[klyrs]

Regenerative brakes translate kinetic energy into stored potential energy, with marginal friction and resistive losses. Friction brakes translate 100% of the kinetic energy into waste heat, through abrasion.

While it's true that regenerative brakes are not frictionless, none that I'm aware of rely on friction. One could imagine using a clutch to controllably wind/unwind a spring, for example, but auto manufacturers aren't rinky-dink steampunkers and even so you'd still do everything you could to minimize clutch slippage.

[magicalhippo]

> While it's true that regenerative brakes are not frictionless, none that I'm aware of rely on friction.

They rely on the friction between the tire and the road, wearing the tire down, releasing the microplastic particles.

[chrisseaton]

> They rely on the friction between the tire and the road

I don't think the tire is what people mean when they talk about the brakes. They mean the brake pads and other brake components.

[jeddy3]

It's literally what the linked article talks about, tyre wear not break wear.

[chrisseaton]

This thread started when someone said ‘both brakes and tyres emit pollution’. The point was the brakes don’t when they’re regenerative. I’m sure the tyres still do. But that wasn’t what the thread was about.