As is well known, recuperation allows energy to be recovered in electric cars. This usually happens through active braking or when driving downhill. The electric motor now becomes a generator and produces electricity. In combustion engines, this energy is simply converted into heat, so it is essentially lost.
Recuperation brings more range to the e-car
Recuperation contributes significantly to the efficiency and thus to increasing the range of electric cars. The energy that would be lost when braking is regained, i.e. recuperated. When driving up hills, more energy is needed to move forward, and more electricity flows. On the summit plateau without an incline, the flow of electricity is balanced. When driving downhill, recuperation takes place, and thus a higher flow of electricity is returned to the car battery. Braking energy
is converted into electrical energy and the electric car can use this generated power to increase its range.
Many vehicles also offer an automatic driving mode for this, the so-called " One Pedal Driving (OPD) ": Here, the braking process is initiated as soon as you take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Alternative energy saving
Alternatively, you can use the kinetic energy (energy of motion) of the moving vehicle, even if you don't add any new energy, you " sail ". For example, you let a car coast to a stop at a traffic light instead of accelerating until the end and then braking. And when driving downhill, energy is also recovered and the battery is recharged.
Of course, external factors such as temperature, road surface conditions or (head)wind must be taken into account. The route also plays a role; if you drive in flat areas or in the mountains, you will often be going uphill. The technology of the vehicle must also be considered. Unfortunately, many vehicles, such as the BYD Atto 3 , do not (yet) offer OPD.
Both variants extend the range of the electric car. The interesting question now is which driving mode is actually more energy efficient in everyday use and reduces consumption more per 100 km.
Reduction of e-car consumption per 100 km
In fact, after driving a good 65,000 kilometers with my Polestar 2 (MY 2022, Long Range Single Motor), I was able to determine that deactivating the OPD even leads to a lower power consumption of around 18 kWh per 100 km. With One Pedal Driving activated, it was usually just under 20 kWh - with the same driving style - which, with a battery capacity of 78 kWh, can increase the range by around 10% or 40 km.
It is also worth mentioning how the two driving styles affect the braking system. On the one hand, OPD can reduce the stress on the brake pads and thus extend their lifespan. On the other hand, infrequent use of the brakes can lead to faster rusting and thus reduce their effectiveness. Activating OPD in winter in bad weather conditions such as snow, ice or heavy rain is generally not advisable, as this could cause the vehicle to skid.
Ultimately, it is up to your personal driving experience, as using the OPD takes some getting used to at the beginning. We would therefore be interested in your opinion and experience: One Pedal Driving or sailing - which is better?
In our e-Garage you will find a variety of current e-cars and can also sort them by range (WLTP).