1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Adjustable electric brake pros/cons

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by vvillovv, Aug 2, 2014.

  1. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,898
    1,338
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    What are the pros and cons of an adjustable B?

    Does anyone else beside me want it?
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,129
    50,045
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    what is it?
     
  3. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,898
    1,338
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    The B on the shifter
    electric brake
    Teslas is driver adjustable.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,129
    50,045
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    adjustable braking to adjust speed downhill?
     
  5. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,898
    1,338
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I guess
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,129
    50,045
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you've got me guessing.:cool:
     
  7. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,898
    1,338
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    you have your own B letter on the shifter don't you?
    You can shift to it when you want to slow down faster than normal ie: by just taking your foot off the "ev pedal" - and it's supposed to give you regen.

    the confusion is not on porpose.
     
    #7 vvillovv, Aug 3, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2014
  8. testuserER

    testuserER Guest

    0
    You already have "user adjustable regen braking".
    The harder you push on the pedal, the more regen that takes place.
    Up to a point, that is.
     
  9. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,557
    10,324
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes, I would make use of it on occasion. While it is already somewhat controllable with the gas pedal, my proficiency there is less than desired.
     
    vvillovv likes this.
  10. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,898
    1,338
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    perhaps I should clarify a bit.
    Teslas e brake is automatic, much like the Pirus normal regen seen when removing your foot from the ev pedal to slow the car down. And without a "B on the shifter like in the PiP"..
    But it is driver adjustable, like a Potentiometer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Teslas e brake potentiometer is controlled from the console touchscreen
     
    #10 vvillovv, Aug 3, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2014
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    45,024
    16,242
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    You may want to use different terminology. I entered this thread thinking you're talking about an electronic parking brake (that is showing up on luxury cars, including the Model S).

    What you're actually asking is adjustable regenerative braking, right?

    I wouldn't mind that but it'll be a bit more difficult to program on a hybrid (just my thought. I'm not an engineer). The reason I think it'll be more difficult is that you're dealing with two potential sources of braking - greater regeneration via the electric motor and engine braking using the gasoline engine. Ideally, you'd want just the electric motor as it's more energy efficient to just use that to slow you down and keep the engine off (even if it's just pumping to provide engine braking like it would if you shifted to B). The question is: how much regeneration can the Prius' electric motor provide? Is it great enough to warrant offering "standard" and "low" options like the Model S?
     
  12. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,898
    1,338
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I don't understand, sorry. I'm driving all ev all the time so I guess I see it different.
    When I start using the ICE I will most likely see what you people are talking about with the reduced mpg when using the shifters B option,
    but for now I'm just not getting it. In ev I'm not worried about what the ICE does or doesn't do, so I guess that is where the difference is.
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,129
    50,045
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    do you need mountainous terrain to take advantage of something like this? i never see the need for more regen. but it's pretty flat around here.
     
  14. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,898
    1,338
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Do you have B on your shifter?

    when driving in ev
    and you want to slow down but don't want to use the brake pedal for whatever reason might strike your fancy.
    ( make sure it's clear behind you ) look in your rear view mirror :)
    move the shifter to B

    ( electric brake )
    ( regen brake) - but that is a confusing term as well

    no - you don't have to be going downhill to get regen in B ( electric brake ) mode
     
    #14 vvillovv, Aug 4, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2014
  15. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,557
    10,324
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    B is not just electric braking. In most situations, it also uses significant engine compression braking, wasting some energy that otherwise could have been saved. That is why many of us use it only on long downhills where it will be wasted regardless.
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,664
    39,220
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Just out of curiosity, does "ev pedal" equal gas pedal??

    Wow, this is 20 questions. Anyway:

    B mode on Prius sole purpose is to substitute engine breaking for regen. To use engine compression as a brake, to avoid charging the battery to max, typically in a long downhill run, where having the car switch over to friction brakes might prove dangerous, leading to possible brake overheating and subsequent runaway condition.

    What was the question again? ;)
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,129
    50,045
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    why can't the pip be a tesla?:cool:
     
  18. drash

    drash Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2005
    2,502
    1,271
    0
    Location:
    Upstate NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Actually this was one of my beefs with a previous post about Toyota not tweeking the software for the PiP while in HV mode. It should be a relatively minor fix to adjust the regen braking with respect to battery level on the PiP.
     
  19. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,898
    1,338
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    sorry to spoil the fun boys
    maybe should read up on eCVT and what it's used for, not just what you think it's sole purpose is.
     
  20. dipper

    dipper Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2005
    1,242
    252
    0