Just curious if anyone knows how many kW or watts regen adds back to the battery. Does switching drive modes really make a big difference? I mostly use normal mode and sometimes switch to sport. Can’t really tell if it does much. And yeah, I don’t like one-pedal driving.
It’s more about your driving style than the drive mode or one-pedal setting.
If you’re always braking hard and hitting the friction brakes, you’ll lose range. Otherwise, it won’t make much of a difference.
I’ve had better luck driving like a Prius: really gentle acceleration and coasting to stop. I can get around 4.5 miles per kWh doing this.
The Lightning is way more responsive than a Prius, so it’s hard to drive that slowly, but it’s doable. Even with a bit more normal driving, you can still get 3.2 miles per kWh on suburban roads and 2.8 miles per kWh on the highway if you stay behind semis.
I use CarScanner to see real-time regen, and I usually get around 40 kW when it kicks in. It’s not huge, but it’s something. One-pedal driving does help maximize regen, but even with the brake pedal, it blends in regen.
Regen is more useful in stop-and-go traffic than on the highway. I see some pretty crazy efficiency in the city if I’m not running the heat or AC.
@Rowan
Only 40? I was expecting more. My old Tesla could hit 60 when it was new, but they eventually removed the detailed readings in updates. I thought the extra motor and bigger battery in the Lightning would give it more than 40!
Normal mode is, well, normal. Sport gives you faster acceleration and more aggressive regen, even without one-pedal. Off-road changes the throttle response to feel like you’re in 4L. That’s just what I’ve noticed.
Unlimited power! (Okay, not really.)
Honestly, there’s no big difference between modes, and one-pedal doesn’t change how regen works.
Regen always slows the vehicle until you need more braking than it can handle, then the mechanical brakes kick in. So just pick the mode you like best; it won’t affect regen.
@Dezi
Not exactly. In two-pedal mode, there’s a point where pressing the brake is purely regen until the truck slows down enough for the friction brakes to engage.
I’d say it’s around 30% of brake pedal travel before it starts using the brake pads.
@Flint
Yeah, the truck will use as much regen as possible before switching to the mechanical brakes, regardless of mode.
In two-pedal, pressing the brake uses regen first, then adds the friction brakes if you press hard enough. It’s not a jarring stop, but it’s definitely firm. One-pedal doesn’t change that behavior.
@Dezi
I get what you’re saying, but I’ve noticed the braking coach score drops even with a lighter touch on the brake pedal in two-pedal mode. It doesn’t take much for the mechanical brakes to start helping.
@Flint
When you press the brake pedal, it’s always regen first. Keep pushing harder, and it’ll switch to the mechanical brakes once regen hits its limit. It will always use the maximum regen possible before that.
@Dezi
Fair enough. Just feels like it switches to the brakes sooner than ‘very firm braking.’ Maybe it’s a matter of perspective.
Flint said:
@Dezi
Fair enough. Just feels like it switches to the brakes sooner than ‘very firm braking.’ Maybe it’s a matter of perspective.
You started this discussion! For me, it definitely feels like I have to press pretty hard to engage the mechanical brakes.
@Dezi
Just sharing my experience. I feel like once you get to about 30-40% brake pedal, it starts using the mechanical brakes.
Flint said:
@Dezi
Just sharing my experience. I feel like once you get to about 30-40% brake pedal, it starts using the mechanical brakes.
This comment is empty, admin should fix.
@Flint
Guess it depends on what ‘firm braking’ means to you. I feel like I need to press down past halfway to drop from 100% braking efficiency.
@Dezi
If you’re not using one-pedal, the truck slows down a bit when you let off the gas but doesn’t regen as much. One-pedal makes a bigger difference in how much power is sent back to the battery.
Avery said:
@Dezi
If you’re not using one-pedal, the truck slows down a bit when you let off the gas but doesn’t regen as much. One-pedal makes a bigger difference in how much power is sent back to the battery.
When you let off the accelerator, the truck uses a little regen in two-pedal mode, more in sport mode, and even more in one-pedal. But you don’t get more energy back; it’s just a matter of how quickly you slow down.
Avery said:
@Dezi
If you’re not using one-pedal, the truck slows down a bit when you let off the gas but doesn’t regen as much. One-pedal makes a bigger difference in how much power is sent back to the battery.
When using the brake pedal in two-pedal mode, it regenerates the same as one-pedal until you brake harder than regen can handle. Then, the mechanical brakes step in. You still get the same regen if you’re not slamming on the brakes.