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There's a very interesting thread on the UK forum about how low regen setting seems more efficient. Thoughts?
https://www.ipaceforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=751
https://www.ipaceforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=751
One pedal vs Regen low
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Well someone already posted this on that thread which is accurate:
"Yes it is definitely possible that low regen is better for range.
Actually it's most likely to be best. Low regen and coasting is giving best range for all EVs I've owned/tested."
Ideal regen for range is no regen (not breaking but coasting) because regen tends to be only around 30% efficient. Granted this is still very important but if you don't regen and use the energy to coast you are doing much better.
"Yes it is definitely possible that low regen is better for range.
Actually it's most likely to be best. Low regen and coasting is giving best range for all EVs I've owned/tested."
Ideal regen for range is no regen (not breaking but coasting) because regen tends to be only around 30% efficient. Granted this is still very important but if you don't regen and use the energy to coast you are doing much better.
There's a "however", I think. I added this to the UK forum discussion
I expect that part of the question is "How do you drive" when in "High Regen"? Assuming that there is a High Regen accelerator "pedal point" that is equivalent to "coasting" and that you try to find that point and let the car do a long slow down (like it was coasting) when you see a red light ahead in the distance, it should be about the same. If you single pedal drive by driving "at speed" up close to the red light and then rapidly letting off the pedal so you decelerate "hard", then you'll get worse economy.
But, of course, I look forward to getting car back to test this for myself.
I did think that the discussion of whether you learn to "hesitate" to slam on the brakes in an emergency was an interesting point.
I used to have a Fisker Karma that had a flappy paddle to flip you through Light/Med/Heavy Regen modes. So, I developed the pattern of letting off the accelerator immediately upon seeing a red light change in the distance and use the paddles to effectively "down shift" towards a stop. But, I would do a bunch of "coasting". In surprise/emergency circumstances in ANY car, I still keep pulling at an imaginary paddle that isn't there (in my wife's car, I turn up the radio volume).
I expect that part of the question is "How do you drive" when in "High Regen"? Assuming that there is a High Regen accelerator "pedal point" that is equivalent to "coasting" and that you try to find that point and let the car do a long slow down (like it was coasting) when you see a red light ahead in the distance, it should be about the same. If you single pedal drive by driving "at speed" up close to the red light and then rapidly letting off the pedal so you decelerate "hard", then you'll get worse economy.
But, of course, I look forward to getting car back to test this for myself.
I did think that the discussion of whether you learn to "hesitate" to slam on the brakes in an emergency was an interesting point.
I used to have a Fisker Karma that had a flappy paddle to flip you through Light/Med/Heavy Regen modes. So, I developed the pattern of letting off the accelerator immediately upon seeing a red light change in the distance and use the paddles to effectively "down shift" towards a stop. But, I would do a bunch of "coasting". In surprise/emergency circumstances in ANY car, I still keep pulling at an imaginary paddle that isn't there (in my wife's car, I turn up the radio volume).
I just got my I Pace this week. Replaced an Audi PHEV. I was already accustomed to the wonders of instant torque, but Audi believed in coasting vs hi Regen. I am glad to see that low Regen is more efficient. Driving on high Regen feels like I'm pushing the car through molasses. I'm sure I could eventually get smooth at it, but now I'm happy to know there is no advantage to doing it. I also hate "no creep" mode. Early days... maybe I will come around eventually.
I would have thought that cruise control set at a constant speed would have given optimal range. Acceleration uses more power than braking (hi or low regen) can recover. Also if coasting leads to an increase in speed you are losing energy quicker since drsg is proportional to the square of the speed.
Don't remember which thread it was, but this issue was discussed in detail earlier this summer after owners had driven for a year or two, compared to some of the earlier comments in this thread that were based on only a few months at best of I-Pace driving.
Don't remember which thread it was, but this issue was discussed in detail earlier this summer after owners had driven for a year or two, compared to some of the earlier comments in this thread that were based on only a few months at best of I-Pace driving.
I totally agree that constant cruise control is optimal for moving along. I was focusing, though, of when one needs to slow a bit for traffic way up ahead, etc. Regen is, of course, more efficient than actual use of brakes, but it seems to me that hi regeneration is too much, or that it requires a finer touch than I have developed so far.
Have you played with the adaptive cruise control yet? I find that very efficient in terms of dropping the speed to accomodate slower traffic. It seems a little too aggressive when you allow the car to accelerate back up to the set speed, but I can tolerate it rather than having to be constantly resetting the cruise speed.
I haven’t had the chance yet. Sounds very good. Thanks. I look forward to trying it.
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As an old hypermiler since the MY 2000 Honda Insight, I can tell you that a little technique will beat cruise for efficiency every time. For the best results at a given speed, you'd want to allow the car to lose speed going up hill and gain going down hill and when passing, very gently get back up to speed.
Hypermiling techniques can be irritating to other drivers in heavy traffic and EVs are more efficient in accelerating so I don't worry about it much these days, but I have seen marginal improvements in range by using my right foot as opposed to cruise. Also, at highway speeds Eco seems to accelerate more gently than other modes in cruise, so I have been using that as my default.
As for one pedal vs. low regen, I'm firmly in the low regen camp as preserving momentum has been deeply ingrained in my driving style and it's easier to do that with the traditional two pedal set up. Also, my wife drives the I Pace whenever she can, and I don't need to worry about her learning curve with low regen.
Hypermiling techniques can be irritating to other drivers in heavy traffic and EVs are more efficient in accelerating so I don't worry about it much these days, but I have seen marginal improvements in range by using my right foot as opposed to cruise. Also, at highway speeds Eco seems to accelerate more gently than other modes in cruise, so I have been using that as my default.
As for one pedal vs. low regen, I'm firmly in the low regen camp as preserving momentum has been deeply ingrained in my driving style and it's easier to do that with the traditional two pedal set up. Also, my wife drives the I Pace whenever she can, and I don't need to worry about her learning curve with low regen.
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Low regen is more efficient if you don't touch the brakes any more than you would have if you were in the hi regen mode. But it is not more efficient for getting the most out of life. You will spend more time living your life, driving, instead of living doing other things, by using low regen and not using the brakes anymore than high regen.
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