The all things EV chat thread

[PJ87]

Genuine question....
Just back from a 4hr trip down the M6 in the pouring rain...
Followed an electric Kia for about an hour.
His brake lights were flashing on and off very intermittently
I can't believe he was tapping the brakes that much and sometimes the lights were only on for a spilt second
Does lifting off the accelerator operate the brake lights or could there have been a malfunction?
Either way it was bloody annoying!

Not sure what modes the Kia has but for example the leaf has one pedal driving which once used to is brilliant

Take foot off pedal it applies full brakes

I think Kia has 3 modes of regen braking and it might have similar

 

[TimShady]

Yea that’s defo the regen braking. Takes some getting used to.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I don’t think so…other than a time limit of four hours (or it might be two - off top of head I’m not sure) - and that rather scuppers residents parking.

Update. Between hours of 8am and 6pm the two spaces at the EV charge point are for charging only with 4hrs limit. I’ve a feeling some don’t realise that they can park theor non-EV car in the spaces outside of these hours.

 

[doublebogey7]

Not sure what modes the Kia has but for example the leaf has one pedal driving which once used to is brilliant

Take foot off pedal it applies full brakes

I think Kia has 3 modes of regen braking and it might have similar

I have a Kia Nero and it actually has 4 levels of braking. I will only leave it switched on while driving if the conditions are suitable as I am aware taking the foot off the pedal may apply the Brake Lights (dependent on the level of engine braking applied I understand).

 

[PIng]

I have a Kia Nero and it actually has 4 levels of braking. I will only leave it switched on while driving if the conditions are suitable as I am aware taking the foot off the pedal may apply the Brake Lights (dependent on the level of engine braking applied I understand).

I tested this a couple of years ago with a mate. I took my foot off the accelerator as I drove past him at about 30 mph with the car set at the highest regen level. He confirmed that the brake lights didn't come on until the car started slowing significantly, not as soon as I took my foot off the pedal.

 

[PJ87]

I have a Kia Nero and it actually has 4 levels of braking. I will only leave it switched on while driving if the conditions are suitable as I am aware taking the foot off the pedal may apply the Brake Lights (dependent on the level of engine braking applied I understand).

Ah 4 levels, cheers for that. I'm really hoping my eldest is out of car seats by time I get one (next January) because we could do 90% of our driving in it... Had to take the juggernaut out today , didn't need the big boot or the extra seats.. only needed the ability to carry 5 of us.

Blooming car seats.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Genuine question....
Just back from a 4hr trip down the M6 in the pouring rain...
Followed an electric Kia for about an hour.
His brake lights were flashing on and off very intermittently
I can't believe he was tapping the brakes that much and sometimes the lights were only on for a spilt second
Does lifting off the accelerator operate the brake lights or could there have been a malfunction?
Either way it was bloody annoying!

I see this all too often with VW ev's. Its not helped by a nervous driver behind them who hits their brakes as a result.
If it is an actual function of energy regeneration, it's a very badly designed and implemented way of doing it.

 

[bobmac]

I see this all too often with VW ev's. Its not helped by a nervous driver behind them who hits their brakes as a result.
If it is an actual function of energy regeneration, it's a very badly designed and implemented way of doing it.

What's the difference between slowing down the car using regen braking when the brake lights come on and slowing down the car using the brakes when the brake lights come on?

 

[PJ87]

What's the difference between slowing down the car using regen braking when the brake lights come on and slowing down the car using the brakes when the brake lights come on?

Mine has electric assisted braking. Energy lost through braking is diverted into the battery (or more accurately engine generated by braking)

I can set it in "b" mode where take foot off the power and it slows down the car.. much like using engine braking in an ice car.. which people were taught for years

 

[bobmac]

Mine has electric assisted braking. Energy lost through braking is diverted into the battery (or more accurately engine generated by braking)

I can set it in "b" mode where take foot off the power and it slows down the car.. much like using engine braking in an ice car.. which people were taught for years

I know what regen braking is, I was replying to Bunkermagnet who seems to think that brake lights coming on when the car slows down is a very bad design

 

[Bunkermagnet]

What's the difference between slowing down the car using regen braking when the brake lights come on and slowing down the car using the brakes when the brake lights come on?

