Regenerative Braking: What Is It? How Does It Work?

The tech in cars is just getting better and better. Autonomous driving, 360-degree parking sensors, and AI voice integrations have set the car industry on a path to the future. It’s easy to get lost in all the bright, shiny tech without giving attention to some underrated advancements that are equally as impressive. One of these is regenerative braking, which has actually been around for nearly 100 years…

Regenerative braking was first used on electric trains and trams before appearing in the Toyota Prius in 1997. Since then, it has continued to develop and play an important part in the driving experience. As of today, most modern cars have this braking system, but what is it? We’ve stripped it all back, looking at what regenerative braking is, how it works, and the pros and cons.

🚩 What is regenerative braking?

🚩 How does regenerative braking feel for the driver?

🚩 The pros and cons of regenerative braking systems

🚩 Final thoughts

What Is Regenerative Braking?

Regenerative braking is a system that was introduced in 1997 with the aim of conserving energy in a car. When you come to a standstill, you operate your brakes. Usually, a car and its parts will move in motion with each other, but not when braking. In order to get the car to stop, the motor and the wheel go in opposite directions, helping create friction that slows the car down.

When this happens, kinetic energy is created. In many cars, this energy is lost straight away, but for some, it is repurposed elsewhere as electrical energy. Those cars that are able to do this do so through regenerative braking. Regenerative braking does exist in some petrol/diesels but tends to appear most in hybrid and electric models. In a petrol/diesel, the saved energy goes to support batteries powering supporting systems in the car. In hybrid/electric cars, this energy goes to the car battery, helping prolong a single charge and extend the time before you need to recharge.

How Does Regenerative Braking Feel For The Driver?

For drivers, regenerative braking feels like someone is gradually braking for them. As you take your foot off the accelerator, it will feel like someone is gently applying the brakes; this is regenerative braking. It can be tricky to get used to at first, but the more you drive, the more you get used to it.

In some cars, you can actually choose how much interference you want from the system, too. Go for low braking, and the steady braking feeling will disappear, helping you feel more in control of the car, at the expense of energy savings.

Different cars have different levels for their regenerative braking system, and it’s best to get used to one before going out on a long drive.

The Pros And Cons Of Regenerative Braking Systems

Regenerative braking systems have some clear advantages and some drawbacks. We’ve explored both sides of the debate below.

Pros

• In electric and hybrid cars, energy gathered can be used to power the car for an extra few miles, helping you stretch the distance of a charge.
• Protect braking components. Gradual and controlled braking with the benefit of energy going back into braking systems can reduce the wear and tear and help your brakes last longer.
• Tired of driving in traffic and constantly braking? Regenerative braking systems can take some of the load off you.

Cons

• The sensation of the car braking for you can be strange at first. It’s something that you get used to, but requires some time practising to achieve.
• There’s no set amount of energy saved each time. It depends on how hard you brake and how fast you drive. This makes it hard to plan for potential mileage savings down the line.

Final Thoughts

There are pros and cons of regenerative braking, but for us the pros outweigh the cons. Being able to reduce brake impact whilst protecting the inner braking system and sending energy back to your car battery (in electrics and hybrids) makes regenerative braking a great option.

Thinking of going for a car with regenerative braking? You’re in luck. Marsh Finance offer hybrid car finance, helping you get behind the wheel at an affordable monthly price that suits you. Our application form isn’t a commitment to finance; a soft credit search at the time of applying means you can browse your options without fear of hurting your credit file.

Take a look at your eligibility today, and see what cars you could finance 👀.