Chevrolet is advancing electric mobility with its new Equinox EV and Blazer EV models, which feature innovative technologies to enhance efficiency and performance. Regenerative braking is one of these innovations and a key feature that helps vehicles recover energy during deceleration. Our Victorville Chevrolet team invites you to learn more about how regenerative braking is essential for owners and buyers assessing the new electric vehicle (EV) lineup.
What's Regenerative Braking?
Regenerative braking is a technical system that captures energy that would otherwise be lost during braking and converts it into electricity to recharge the battery. With conventional vehicles, braking uses friction to slow down and converts kinetic energy into heat, losing valuable energy.
This system improves overall energy efficiency, extends the vehicle's distance range, and reduces wear and tear on brake components. Chevrolet's regenerative braking embodies this fundamental premise of energy recovery, integrating it into the complete experience for the Equinox EV and Blazer EV vehicles.
Regenerative Braking vs. Traditional Braking
Gas-powered vehicles slow down through friction, applying the brakes through brake pads and rotors — a process that generates heat and wear and tear on those brake systems. EVs, on the other hand, primarily decelerate through regenerative braking, and the pads only come into contact with the rotors when catastrophic deceleration is necessary or aggressive stopping is warranted. Chevrolet builds its EVs with traditional friction brakes as a backup system to give you peace of mind if you need to make a complete stop.
Ultimately, it's about providing you with a sense of confidence when driving an EV while also maximizing energy recapture in everyday driving conditions. Over time, regenerative braking significantly reduces the wear on the discs, pads, and calipers, thereby decreasing the frequency of service appointments and associated costs.
Thanks to this reduced wear, you can enjoy driving your Equinox EV or Blazer EV while supporting Chevrolet's mission to manufacture a highly efficient and durable form of transportation. In addition, the deceleration experience is significantly smoother, resulting in a more comfortable drive, which makes the regenerative braking technology even more appealing.
How Regenerative Braking Works on the Equinox EV and Blazer EV
Chevrolet's regenerative braking system incorporates a range of technologies to enhance efficiency while maintaining user control. One significant feature is the one-pedal driving function, which allows you to accelerate, decelerate, or come to a complete stop with only the accelerator pedal. When you lift your foot off the accelerator, the system increases the regenerative braking force, slowing the vehicle while reclaiming energy. This is especially useful in stop-and-go traffic, as it'll smooth out the driving experience while minimizing brake pedal use. If you use regenerative braking and one-pedal driving efficiently, your vehicle's energy can go a long way.
Chevrolet offers Regen On Demand for a customizable braking experience. This system incorporates several progressively stronger regenerative braking modes, allowing you to select how aggressively you want the car to slow down when you lift your foot off the accelerator.
The Regen On Demand feature is a paddle located behind the steering wheel that provides added control. When you pull the paddle, you get an instant and maximum amount of deceleration without having to use the brake pedal. The regenerative braking system on these models enables more customization through vehicle settings. You can use the One-Pedal Driving button on the center display along with the Regen On Demand paddle to fine-tune your energy capture while staying true to your driving style and personal preferences.
Chevrolet's regenerative braking does more than improve energy use. In terms of efficiency, it increases range while reducing maintenance and also contributes to a lower cost of ownership. The reduced reliance on friction braking ensures the lifetime flexibility of any brake system components, in addition to lowering brake service frequency and reducing your overall maintenance costs.
The Future of Regenerative Braking in Chevrolet Models
Chevrolet is continuing to refine regenerative braking across its EV portfolio, with future models focusing on enhanced regenerative braking, driver customization, and improved efficiency. The Equinox EV and Blazer EV highlight how Chevrolet implements this technology into day-to-day driving.
Contact Victorville Chevrolet To Learn More About Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking enhances performance, reduces maintenance costs, and is yet another reason why many drivers prefer EVs over gas-powered vehicles. To learn more or to experience regenerative braking for yourself, visit us at 15425 Dos Palmas Road in Victorville, California, call us at 760-684-4818, or complete our secure online contact form to get started.
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