If you’ve ever wondered about regenerative braking settings in a Tesla car, you’re not alone. It’s a cool feature that a lot of folks find puzzling at first.
Well, it is an option in Tesla cars that shifts the kinetic power into battery power from the chemical energy to slow down when needed. But, in some cars, it can find with Low and Standard options in regenerative braking settings.
In this guide, I’ll share all the details related to the Tesla regenerative braking settings so you can know it well. Let’s Dive In!
Breaking Down The Tesla Regenerative Braking Settings!
The “regenerative braking” or “regen” is a simple option that Tesla offers to almost all cars. When you take your foot off the accelerator pedal, it slows down the car and converts the energy. That causes the car to stop in a better way.
This can also help your car’s battery to save energy and add driving range. But know that the regen braking setting is limited if the battery gets cold or almost fully charged.
Apart from its shortcomings, this option lets you choose whether the car should automatically apply the regular brakes to slow down the car when the regen is limited or not.
By and large, this setting has two options: Low and Standard. Both options will give you a different driving experience.
If you pick the Low option, regen braking will feel less aggressive and intense. However, if you select the Standard option, it will feel stronger and harsher.
In most cars, you’ll only get the regen braking option that states “Apply Brakes When Regenerative Braking is Limited” with no Low or Stannard option.
Here are some fun facts about regen braking:
- Regen braking can help extend the life of your brakes as you’ll use them less often.
- When you use regen braking, the car’s power meter will show a green surface that indicates how much energy is being fed back to the battery.
- If your battery is very cold or almost fully charged, it’s a good idea to precondition Tesla battery (warm it up) before using regen braking to get the most out of it.
What Is Tesla Regenerative Braking?
Regen braking is a system that slows down the car by using battery power. In fact, it uses power by changing the car’s kinetic energy from chemical to electrical energy (that is stored in the car’s battery).
And this helps the car to slow down when the driver presses the brakes. Think of it like a usual brake, but the regenerative braking saves the energy and uses it again. For further details, Discover the Science Behind Tesla’s Regenerative Braking System.
This makes the car more efficient and can increase its range. It also reduces the wear and tear on the brake pads, which can save you money on maintenance.
How To Use Tesla Regenerative Braking?
To set up or access the Tesla regenerative braking option, you’ll need to use the touchscreen of the car. Here’s how to do it yourself:
- Start by, clicking on the Quick Controls (car icon at the bottom of the screen).
- Then, select Pedals & Steering or Driving and find the section on Regenerative Braking.
- Now, you’ll find Low and Standard options under the section.
- Pick one option based on your driving style. Done!
Note: In some cars, the regenerative braking setting isn’t available.
How To Turn Off Regenerative Braking Tesla?
It’s possible to turn off the Tesla regenerative braking in most cars. Let me show you the instruction below:
- In the touchscreen, click on the Quick Controls > Pedals & Steering option.
- Locate the option that says, “Apply Brakes When Regenerative Braking Is Limited“.
- Then, turn the slider to the off position.
- After that, hold Tesla two-button reset for 10 seconds to reboot the system.
- Lastly, test it out.
Note: If your car offers a separate section of ” Regenerative Braking” with Low and Standard options, you can’t turn this option off.
Comparison Of Tesla Regenerative Braking Low Vs Standard!
Both Low and Standard options under Tesla regenerative braking setting differ if you put them alongside. Let me show you the main difference between these 2 options:
1. Braking Style
If you change the regenerative braking settings to Low, the braking will feel less stiff and limited. That means if your car is in this setting, it would be less harsh and strong.
Then again, the Standard option will cause your car to get the max amount of power when hitting the pedal. In other words, it would be harsher and stiffer.
2. Time Require To Slow Down
The Low option set on the regenerative braking setting causes your car to take a longer period to slow down. To make it clear, it would take a little time to speed down when you press the accelerator pedal.
On the other hand, the Standard option helps the car to slow down easily. That means you can speed down with no effort.
3. Use Of Brake
By setting to Low option, the car takes longer to coast further when you release your foot from the accelerator pedal. However, it won’t take longer if using the Standard option.
Thanks to this ability, you might not need to use the brakes frequently to act immediately when setting it to the Standard option, unlike the Low option.
4. Suitable For Driver
For those who need a strong, stiff, and forceful braking feel with ground support, the Standard option is what you should try. And you can use this option for a regular ride to get better riding support.
In contrast, the Low option is ideal for a less stiff and less responsive braking feel. The best application of the Low option is snowy, icy, etc. road conditions.
Wrapping Up
Setting up the Tesla regenerative braking settings rightly is vital, or it can cause the brake to misbehave. It’s better to use this setting only when riding on an icy road.
Just be sure to use this option carefully based on the terrain type. Or else, this setting can cause headaches by giving a stiffer or more regenerative braking feel.
And if the Tesla regenerative braking not working, learn how to fix it here. I hope this piece of information helps you.
