What is Regenerative Braking & How Does It Work?

Is Regenerative Braking Exclusive to Electric Cars?

Regenerative braking relies on the electric motor’s ability to function as a generator, a feature absent in traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. In conventional cars, braking is handled solely by friction brakes. When the brake pads clamp the brake discs, they convert energy into heat and release it into the atmosphere, resulting in energy loss.

Hybrid vehicles, which combine an electric motor with a petrol or diesel engine, also utilise regenerative braking systems to capture energy during braking and extend their electric driving range. However, they can’t fully capitalise on the benefits in the same way as fully electric vehicles. They have smaller battery capacity and dual powertrains, so they’re limited in how much energy they can recover.

The Benefits of Regenerative Braking

Although regenerative braking isn’t a replacement for traditional braking systems, it provides significant benefits to EV drivers.

1. Enhanced Energy Efficiency

While regenerative braking doesn’t replace the need to recharge your electric vehicle, it can extend your range. This feature is especially valuable in urban driving scenarios, where frequent stop-and-go traffic provides more opportunities to recover energy.

2. Reduced Wear on Traditional Brakes

By relying on regenerative braking to slow the car down, the need for traditional friction brakes is reduced. This leads to less wear and tear on brake components and may result in lower maintenance costs over time.

3. Improved Driving Experience

Many electric cars, including Kia’s models, offer adjustable regenerative braking settings. Drivers can customise the level of regenerative braking, ranging from minimal to highly responsive. Kia’s i-Pedal mode, available on the EV3, EV6 and EV9, even allows for one-pedal driving. This allows you to decelerate by taking your foot slowly off the accelerator or stop by removing your foot completely. This intuitive feature simplifies driving and braking while supporting energy recovery.*

4. Sustainability

By recapturing energy and putting it back into the battery, regenerative braking supports the eco-friendly ethos of electric driving. It increases your vehicle’s range, potentially reducing your charging frequency.

How Does Regenerative Braking Relate to the Battery?

The effectiveness of regenerative braking is directly tied to the EV’s battery. The energy captured during braking is stored in the battery, making it a vital part of the vehicle’s efficiency.

A nearly full battery has a limited capacity to store regenerated energy, which means the effectiveness of regenerative braking may be reduced. Kia’s vehicles are designed with intelligent energy management systems to maximise the use of regenerative energy, helping the battery operate more efficiently.

Kia Charge and Regenerative Braking

While regenerative braking contributes to extending your EV’s range, charging remains an essential part of owning an electric car. Kia Charge provides access to over 30,000 public charging stations across 27 UK networks, including convenient fast charging in key locations like city centres and supermarkets. Combined with regenerative braking, this enhanced efficiency means Kia drivers may experience improved range, reduced energy consumption and smoother deceleration.

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