Paddle shifter acting as power limiters?

[Stoneageman]

Idk if this is a stupid idea but I thought it might be cool to have the traditional paddle shifters in cars as power limiters for EV. You can either turn it on or off but when you turn it on, the first setting would to 50% power, then up to 75%, 100%, then maybe a boost like a launch control. So instead of upshift in an ice car, it would increase the limit of power. Basically it would help increase range when you are driving on local roads, obviously, you wouldn't need 100% of the power all the time. Different driving modes can just be different torque, suspension height, and dampener settings.

Right now a lot of brands use paddle shifters as a way to change the regeneration setting but I think a power limiter would be more useful.

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[Archimedes]

Isn’t that what that skinny pedal on the right is for?

 

[Stoneageman]

Isn’t that what that skinny pedal on the right is for?

Skinny pedal on the right?

 

[Archimedes]

Skinny pedal on the right?

The one you put your right foot on that tells the car how much power to send to the wheels.

 

[Stoneageman]

The one you put your right foot on that tells the car how much power to send to the wheels.

lol it isn't skinny at all. The same could be said of regenerative breaking, why do manufacturers still allow you to adjust?

 

[bsclywilly]

I'll just settle for a button on the dash.

 

[BigBob]

I'll just settle for a button on the dash.

Would be great instead of launch control's power boost. Would probably have to tape it down though.

 

[XLR82XS]

I think the e-tron has regen paddles.

 

[ciaranob]

Heck I'd take paddles over the silly sport chrono knob to switch between drive modes - would be way more intuitive imo, but yeah if each step increased power access, that might be nice too

 

[RAHRCR]

I wouldn’t put it past Porsche to add a few more gears and have the paddles work as they do in ICE cars. They are really focused on the driving experience.

 

[Stoneageman]

Heck I'd take paddles over the silly sport chrono knob to switch between drive modes - would be way more intuitive imo, but yeah if each step increased power access, that might be nice too

I agree with both. Plus each step in increased power access could be the gearbox equivalent of EV.

 

[Kayone73]

Idk if this is a stupid idea but I thought it might be cool to have the traditional paddle shifters in cars as power limiters for EV. You can either turn it on or off but when you turn it on, the first setting would to 50% power, then up to 75%, 100%, then maybe a boost like a launch control. So instead of upshift in an ice car, it would increase the limit of power. Basically it would help increase range when you are driving on local roads, obviously, you wouldn't need 100% of the power all the time. Different driving modes can just be different torque, suspension height, and dampener settings.

Right now a lot of brands use paddle shifters as a way to change the regeneration setting but I think a power limiter would be more useful.

Interesting idea but I prefer the the use of legacy steering wheel paddles to modulate levels of braking regen. I've used that feature in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and it creates its own version of 'engine braking' using the paddles which I found very useful and kept me more engaged in otherwise boring stop and go traffic driving in an EV.

 

[Stoneageman]

Interesting idea but I prefer the the use of legacy steering wheel paddles to modulate levels of braking regen. I've used that feature in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and it creates its own version of 'engine braking' using the paddles which I found very useful and kept me more engaged in otherwise boring stop and go traffic driving in an EV.

I used that in the Audi E Tron but most of the time you only get to use the minus pedal in order for that “engine break” feeling. With power regulation, you could even use it like gear shift. Once you hit 50%, you “upshift”, etc. Or when you slow down due to traffic, you “downshift”.

 

[ciaranob]

Hmmm - turns out the new Lotus electric SUV has paddles for both regen (left side of steering wheel) AND drive mode (on right side of steering wheel). Can see in vid here #8 at around 5:20 mins. Not even remotely interested in this car's overall design but entirely personal.

 

[JimBob]

Paddles make more sense more sense for a gear box than for controlling regen or power (power is already controlled by the accelerator). Many will hate it because it adds complexity, but add some more gears and let the driver have the option to control which gear the car is in. Probably won't go any faster, but driver attachment will be higher and would differentiate between the competition.

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