How has the, for lack of a better term driveability of vehicles with regenerative braking improved over the last 15 years or so? Back in the mid 00's, took a drive in SIL's pruis and I found the braking to be weird. Not grabby per se, but not smooth either. Hard to adjust to. Granted, this was 15 years ago when hybrids were still kind of a novelty, I'd imagine that's been improved.
They may have improved, but it could also just getting used to it. Both of our hybrids (one is a Prius) have two modes for regenerative braking. One is "light" and the other is close to one pedal driving, as you ease off on the gas pedal, the braking starts. I always drive in the one pedal mode. Like any driving skill, some folks are smoother than others. I have been driven by some folks who definitely are head snappers accelerating and decelerating. After decades of trailering animals, I tend to be in the "plan ahead", gently accelerate/decelerate, and turn slowly, driving mode. My spouse is more of the Mario Andretti driving style, and fortunately has the reflexes for it. Did I mention that I do all the trailering in the family?
Peter thanks for this posting. Being 71 today I know how hard grasping hybrid and battery only EVs had been for me. It was October 2019 when I learned Mercedes Benz of Norway had a $22 million USD shortfall in sales because of customers trading to EVs.
You are welcome! I am partial to the learn by doing myself, though I try hard to learn from others! I am glad that the red light runner didn't get you. My wife had a Prius totaled due to a red light runner. She was going 50mph and was T-boned with only minor injuries. We bought the replacement Prius two days later. Several of her coworkers passed the crash on their way homes and they all assumed that the driver had died in the accident. We have always been willing to pay a premium for a crash safe vehicle.
This makes me think of semi tractors and their ‘jake brakes’. Loud and obnoxious form of engine braking when the truck driver makes the effort. I’ve had an old truck passing the house hourly for a week now hauling peanuts from nearby fields. Blabbllbl.
I was surprised when I went down the E CVT Toyota hybrid transmission rabbit hole that is how that works when B mode is selected.
I've heard the Blabblbl and suspected it was a jake brake. Thanks for confirming it.
A lot of that is the driver, listening to his engine. Many short haul trucks are running straight pipes or close to it. Often the driver will just keep blipping the throttle, rather than just using it to help control the speed. Not the way it's meant to be used, and guys like him give all drivers a bad rap.