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Does electrification generally result in regenerative braking being possible? I would think the easiest way would be to leave the legacy brakes, but that means

Does electrification generally result in regenerative braking being possible? I would think the easiest way would be to leave the legacy brakes, but that means that range wouldn't be as good (especially around town).

djbusby 3y ago
Loads of kits I see include regen braking.
smileysteve 3y ago
If you're rebuilding the wheel hubs, it's irresponsible to not add (at least front) disc brakes, they brake so much faster and safer than drums + shoes.
- _yb2s 3y ago
  Most of the desirable classic european sports cars have 4 wheel discs even back into the early 1960s.
ajross 3y ago
Surely, at best, only on the power wheels. So unless you're kitting out an AWD "classic" you still need mechanical brakes for safety.
- gnicholas 3y ago
  Yeah I wondered about this. How do they coordinate between the two types of braking? Maybe the easiest way would be to have relatively high regen by default (approaching 1-pedal driving), and then leave the actual brake pedal alone? Otherwise it would be a bit complicated, and risky.
  - ajross 3y ago
    You don't really have to. If the default state with the accelerator released is to regen at a reasonable rate, the car remains very controlable. That's the way all Teslas work by default. So the car slows down as you release the accelerator and you can use the brakes to stop faster as needed.
  - _yb2s 3y ago
    You could simply activate the high regen with a switch (e.g. the brake light switch that is already there) and still leave all of the factory hydraulic brakes fully intact. This will activate regen only on a light touch of the brakes, and combine them together seamlessly with heavier braking.
- _yb2s 3y ago
  All cars need real old fashioned mechanical brakes on all 4 wheels, EV or not, AWD or not, and all mass produced EVs have them, just like ICE cars. Regenerative braking is only for relatively light braking, only works when the battery isn't full, and isn't as reliable as a hydraulic braking system (which include independent redundant circuits). An EV cannot do an emergency rapid stop with regen alone. On the plus side, if you have regenerative braking, the brake system wears much less.
  - fragmede 3y ago
    Tesla recommends Model Y owners "frequently pressing the brake pedal to apply the mechanical brakes and dry the brake pads and rotors" to avoid rust and corrosion, because the regenerative braking is so good that the brake pads will rust if not intentionally exercised. https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_gb/GUID-3DFFB071-C0F6-474D-8A45-17BE1A006365.html#:~:text=Because%20Model%20Y%20uses%20regenerative,the%20brake%20pads%20and%20rotors https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_gb/GUID-3DFFB07....
    - ajross 3y ago
      That's pretty much exactly right. Once you get the feel of one pedal driving you really just never touch the brakes except in genuine evasive maneuvers, or occasionally to finesse a precision stop (pulling up to a wall in a garage, things like that). They get almost no regular use.
_yb2s 3y ago
Only if you go with an A/C motor, which usually costs more and is somewhat more complex.

djbusby 3y ago

Loads of kits I see include regen braking.

smileysteve 3y ago

If you're rebuilding the wheel hubs, it's irresponsible to not add (at least front) disc brakes, they brake so much faster and safer than drums + shoes.

_yb2s 3y ago
Most of the desirable classic european sports cars have 4 wheel discs even back into the early 1960s.

ajross 3y ago

Surely, at best, only on the power wheels. So unless you're kitting out an AWD "classic" you still need mechanical brakes for safety.

gnicholas 3y ago
Yeah I wondered about this. How do they coordinate between the two types of braking? Maybe the easiest way would be to have relatively high regen by default (approaching 1-pedal driving), and then leave the actual brake pedal alone? Otherwise it would be a bit complicated, and risky.
- ajross 3y ago
  You don't really have to. If the default state with the accelerator released is to regen at a reasonable rate, the car remains very controlable. That's the way all Teslas work by default. So the car slows down as you release the accelerator and you can use the brakes to stop faster as needed.
- _yb2s 3y ago
  You could simply activate the high regen with a switch (e.g. the brake light switch that is already there) and still leave all of the factory hydraulic brakes fully intact. This will activate regen only on a light touch of the brakes, and combine them together seamlessly with heavier braking.
_yb2s 3y ago
All cars need real old fashioned mechanical brakes on all 4 wheels, EV or not, AWD or not, and all mass produced EVs have them, just like ICE cars. Regenerative braking is only for relatively light braking, only works when the battery isn't full, and isn't as reliable as a hydraulic braking system (which include independent redundant circuits). An EV cannot do an emergency rapid stop with regen alone. On the plus side, if you have regenerative braking, the brake system wears much less.
- fragmede 3y ago
  Tesla recommends Model Y owners "frequently pressing the brake pedal to apply the mechanical brakes and dry the brake pads and rotors" to avoid rust and corrosion, because the regenerative braking is so good that the brake pads will rust if not intentionally exercised. https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_gb/GUID-3DFFB071-C0F6-474D-8A45-17BE1A006365.html#:~:text=Because%20Model%20Y%20uses%20regenerative,the%20brake%20pads%20and%20rotors https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_gb/GUID-3DFFB07....
  - ajross 3y ago
    That's pretty much exactly right. Once you get the feel of one pedal driving you really just never touch the brakes except in genuine evasive maneuvers, or occasionally to finesse a precision stop (pulling up to a wall in a garage, things like that). They get almost no regular use.

_yb2s 3y ago

Only if you go with an A/C motor, which usually costs more and is somewhat more complex.