If youre doing 30/40/50 on a dual carriageway with nothing in front of you, do you really want that car to be randomly showing it's brakes lights to the car behind?
This isn't about brake lights showing when youre actually wanting to slow down, but the brake lights iluminating when you aren't wanting to slow down.

 

[bobmac]

If youre doing 30/40/50 on a dual carriageway with nothing in front of you, do you really want that car to be randomly showing it's brakes lights to the car behind?
This isn't about brake lights showing when youre actually wanting to slow down, but the brake lights iluminating when you aren't wanting to slow down.

If you are on a dual carriageway doing 30 with nothing in front of you, why would you want to slow down?

 

[Bunkermagnet]

If you are on a dual carriageway doing 30 with nothing in front of you, why would you want to slow down?

I can't tell if you're just being arguementative or actually serious.
If you actually read what I said, that was my whole point. The brake lights activating WHEN YOU DONT WANT TO SLOW DOWN because of regeneration.
Do you think it's ok for someone to be following an ev that randomly keeps showing brake lights when they aren't braking?

 

[clubchamp98]

But you were there to take over? That's the idea isn't it. You take control in those situations

Yes but when your car decides to go from 70mph to 30mph it took me by surprise.
This is why I don’t use it anymore. Imo it’s dangerous!

But not as shocked as the lorry driver behind me.

I am saying a driver would have seen what the moron was doing and lifted off but not slam the brakes on like a computer does.
It put me in danger, the lorry driver in danger and anyone else around in danger.

Just a question on this!
If this had caused the lorry to jackknife and caused a major crash !
Whos fault is it ?
Mine!
The cars.
The moron who shot across me.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Yes but when your car decides to go from 70mph to 30mph it took me by suprize.
But not as shocked as the lorry driver behind me.

I am saying a driver would have seen what the moron was doing and lifted off but not slam the brakes on like a com

My VW Transporter did that when I firsy had it. Something was seend by the front sensor, so the van hit full on brakes which gave the Porsche driver behing me a major heart attck. but fortunately he stopped before entering the back of my van.
What I have learnt though, is that you get a visual signal in the dash about a second before it goes mental, which gives you a little time to start bringing your foot onto the brake pedal which then with a light touch deactivates the melt down stop.

 

[PJ87]

Yes but when your car decides to go from 70mph to 30mph it took me by surprise.
This is why I don’t use it anymore. Imo it’s dangerous!

But not as shocked as the lorry driver behind me.

I am saying a driver would have seen what the moron was doing and lifted off but not slam the brakes on like a computer does.
It put me in danger, the lorry driver in danger and anyone else around in danger.

Just a question on this!
If this had caused the lorry to jackknife and caused a major crash !
Whos fault is it ?
Mine!
The cars.
The moron who shot across me.

The lorry for not following the 2 second rule ? 2 seconds at 70mph is ample space and time to slow down even to sudden changes.

 

[bobmac]

I lift my foot off the accelerator when I want to slow down.The brake lights come on when I lift my foot off the accelerator.

 

[clubchamp98]

My VW Transporter did that when I firsy had it. Something was seend by the front sensor, so the van hit full on brakes which gave the Porsche driver behing me a major heart attck. but fortunately he stopped before entering the back of my van.
What I have learnt though, is that you get a visual signal in the dash about a second before it goes mental, which gives you a little time to start bringing your foot onto the brake pedal which then with a light touch deactivates the melt down stop.

Yes but at 70mph I was watching the road.
this guy came off the ramp and across my front end.
the sensor picked him up and bang I didn’t have time to react.

The big problem was the lorry behind me I had just overtook him and pulled in when this happened .
”He must have thought I was brake testing him”

Its not subtle as I said “ it’s a full on slam “

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Yes but at 70mph I was watching the road.
this guy came off the ramp and across my front end.
the sensor picked him up and bang I didn’t have time to react.

The big problem was the lorry behind me I had just overtook him and pulled in when this happened .
”He must have thought I was brake testing him”

Its not subtle as I said “ it’s a full on slam “

I'm not critisising m8, I fully understand where you're at. Technology isn't as perfect as many would have us belive.

 

[clubchamp98]

I'm not critisising m8, I fully understand where you're at. Technology isn't as perfect as many would have us belive.

Sorry if it came across like that ,never thought you were.
TBH it frightened the life out of me at the time.

Until you have experienced it it’s difficult to understand how it affects you.