Brake pedal behavior: Preference?

[Iguy]

I’m with a number of others on this, the best is a combination of these. One pedal driving with adjustable regen levels and an option for non-one pedal driving.

But in the end, most of these are a fine implementation, as long as the motor and friction brakes blend well. The calibration here is critical! It must be seamless.

 

[Cranky Canuck]

Personally, I want it to feel as close to a non EV as possible. Let off the "gas" and the truck will coast to a stop and I use the brake pedal as I would in any other vehicle. I recently test drove a Cyberbeast, and the way the truck felt like I was applying the brake, when I let off the gas, was awful and is enough that if it ends up feeling like that, I wont buy it at all.

I agree with this sentiment. What you experienced was One-Pedal-Driving and unfortunately Tesla comes with that on as default. Some people love it but I'm with you, it feels wrong and I prefer not having it. Luckily it's not something that is required for EVs. Hyundai (and Kia) for example give you different options for how you want your vehicle to decelerate when you ease off the accelerator. They have a one pedal driving mode but you can also set it to just coast or have gentle deceleration as you would feel with an automatic transmission. The nice thing about EVs is that it's all something that can be customized in software so I'm hoping Scout does the Hyundai thing and not the Tesla thing.

 

[Chaz26]

Personally, I want it to feel as close to a non EV as possible. Let off the "gas" and the truck will coast to a stop and I use the brake pedal as I would in any other vehicle. I recently test drove a Cyberbeast, and the way the truck felt like I was applying the brake, when I let off the gas, was awful and is enough that if it ends up feeling like that, I wont buy it at all.

This shows why multiple options are needed, I actually test drove a Cybertruck while I was getting my car inspected a few weeks ago and I liked the way it drove. It was a bit different to my model 3, maybe a little firmer on the regen but once I got used to it I liked it. It actually drove really well, it's a shame how it looks, along with other issues I have around range etc. for the type of truck that it is. I'm sure with how it drove, if it could do 350+ miles on a charge and looked more like a normal pickup truck it would have sold much better.

 

[bouzafr]

I would love not to have that regen feeling at all, none, 0, nil... I love to lift my foot of gas and the car moves freely. The main reason I have not bought a EV for myself is that feeling. People will say, you get used to it, my reply is, sorry but no, I tried it (I have two other vehicles in my house both EV a Mercedes and a Polestar) and can't deal with that.

I know that is just me, so the only ask is have, is to have the ability to completely disable it, only regenerating when I actually brake. That way, multiple settings, allows everyone to use regen as they feel comfortable.

 

[J Alynn]

I would love not to have that regen feeling at all, none, 0, nil... I love to lift my foot of gas and the car moves freely. The main reason I have not bought a EV for myself is that feeling. People will say, you get used to it, my reply is, sorry but no, I tried it (I have two other vehicles in my house both EV a Mercedes and a Polestar) and can't deal with that.
Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting
I know that is just me, so the only ask is have, is to have the ability to completely disable it, only regenerating when I actually brake. That way, multiple settings, allows everyone to use regen as they feel comfortable.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Well,I find one pedal driving less smooth (as a passenger, I've not driven it myself), as the driver is constantly tipping in/lifting off the throttle pedal trying to keep/adjust speed in traffic. Also, if regen braking isn't strong enough with one pedal driving, you still have to engage the friction brakes. My worry there is that if I got used to the regen braking being "good enough" for most situations, that my reaction time/muscle memory would be reduced in panic braking situations.

I've used nothing but one-pedal in my Mustang Mach E and Lightning for more than 5 years now. When used properly it is extremely smooth and hasn't changed my reaction time when I need to use the brake pedal. It's all very natural.

I recommend you find an EV event that offers test rides. There are lots of events in April (Earth Month). At some you can both get a ride with an experienced EV driver and drive one yourself to try it.

Check out https://driveelectricearthmonth.org/

 

[strider]

I would love not to have that regen feeling at all, none, 0, nil... I love to lift my foot of gas and the car moves freely. The main reason I have not bought a EV for myself is that feeling. People will say, you get used to it, my reply is, sorry but no, I tried it (I have two other vehicles in my house both EV a Mercedes and a Polestar) and can't deal with that.

I know that is just me, so the only ask is have, is to have the ability to completely disable it, only regenerating when I actually brake. That way, multiple settings, allows everyone to use regen as they feel comfortable.

Anything is possible - it is only software. But I guess my question is, why? Do people seriously just lift their foot completely off the accelerator all the time? Why? When you do that the car will start to slow (assuming you are not going downhill) so do you constantly speed up and slow down when going down the road? That is horrible for traffic.

You can absolutely coast with regen on the accelerator, you just lift off partially. Honestly this is no different than if you want to hold a constant speed, you just modulate the accelerator to hold the speed. This is literally driving 101. Have we lost the ability as drivers to hold a constant speed?

The last thing I will say is that with an EV, coasting has less of an effect on efficiency than it does in an ICE. Just set the cruise control to a set sped and let the car handle it - it will use power on the way up a hill and regen on the way down. It's also, as I said before, much better for traffic if you maintain a constant speed.

 

[SaraLiz]

I was very wary of high regen/1 pedal driving. But now that I'm driving the Ioniq on a daily basis, I have gotten used to it so quickly. I will say, I only prefer actual 1 pedal in more "constant flow" scenarios. I also just haven't quite figured out the touch on it for parking/slow maneuvering situations. Those, I still prefer the slight roll you get in a more traditional braking system. However, I always have the highest level of regen on. It's crazy how it feels to get back in our Rav4 hybrid and not having the regen, almost feels out of control initially!

