Braking in snow

[augiedoggie]

I’m worried about the regen braking in slick conditions. As you guys know, we don’t want to hit the brakes in ice or snow even with abs. As we lift off the pedal in slick conditions will this initiate a slide or will the abs come on and prevent it. I’ve never driven a car with regen braking and don’t really understand how it works. Are my fears unfounded?

 

[Trace26]

I’m worried about the regen braking in slick conditions. As you guys know, we don’t want to hit the brakes in ice or snow even with abs. As we lift off the pedal in slick conditions will this initiate a slide or will the abs come on and prevent it. I’ve never driven a car with regen braking and don’t really understand how it works. Are my fears unfounded?

Properly tuned traction/stability control should prevent that. We will have to see how well it's tuned, but we've seen footage of them testing in harsh winter conditions.

 

[EV Trek]

Learn good throttle modulation, instead of a full lift when it’s slick a gradual lift will allow time for natural deceleration.

 

[augiedoggie]

That video driving in the snow really showed nothing. I also thought I heard regen was not adjustable and could not be turned off. How does regen work with abs?

 

[EV Trek]

That video driving in the snow really showed nothing. I also thought I heard regen was not adjustable and could not be turned off. How does regen work with abs?

Ok I found that video and I misheard him, when the guy asks if it has multiple levels the slate rep nods his head and then says one level.. I saw the head nod and didn’t hear him. Lol

watch starting at the 3 minute mark

 

[FlyHappy]

I’m worried about the regen braking in slick conditions. As you guys know, we don’t want to hit the brakes in ice or snow even with abs. As we lift off the pedal in slick conditions will this initiate a slide or will the abs come on and prevent it. I’ve never driven a car with regen braking and don’t really understand how it works. Are my fears unfounded?

It will be a learning curve, we should not fool ourselves. In the same way that driving a stick in snow is very different then driving an automatic in snow, One pedal/regen will require a different kind of foot control.

It is not some horrible disaster that I've heard expressed (the lack of regen level choices), merely a need to retrain our brain and foot in those conditions.

Your fears aren't unfounded, but no need to fall into irrationality, either. Non adjustable regen isn't unsafe on snow and ice, but it will require all of use to the throttle a bit differently then we've been accustomed to. Personally, I think that for most slippery conditions, and the vast majority of drivers, non-adjustable regen will be "safer" than having a 4-level adjustable regen setup. People get themselves in trouble all the time with too much granular control, instead of just mastering a single "control modality". IMO, naturally.

 

[The Weatherman]

I’m worried about the regen braking in slick conditions. As you guys know, we don’t want to hit the brakes in ice or snow even with abs. As we lift off the pedal in slick conditions will this initiate a slide or will the abs come on and prevent it. I’ve never driven a car with regen braking and don’t really understand how it works. Are my fears unfounded?

Yes!

I have been driving an EV for over three years now and live in KY where we do get snow. I drive exclusively in full power regen and have never felt the vehicle slip. My F150 Lightning is the most planted stable vehicle I’ve ever owned or driven.

You will learn quickly to feather the go peddle and use it to mange your stoping speed and distance.

 

[KevinRS]

The truck has full ABS and traction control. With those on, and even with the most aggressive regen, even if you suddenly take your foot off the accelerator, isn't the system going to detect slippage and modulate the "braking"?
The only real slippage event I've had was a complete surprise, black ice after slowly crossing a seasonal creek crossing before dawn, when accelerating after crossing, I felt the front end slipping, let up, not off the gas, and regained control.

That morning at that location I saw a pickup on it's side in the dirt probably 15 feet off the road, and witnessed an oncoming car some distance ahead make what looked like a quite quick U-turn from their lane into mine, and keep moving across my lane off the road onto the boulders concreted in downstream to limit erosion.

 

[FlyHappy]

The truck has full ABS and traction control. With those on, and even with the most aggressive regen, even if you suddenly take your foot off the accelerator, isn't the system going to detect slippage and modulate the "braking"?

yeah, but that's not how you drive in truly slippery conditions, in any kind of vehicle. sometimes ya gotta make turns, sometimes ya gotta positively creep upwards/downwards, etc.

 

[Snail]

I played around with my RWD iD.4 in snow in regen mode. It was far easier to drive than my manual Jetta. The 50/50 weight distribution and precise traction control on an electric motor is surprisingly good. My wife didn’t have trouble driving it in the snow either, finding it easier to pilot than her Subaru Ascent in slick conditions. VW at least has the RWD EV in slick conditions well sorted.

 

[EV Trek]

I found this info.
.
When a car loses traction during regenerative braking (e.g., while using "one-pedal driving" on ice or snow), the electric motor applies sudden negative torque, causing the wheels to slip or lock. The ABS detects this and automatically intervenes by:

• Instantly reducing or shutting off regenerative braking
• Seamlessly blending in the hydraulic service brakes to maintain vehicle control
• Pulsing the brake pressure to prevent tire lock-up, allowing you to safely steer

 

[KevinRS]

yeah, but that's not how you drive in truly slippery conditions, in any kind of vehicle. sometimes ya gotta make turns, sometimes ya gotta positively creep upwards/downwards, etc.

I was directing more to the thread idea that you would lose control in snow/slippery conditions because when you take your foot off the pedal, regen kicks in and basically uncontrollably brakes.
But that is a situation that is designed and tested for.

 

[FlyHappy]

I was directing more to the thread idea that you would lose control in snow/slippery conditions because when you take your foot off the pedal, regen kicks in and basically uncontrollably brakes.
But that is a situation that is designed and tested for.

true, indeed.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

It's drifting season. Turn off the traction controls and see what it'll do. Away from other drivers, of course... ❄❄❄❄❄❄