Solar panel waste may not be nearly as bad as we once thought

Re:Solar panel waste may not be nearly as bad as we once tho... by bityard on Sunday November 13, 2022 @03:00PM (#33586734)

I love my Prius, but over my years of driving it my suspicion is that the regen braking contributes VERY little power to the battery, and I try to brake using regen as much as possible. I would guess that most Prius drivers (who drive the car like a normal car, which is even what Toyota says to do) get back a truly trivial amount of energy out of regen braking.

It wouldn't surprise me if full EV regen braking is much more efficient and useful, though.

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Re:Solar panel waste may not be nearly as bad as we once tho... by CarVac on Sunday November 13, 2022 @03:36PM (#33587082)

It's optimal to coast if you can avoid regeneration, but if you must brake then you want as much of that to be regenerative as possible.

On both EVs and on hybrids.

EVs have more regenerative braking power and capacity though; my Prius fills up rapidly when descending a mountain.

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Re:Solar panel waste may not be nearly as bad as we once tho... by taneq on Sunday November 13, 2022 @04:05PM (#33587335)

I seem to recall estimates on various EV conversion forums that regen braking saves 5-10% range at best, and the more efficiently you drive normally, the less difference it makes.

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Re:Solar panel waste may not be nearly as bad as we once tho... by LgWoodenBadger on Sunday November 13, 2022 @04:35PM (#33587591)

Fwiw, my truck has an electric motor and battery, for extra torque only, not for any hybrid ability, but due to its regenerative braking ability I’m still on its original brake pads at 50k miles.

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Re:Solar panel waste may not be nearly as bad as we once tho... by IndrekR on Sunday November 13, 2022 @05:44PM (#33588162)

My EV reports 18 kWh/100km for driving and 4 kWh/100km gained from recuperation. That is significant.

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