Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by schmookeeg 328 days ago
We have owned 4 EVs and each allow you to configure the regen braking strength. You'll need another reason to not buy one.
1 comments

Tesla is a quite common EV brand. They do not allow configuring regen braking, except for the behaviour at stand-still.

(They also don't do blending between friction brakes and regen, so the cars behaviour when letting of the accelerator is highly inconsistent depending on temperature and charge level).

One of the reasons I long for the lease on my Model Y to end so I can replace it with a less stupid vehicle.

I agree with the general sentiment, but this isn't relevant in the context of making a purchasing decision. Simply buy another brand.
I have learned my lesson on regen. Lots of people online (and offline, for that matter) told me that you'll get used to the Tesla behaviour in no time and not to worry about it feeling weird during the test drive.

Many thousands kilometers later I hate it almost as much as at the start, so lack of regen configuration will be a dealbreaker next time I pick a new car.

Hmm, what do you hate about it? I have a BYD and I always leave it at "strong", as otherwise it's too little braking (same as an ICE).
There are two aspect I don't like:

1. It is inconsistent, especially during winter and when fully charged.

2. Crossings with shrubbery/objects that hides approaching pedestrians/cars/bikes and it is rare that there is anyone actually crossing. I encounter these several times per day.

My preferred way of approaching #2 is to reduce speed well ahead, start gliding and put my foot on the break pedal to be ready for a complete halt in the rare case (once in a 500 maybe) that I need to give way to someone. In the Tesla I must reduce speed to almost standstill and creep slooooowly, since it would take half a second to move the right foot to the break.

I understand it sounds like an extreme corner case, but for me it is all the time every day. Central Scandinavia.

Hmm, I don't really understand what you mean. If I want to reduce speed far ahead, I just ease up on the throttle pedal a little, and the car slows down a little. If I ease up a lot, it slows down a lot. I'm not sure what you mean...
Is that not what "Chill Mode" is? I've activated that on my car to relieve some of the jerkiness and it seems to have worked well