As electric vehicles (EVs) become more popular, one feature that often surprises new drivers is regenerative braking. But what is it and how exactly does it work?
Regenerative braking is used by electric and hybrid vehicles to recover energy that is usually lost during braking. Instead of wasting that energy as heat (as in traditional braking), EVs convert it back into electricity and store it in the battery, ready for the next time the driver presses the accelerator. Electric car regenerative braking helps to improve efficiency and extend your vehicle’s driving range.
In an EV, the electric motor goes forwards and powers the wheels, but when you lift your foot off the accelerator pedal, the motor goes backwards and becomes a generator - generating kinetic electricity and sending it back into the battery. This process captures energy that would otherwise be lost.
Most modern electric and hybrid vehicles have a regenerative braking system, but the strength and adjustability of the system can vary between manufacturers and models. Some let you control how strong the braking effect feels, while others apply it automatically.
The Ford Explorer and Ford Capri have a “B” Regenerative Braking Mode. When used, this will trigger enhanced regenerative braking, increasing the amount of energy captured and fed back into the battery when you lift off the accelerator.
If you’re new to EVs, regenerative braking might feel a little unusual at first. As soon as you lift your foot off the accelerator, it will feel like the car is gently braking on its own. Many EVs allow you to adjust the strength of this effect. After a short time, most drivers find that it becomes second nature.
In some EVs, you can even increase regenerative braking to the point where you can drive using just one pedal — a feature known as one-pedal driving.
In most cases, regen braking is built into the driving experience of electric cars and helps improve efficiency with no extra effort from the driver. If you want to conserve energy and reduce wear on your brake pads, it’s a useful tool to rely on.
While regenerative braking won’t fully recharge your battery, it does help extend your driving range - reducing range anxiety - especially in stop-start traffic or around town. Using higher regen settings in these conditions can noticeably reduce how often you need to plug in to fully recharge your battery.
Regenerative braking is just one of the many features that make EVs unique. At Foray Motor Group, we’re here to help you understand what driving electric is really like - whether you're curious about battery range, charging, or braking systems.
Why not book a test drive and feel regenerative braking in action for yourself?
Pop into your local Foray dealership and explore our wide range of electric and hybrid vehicles.
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