Regenerative Braking:
Regenerative braking is a system designed to convert the kinetic energy of the wheels to a form that can be stored and used for other purposes.
- Regenerative Braking is a mechanism found on most hybrid and full-electric vehicles.
- It is also called a kinetic energy recovery system.
- It captures the kinetic energy from braking and converts it into the electrical power that charges the vehicle’s high-voltage battery.
- It also slows the car down, which assists the use of traditional brakes.
- Electric motors, when used in reverse, function as generators and will then convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Vehicles propelled by electric motors use them as generators when using regenerative braking, braking by transferring mechanical energy from the wheels to an electrical load.
- With regenerative braking, the energy from your spinning wheels is used to reverse the direction of electricity – from the electric motors to the battery.
- The electric motor not only acts as an electric generator, but it also helps slow your car down because energy is consumed by the wheels as they rotate the shaft in the electric motor.
- It can improve fuel consumption and reduce the overall braking load taken on by the vehicle’s friction brakes, reducing the wear on the brake pads.
