One pedal driving

[MattPersman]

Forgive my EV low knowledge or ignorance but yesterday I was approaching a BMW i4 and it almost seemed like the driver was braking for no reason repeatedly. Really kind of annoying as we are driving a nice speed with not much traffic and you just continued to see the brake light come on

So then I read about one pedal driving where it does light up the brake lights when letting off

Any reason to drive in this mode around town or on divided highways?

Maybe a new owner not knowing the brake light is lighting on and off. Imagine a full fleet of these on the road with brake lights constantly kicking on and off would be quite a stressful drive from behind

Any thoughts ?

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Forgive my EV low knowledge or ignorance but yesterday I was approaching a BMW i4 and it almost seemed like the driver was braking for no reason repeatedly. Really kind of annoying as we are driving a nice speed with not much traffic and you just continued to see the brake light come on

So then I read about one pedal driving where it does light up the brake lights when letting off

Any reason to drive in this mode around town or on divided highways?

Maybe a new owner not knowing the brake light is lighting on and off. Imagine a full fleet of these on the road with brake lights constantly kicking on and off would be quite a stressful drive from behind

Any thoughts ?

Probably brake regeneration and sensitivity can be adjusted. Just like a Tesla.

Or the driver could just one of those people who are constantly on/off the brake.

 

[spasm3]

You would think that would waste battery power.

 

[JeffKeryk]

On a Tesla, the brake lights operate with one-pedal regen. The lights are triggered by an accelerometer, so come on similar to normal braking.
I'm sure BMW does the same.

 

[JavierH19]

Test drove a model y and hated it. I tried to coast but it would slow down and i kept stepping on it and trying to coast and the car behind me started honking and drove away mad. Learned that the brake lights would turn on automatically. Tried using it at it's lowest regen setting after pulling over to mess with it and it's not soft, it lurches a little when you let off the pedal.

That was years ago so I hoped they programmed it to kind of like feather into it. Still hate it but i know that not all motor types allow coasting unless it's software controlled with a minuscule amount of computer inputted throttle when coasting.

But ill be darned if that model y didn't have one of the comfiest post 2000 vehicle seats I've ever sat in. Comfier than my new escalade.

 

[JohnnyG]

A lot of people drive that way. Only with strong regenerative braking and taillights, you notice it much more. My brother drove like that, on the gas,off, on, etc. Very wasteful habit IMO, hard on fuel economy.
I'd venture that would be a tough habit to break when transitioning to electric drive.

 

[supton]

I'd think you'd want to turn on one pedal in heavy traffic. Turn off when the road opens up. Set coast/regen as necessary, personally, being used to ICE, I'm not a fan of braking during coasting. But I guess it could be nice, if I used cruise more, just flip off cruise and have it regen while I coast(?) to a stop.

 

[y_p_w]

I'd think you'd want to turn on one pedal in heavy traffic. Turn off when the road opens up. Set coast/regen as necessary, personally, being used to ICE, I'm not a fan of braking during coasting. But I guess it could be nice, if I used cruise more, just flip off cruise and have it regen while I coast(?) to a stop.

My father is still used to his old habits, so a Model 3 is still a challenge not coasting off the pedal and hitting the brake late. And he still wants to use the pedal to hold up a hill like with an automatic transmission.

 

[JeffKeryk]

One pedal driving is addicting; it's the best. It took me about 2 minutes to get used to it. Plus, your brakes last a looooong time. Traditional braking releases the kinetic energy to the atmosphere via heat; regen returns some of it to your battery.

On the last leg home from the north bay to our home in the south bay, I pick up range on interstate 280 as it is a decline into the Silicon Valley.

 

[Blueshound]

Sorry, I thought this was gonna be a thread about them Duke boys, at it again.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I'm driving a '23 Hybrid Accord currently as a loaner. I'll have to ask my son to drive behind me to see if the lights come on when coasting. I know on the dash as soon as you let off the gas it shows light regen on the meter and then goes all the way up if I hit the brakes.

I can say that in my short couple drives, the EV to ICE transition is smooth and quiet so far. I couldn't even tell when the ICE turned on rolling on the road. I'm sure driving more I'd get used to it and feel it more. Right now the Jetson's EV sound is what I hear most.

 

[2005jettatdi]

I have tried one pedal on my Mach E and do not like it. With the Mach E, when you press the brake pedal it is supposed to regen first and then actually apply the brakes when you press hard. For traffic, I like putting on cruise control since the car will slow down for you if you get distracted.

 

[earlyre]

 

[Torrid]

It takes a bit to get used to at first. I prefer the way Tesla does does it and it just takes getting used to how to modulate. You just don’t completely release the accelerator until you’re ready to completely stop.

 

[dogememe]

I only used it in bumper to bumper traffic otherwise I just drive the car normally. I’ve tried doing it full time and you do get used to it but I just don’t really love it.

 

[PimTac]

I would think that would be annoying to the drivers behind if the brake lights are coming on because the person driving the single pedal backed off?

Compare to a normal car that coasts when you back off the accelerator.

 

[Torrid]

I would think that would be annoying to the drivers behind if the brake lights are coming on because the person driving the single pedal backed off?

Compare to a normal car that coasts when you back off the accelerator.

You’d have to beck off to the point you were legitimately slowing the car. You’d feel it if you did that. You’d see that rarely are you completely off the pedal. That would feel like you slammed on the brakes out of nowhere. It’s hard to explain in a way that translates to driving style, but it sounds awkward no matter how it’s explained unless you tried it. It sounds awkward to me explaining it but it’s second nature at this point that I don’t have to give it a second thought when driving.

 

[Marcozi]

3 pedals forever!!!!!

 

[PimTac]

You’d have to beck off to the point you were legitimately slowing the car. You’d feel it if you did that. You’d see that rarely are you completely off the pedal. That would feel like you slammed on the brakes out of nowhere. It’s hard to explain in a way that translates to driving style, but it sounds awkward no matter how it’s explained unless you tried it. It sounds awkward to me explaining it but it’s second nature at this point that I don’t have to give it a second thought when driving.

I sense what you are saying. It’s like driving behind a Ford with their sensitive brake light switch that causes the brake light to come on with the lightest pressure on the pedal. I see this all the time. The brake lights flash on and off repeatedly.

 

[y_p_w]

I would think that would be annoying to the drivers behind if the brake lights are coming on because the person driving the single pedal backed off?

Compare to a normal car that coasts when you back off the accelerator.

I’ve tried to explain it before. It’s not a traditional accelerator that controls a throttle. The right pedal controls the speed, more or less. Let go, and it applies regenerative braking and possibly friction brakes (in hold mode) once it stops. But technically it is braking.