also help adoption of electric vehicles through self-diagnosing technology that will require fewer trips to service providers and quicker fixes, often done through a simple software update. According to the same survey as above, more than 60 percent of respondents said they would pay extra for an app that tells them what’s wrong with their car. Because an electric vehicle has significantly fewer moving parts than a combustion engine, replacement parts self-diagnosed by the vehicle could be created at home on a 3D printer and installed by the owner. Five years ago no one ever thought a car would talk to a printer!

One of the main influencers in the adoption of electric cars will ultimately be the customer experience, most notably in the service ecosystem. The ability of consumers to become more educated and smarter about their vehicles, either through availability of information on the internet, or through self-diagnosing cars, continues to threaten the traditional vehicle service experience. As women have emerged as the primary influencer and user of auto services, dealerships and other service centers have failed to adopt practices and behaviors consistent with consumer expectations. In the same Jabian Consulting survey, more than 60 percent of women reported knowing more about their vehicle than the service technician gave them credit for, and respect was the most often cited desire among female consumers when asked what they wanted most from their service experience. More than 45 percent said they are considering an electric vehicle for their next purchase largely because of the minimal need for service.

Women are also more likely than men to purchase a vehicle online, similar to Tesla’s delivery model. As influence has grown among women, and expectations for the service experience has been missed, opportunities abound for electric vehicle sales that can capitalize on the void created by the traditional auto experience.

While service experiences are influential, so too are the experiences electric car manufacturers are creating using gamification and building communities. Owners of the Nissan Leaf can create a persona for their car and compete with other Leaf owners in a virtual leaderboard that measures car use efficiencies, driving tendencies and shared experiences. Use of the community has impacted how people drive so as not to affect their place on the leaderboard. Because digitally connecting people is so readily available in electric connected cars, future communities of users will engage in games and content applications to further cement loyalty, enhance the driving experience, and create brand ambassadors offline and online.

The future of electric cars is certainly a bright one. Though the hurdles for more rapid adoption continue to be on the legal side more than the technology side, those are quickly being overcome. While electric vehicles today only make up nearly one percent of all vehicles on the road, the speed of adoption is increasing at a rate that could see electrics dominate the market by 2025. It’s probably time to start thinking of the electric car version of the slang “gas guzzler”.

Real World Feedback from a Real Tesla S Owner

February 27, 2015 By Joanna Laznicka Leave a Comment

I recently asked my friends about their Tesla S’s. My goal was to hear Tesla S owners’ real world experiences to help us make a purchasing decision. My husband was all ready to purchase the Tesla S with the 60 kWh battery but I, being happy with our Volt and Prius, was reluctant about the purchase. After reading the below email from an old boss (Robert B.) from Silicon Valley, I not only said “let’s purchase a Tesla S”, but also insisted it be with an 85 kWh battery. I greatly respect Robert on the this matter. Not only is he a car enthusiast, but he also has a very strong mechanical and electrical engineering background. If you or your spouse are on the fence about buying one, I suggest that you read his email below.

—-His Letter—-

Hi Joanna! It’s been sooo long… P….. told me you guys are considering a Tesla and asked that I write to you about our experience.

We got one of the earliest “S” cars, the same as the ones they are shipping now, although the ones available now are even more advanced. I have to tell you that a Tesla S is not a car, it is a portal to another dimension. What sets it apart are two basically transformed experiences, both the Driving Experience as well as the Ownership Experience.

Driving it is like owning a Star Trek Space Shuttle. Instant and yet silent torque just sweeping you away at rates you cannot fathom. Instead of having an “Accelerator” pedal, you have a “Velocitator” pedal. What ever angle you have the pedal, you are going that speed, instantaneously. It is crazy-fun.

The Ownership experience is just as groundbreaking. Owning a Tesla is like belonging to a country-club. The dealership falls all over themselves to take care of you. I had a couple of major things go wrong and this is what happened:

I was backing out of our driveway and didn’t see that the adjacent car had its front wheels turned-out. Going pretty fast, I caught the inside edge of the front bumper assembly on the tire of P…..’s car and stripped off, basically, the whole front-end. I stuck it back on the best I could and brought it in expecting them to tell me how many thousands of dollars in damage I did. They took a quick look at it and said “All you did is bust a bunch of penny-fasteners. We will have it put back together in 10 minutes – no charge”. They just want to delight.
I spilled battery acid on the back carpet. I have wrecked car carpet before and it costs thousands to repair. They quoted me something like $600. I said “fine” and when I went to pick it up, the bill was $125. I asked them why and they said they figured out a cheaper way to do it!

Now compare that to the dealership experience of any of our other gas cars. We never leave the dealership without feeling totally raped. I believe the difference is that the Tesla dealer is not independent. They are just an office of the factory and want most to make their customers so happy they tell all their friends (…as you can see – it is working)

I know you have a family now so it also has to be pointed out that the Tesla got the highest safety-rating of any car, basically perfect scores in all categories. Then there is the unprecedented roominess. The back seats fold down and reveal a space plenty big enough to put a mountain-bike, without even taking off the wheels. Then there is a compartment below that, and a full “Fronk” – a front trunk with a ton more space – amazing.

Finally, one has to consider what would make an “S” lose value? It has no engine to count the miles on. It will never lose compression. The interior with its 17″ monitor and exterior design are basically 10 years ahead of everybody else, so what is going to age? Even the body can’t rust out from under you because it is all Aluminum! The battery can be replaced in 2 minutes and they will probably have an even more amazing one you’d want to buy before the original one wears out. Ilon Musk is creating a market for used Tesla batteries also. Remember, a “warn-out” Lithium Ion battery is still extremely valuable for stationary power applications. I expect we will get some trade-in value when that day finally comes. So what is the true cost of a car that doesn’t age?

If you decide to get one, be absolutely sure to get the “big” battery, the 85kW. That opens you up to cross-country driving and the use of Tesla’s free network of SuperChargers. It is a blast to use the SuperChargers as they are located in great places with lots of stuff to do/eat/shop, and it only takes 20 minutes to finish and drive another couple hundred miles.

There are three models with the 85kW battery, the low-end, with just weak 2-wheel drive, the middle, with two more wheels of (weak) drive, together making it super-fast, and then the crazy-fast one where the rear wheels have the upgraded motor. This one has a button called “Insane Mode”. I hope to trade up to that some day.

I recommend you get the smaller wheels, less wheel-more tire. The big wheels with the super low-profile tires are just expensive and I believe may be a harder ride.

A Tesla S transforms every trip into enjoying the journey as much or more than the destination. I sincerely hope you make the leap and can absolutely guarantee NO buyer’s remorse. You will shutter to think you almost didn’t get it.

The other end of the spectrum is a used Leaf for ~$14k if you just want to commute to work electric. I wouldn’t pay a penny more for any other electric car because the true value is strangled by the severely limited range and absence of a super-charger network. A used Leaf or an 85kW Tesla are the only rational EV choices.

I believe there are rebates on a new EV, but don’t have current status of those.

Sorry for the Novel. I just get so excited! I sincerely hope you take the plunge.

Take Care! -Robert B

How Does Regenerative Braking Work

The Future of Electric Cars

Real World Feedback from a Real Tesla S Owner

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