Radar-based Regenerative Braking

[ericonline]

Does anyone have this car WITHOUT the adaptive regen braking option? I'm wondering A) What is the default driving mode and B) Can you still shift between D-, D, and D+ with the paddle shifters?

Another thing, with the range extender mode do you have to press the button every time? Or is there a way to set the car so it always charges to 100% of the battery?

Does anyone have the synthetic leather seating? Is it acceptable?

Thanks.

 

[rdavis0521]

Mine has the B50 recuperation option, so I can't speak directly from experience. I believe you were asking if can shift to the different modes WITHOUT shifters? The answer on that is definitely no. At least that's been what other users in other forums have said.

I would guess that you are going to be in the "D" mode, since D auto requires the radar, and D+ would be about useless. That's a guess, however.

As for the range charge, yes. You must press it prior to plugging your vehicle in and charging. There is no mode to keep it turned on.

In honesty, I probably only have used my range charge 2-3 times out all my regular charging. I use it when I know that I will specifically going over about 70 to 75 miles. I have gone nearly 100 miles on a regular charge when freeway driving. Around town, and hilly terrain is definitely worse.

Also, you have to drive conservatively to get your best range.

 

[phototrek]

The car without the regen option doesn't have paddles.

 

[ericonline]

The car without the regen option doesn't have paddles.

Thanks for your replies. So a car without regen cannot shift between D+, D, and D-? It's always in "D"?

 

[GlennD]

The car without the regen option doesn't have paddles.

Thanks for your replies. So a car without regen cannot shift between D+, D, and D-? It's always in "D"?

That is the one thing I miss from my Leaf. There is no way to get more regenerative braking in my car without the paddles. No equivalent to B mode.

 

[JeffRay]

Question. For stop and go urban driving, i.e. stop every four lights, what is the optimal setting? I keep on Dauto and E. Should I go to D+? When I did for a couple of days, did not see any real difference range wise. Thanks for any insights.

 

[wtzouris]

My feeling is that D Auto gives you the best of all worlds, without having to select anything with the paddles. If you are driving rolling hills with cruise control on, the D-Auto allows for regen on the downhills, and D+ on the hill climbs, and also regen as you approach cars in traffic. I'm convinced that D-Auto is the way to go 100% of the time.

 

[rdavis0521]

In stop and go, I tend to disagree. D-Auto will not bring you to a stop, or even slow down as you approach stopped cars at a red light. I travel generally in D-Auto, then as I approach a light that I have to slow down, I shift to D, and ultimately D-. Stopped at the light, I will hold a paddle and go back to D-Auto before starting again.

For sustained forward travel D-Auto or D+ work best. Try NOT to slow down the B unnecessarily. The more it rolls, the better your range will be.

 

[wtzouris]

So for 12 miles of highway travel, cruise control set to 60 or 65 mph, do you like D-Auto or D+ ?

 

[JeffRay]

Hey RD, I will give that a try. Charging twice a week at the dealer isn't bad but not as good as once a week.

 

[Comanchepilot]

If I could only convince my wife to stop using the damn brake . . .

 

[wtzouris]

I have changed my mind, rdavis is right -- D-Auto is an average setting and is optimal none of the time. In stop and go I am in D-.

On highways I am in D+ or sometimes D-Auto. As I come to toll gates I paddle down to D and D-. my favorite mode is Sport and D-, and if you drive conservatively you get amazing efficiency. Ignore the GOM and watch the "From Start" screen mpkWh reading. Anything over 3.0 is amazing. But don't judge until you've driven at least 25 miles.

 

[tankmania]

That is the one thing I miss from my Leaf. There is no way to get more regenerative braking in my car without the paddles. No equivalent to B mode.

There's got to be a hack, but it would likely involve re-programming the ecu.

There's a guy in the UK who has an old Merc and has re-programmed the ecu in many ways to modernise his car.

All experimental but he get's there in the end!

I don't have paddles on mine and feel the regen is weak. I would like to find out if someone has managed to changed the default setting.