Recuperative Braking- how much range does it add?

[ColinS]

Hi, Just taken deliveries very of my new RWD Taycan Sport Turismo and I’m curious as to everyone’s experience of the Recuperative Braking. Is it gimmicky or does it truly add range?

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[Tooney]

Forum search is your friend. Many threads about this. Here is one: https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/recuperation-mode-impact-on-range.1852/#post-24018

 

[Dabz]

I think the OP meant regen from the brakes not the recoup mode. I’m also wondering this…waiting for mine to kick in

 

[Gru]

best example I have is going down the Gotthard Pass: battery at 60% at the Pass, 65% at the bottom. that's roughly +10 to +15 mi.

I don't remember how much I lost going up ?

 

[or1]

Hi, Just taken deliveries very of my new RWD Taycan Sport Turismo and I’m curious as to everyone’s experience of the Recuperative Braking. Is it gimmicky or does it truly add range?

Regen braking truly adds range. Whether activated by button press and foot off the accelerator pedal, or press of the brake pedal, or ACC/InnoDrive, kinetic energy taken out of the car goes into the battery with not much loss to heat (inefficiencies in the chain).

The only decelerations that don't give regen are during the first 500 km or so of the car's use, during the first few kms each day it is used, when the brake pedal is pressed hard (some energy is captured, but not all), and just before the car comes to a stop.

Edit: How much it adds up to, depends. With much go-and-stop it can be a lot - but only if the stops have to be done. Even speed is better for total consumption than go-and-stop, since there is some inefficiency loss (20%+?) in the recup-and-reuse process.

 

[tchavei]

The Taycan is able to produce up to 270kw of power during regenerative braking. The same charge rate is able to get the battery from 5% to 80% in 22 minutes. True that we're talking about seconds vs minutes here but it does add up depending on the route and driving style.

 

[4thPcar]

Not a gimmick if you consider how it impacts the driving experience, which is what it is ALL about.

 

[W1NGE]

Hi, Just taken deliveries very of my new RWD Taycan Sport Turismo and I’m curious as to everyone’s experience of the Recuperative Braking. Is it gimmicky or does it truly add range?

In a word 'no'.

It's not a gimmick but doesn't add much energy back into the battery in general.

Motorway driving will typically add the least as there is less opportunity to brake.

On a new car don't expect recuperation until around 700 miles and even then it won't noticeably add to your range.

Range typically increases naturally with more miles on the car. In my case on a 2 month old + 2K miles GTS ST my range at 85% went from 185 miles to 215 miles.

Coasting (in my view) is more efficient and may add more miles than that derived by recuperation.

 

[or1]

In a word 'no'.

It's not a gimmick but doesn't add much energy back into the battery in general.

Motorway driving will typically add the least as there is less opportunity to brake.

On a new car don't expect recuperation until around 700 miles and even then it won't noticeably add to your range.

Range typically increases naturally with more miles on the car. In my case on a 2 month old + 2K miles GTS ST my range at 85% went from 185 miles to 215 miles.

Coasting (in my view) is more efficient and may add more miles than that derived by recuperation.

We are close to splitting hairs here (as we have done thoroughly in the other threads that were refered to). How much is «much»? In my book range increase owing to recup can be significant, but to be over say 10% the driving style or stop requirements have to be special in the first place. I agree 100% that avoiding braking, even with the possibility of recup, is more energy efficient than any braking.

 

[f1eng]

How much recuperation adds depends also on driving style.
If driving efficiently anyway the gain will be small.
When pressing on with loads of heavy electron burning acceleration and hard braking the recuperation will be significant, but only in the sense of losing less energy than without regen, it will still be higher consumption just less than similar driving with and IC engine.

 

[Scandinavian]

I live at about 500 meters above sea level. In summer time when I drive down to the coast I drive about 20 km distance. When arriving, I have several times seen that my consumption in the car is reported as minus 2 - 5 kWh/100km! I can use the regen method, ACC or use my brakes lightly and the result is about the same.
So regen, whatever way you use it does add range in such case.

In winter time the result is most likely that the battery has warmed more than normal, but consumption is still very very low. Saves energy for heating the battery on a longer drive.

It is all forgotten once I drive back up home though. ??.

But on a long motorway drive I prefer to just use the coasting feature, which Porsche says is more effective.

 

[W1NGE]

We are close to splitting hairs here (as we have done thoroughly in the other threads that were refered to). How much is «much»? In my book range increase owing to recup can be significant, but to be over say 10% the driving style or stop requirements have to be special in the first place. I agree 100% that avoiding braking, even with the possibility of recup, is more energy efficient than any braking.

In my experience (on my 2nd Taycan) range addition is more of "blink and you'll miss it" due to other factors.

Driving like a maniac with hard braking plus some rapid downhill descents will obviously add something but you'll use more than you'll gain.

Either way it is not a range optimisation option worthy of getting you home when the battery is in single digits.

 

[f1eng]

Driving like a maniac with hard braking plus some rapid downhill descents will obviously add something but you'll use more than you'll gain.

Exactly, it is a worthwhile means of reducing the loss not a gain.
I gain about 9 miles descending to sea level from Snowdonia which compensates a bit for the extra “fuel” burned ascending in the first place

 

[Capt Mike]

Regen braking truly adds range. Whether activated by button press and foot off the accelerator pedal, or press of the brake pedal, or ACC/InnoDrive, kinetic energy taken out of the car goes into the battery with not much loss to heat (inefficiencies in the chain).

The only decelerations that don't give regen are during the first 500 km or so of the car's use, during the first few kms each day it is used, when the brake pedal is pressed hard (some energy is captured, but not all), and just before the car comes to a stop.

Edit: How much it adds up to, depends. With much go-and-stop it can be a lot - but only if the stops have to be done. Even speed is better for total consumption than go-and-stop, since there is some inefficiency loss (20%+?) in the recup-and-reuse process.

I prefer to use it in traffic as it slows the car in the same fashion as a car with an engine and gears. Otherwise thees that “glide” tendencies as you pull up to traffic that is initially disconcerting!

 

[AmpedUp]

Any amount of recuperation is worthwhile, and not just for range purposes. It also reduces wear on your brakes and makes them last longer. There is no reason not to use regenerative braking. To me the only real choice is whether you prefer to use it only when actively braking or also when you take your foot off the accelerator.

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