 

[R1TVT]

It's crazy how it feels to get back in our Rav4 hybrid and not having the regen, almost feels out of control initially!

And like you are throwing energy away and money out the door when you hit friction brakes in an ICE vehicle!

 

[cyure]

And like you are throwing energy away and money out the door when you hit friction brakes in an ICE vehicle!

I never thought about how different it will feel going back and forth.

 

[RodorW]

I never thought about how different it will feel going back and forth.

It varies for sure, I’m not often bothered by the switch as much, when I drive the Buick or one of my dads trucks I find myself driving mostly the same, I start lifting off the accelerator early but once I register the lack of deceleration I start trying to reach for the regen on demand paddle my car has, after two attempts I’ll start gently breaking. It does feel strange just how much pressure is needed to come to a stop in one of those vehicles, but so far I haven’t made anyone motion sick

 

[Logan]

I've used nothing but one-pedal in my Mustang Mach E and Lightning for more than 5 years now. When used properly it is extremely smooth and hasn't changed my reaction time when I need to use the brake pedal. It's all very natural.

I recommend you find an EV event that offers test rides. There are lots of events in April (Earth Month). At some you can both get a ride with an experienced EV driver and drive one yourself to try it.

Check out https://driveelectricearthmonth.org/

Things have changed since I started this poll.

I've owned a Hyundai Ioniq 9 since September 2025 (right before the tax credit expired ), and have about 6000 miles on the vehicle so far, so I've got a lot more experience on it than I had at first.

The Ioniq 9 offers 5 total regen levels:

• Level 0 is "effectively zero" regen. Like, the clutch pedal is in on a manual transmission car.
• Level 1 is like a normal automatic transmission vehicle. Some regen, but not much.
• Level 2 is more regen, but nothing earth shattering.
• Level 3 pretty heavy regen.
• Level 4 is one pedal driving.

I did tests of efficiency, and driving behavior in level 1, and level 4 as I commuted to work. I put those results HERE (<< yes, that is a link ).

The TLDR: Despite a lot more seat time with an EV, and testing out various regen levels, both my wife and I prefer low regen, with blended braking. Partially because its more similar to what we've had in other vehicles in the past, but also it keeps things simple, accelerator for accelerating, brake for braking. And I think some of it might be just the pedal feel of high regen on the accelerator (it gets quite 'heavy").

There are some situations where I'll use one pedal driving, but its pretty limited where. Those situations are almost exclusively low speed driving where you'd be between "creeping" and "braking" speeds, and constantly dancing between braking/accelerator. The best example this sort of driving, is in traffic at the airport. Everyone is jockeying for position, constantly changing lanes, and you're doing like 3mph for 20-30 minutes sometimes.

For more regular traffic, I prefer the adaptive cruise control (less lane changes, and the adaptive cruise is better at that constant 5-35mph adjustments than one pedal driving IMO).

For more regular driving, I prefer the lower regen. You're not missing out on any efficiency with blended regen on the brake pedal (meaning, the brake pedal adds progressively more regen to the system until it maxes out and engages friction brakes). But we each find its easier to be smoother with the lighter regen.

Today I had to take the kids to a friends house for something. I drove 22 miles with one pedal driving on the way, and the same distance back with low regen/blended braking.

Anything is possible - it is only software. But I guess my question is, why? Do people seriously just lift their foot completely off the accelerator all the time? Why? When you do that the car will start to slow (assuming you are not going downhill) so do you constantly speed up and slow down when going down the road? That is horrible for traffic.

You can absolutely coast with regen on the accelerator, you just lift off partially. Honestly this is no different than if you want to hold a constant speed, you just modulate the accelerator to hold the speed. This is literally driving 101. Have we lost the ability as drivers to hold a constant speed?

The last thing I will say is that with an EV, coasting has less of an effect on efficiency than it does in an ICE. Just set the cruise control to a set sped and let the car handle it - it will use power on the way up a hill and regen on the way down. It's also, as I said before, much better for traffic if you maintain a constant speed.

Actually, yes, I do lift off the accelerator all the time. And thinking about it, that might be some of the reason I prefer light regen. Its easy to "tell" when you're coasting/hardly accelerating/how much throttle you're giving, as you know that "none" is right where you lift off.

I live in a hilly area, with lots of back roads. Its a ~2.5 mile drive into town, with ~500ft of elevation loss (and about 200ft of gain). I often switch to level 0 regen (basically none, feels like freewheeling with the clutch in) on the drive into town, and just lightly cover the brake pedal, as I can coast a mile or more at a time.

I also do this on the highway, both on hills/mountain passes, but also when I see someone driving erratically/swerving nearby (I feather off the accelerator/cover the brake).

Or... other times I just cover the brake pedal... even when I'm in cruise control (adaptive cruise control).

Yesterday I was dropping my wife off at the airport (funeral :/), and we were in the HOV lane, and there was traffic as it was rush hour. It is a double white line to merge into the HOV lane, but as the speed differential was high, I still covered the brake as we were driving past the people in the "fast" lane. Because if there was some yahoo who decided to merge into the HOV lane where it is illegal/not allowed, I wanted to see it coming/already be reacting. No one pulled in front of me, but someone did pull in front of the driver 2 in front of me, so it does happen.