Quote:
Originally Posted by redpoint5
Still not getting it. It takes x amount of energy to accelerate y mass to z speed. Recovering that momentum is less than 100% efficient, meaning it would always be more efficient to reduce the amount of mass accelerated in the first place.
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This is how I understand it too.
Plus more mass means more weight which means more rolling resistance.
Ideally all cars, with regen or not, would weigh as little as possible. A 1,000lb car will take about 1/6 the energy to accelerate to a particular speed than one that's 6,000lbs. If regen is 80% efficient on the 6,000lb car and the 1,000lb car has zero regen you'd still be using more net energy to accelerate and decelerate the heavier vehicle with regen than the lighter one with no regen.