Tesla Model 3

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

The Model 3 is not brake by wire. Like almost every other car in the world, it has computer controlled ABS; but the braking is purely mechanical / hydraulic. It doesn't even have what virtually all other EV's have, which is regenerative braking integrated onto the braking system.

Really??? That's insane.

Does the Model 3 have any means of regenerative braking?

[NeilBlanchard]

It has regen only when you lift your foot off the accelerator; which most EV's have - except the e-Golf and the Ioniq EV; which coast by default.

[RedDevil]

Well... I'd suppose it would work like it does on my Insight:
Lift the accelerator pedal --> mild regen;
Touch the brake pedal --> medium regen, virtually no physical braking;
Adding pressure to the brake pedal --> increasing regen until max, gradually more physical braking.

The brake pedal feels normal and causes deceleration in line to how deep it is pressed, but the first part is mostly regen until that maxes out. At that time there already is some physical braking, but not much.

Going down long slopes at a steady pace in Germany's Eifel mountains while slightly pressing the brake pedal to max out regen, it will suddenly accelerate when it decides the hybrid battery is brimmed and needs no more.
Luckily it also has flappy paddles to fake gears so I then bump it down a couple of 'gears' for engine braking. Going down long steep slopes hardly ever braking for real.
Anyway, that's the Insight and its CVT.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

It has regen only when you lift your foot off the accelerator; which most EV's have - except the e-Golf and the Ioniq EV; which coast by default.

Grrr, just the opposite of what I want, which would be no regen with liftoff, and only regen when pressing the brakes, with friction braking only occurring when regen is not sufficient.

The industry is trying to force us into 1-pedal drivers, which most people seem to prefer, but which I think may inhibit my reaction to hit the brakes in an emergency.

I guess when cars all have automatic braking systems, we won't need the reflex to emergency brake ourselves.

[ME_Andy]

I also would rather not charge the battery when I could coast. Oh well.

Tesla sold over 6000 M3 last month. Wow!

Neil, I picked up a copy of Ingenious on your recommendation. Looking forward to it.

[slowmover]

Anatoly Karlin has a fine blog post up on UNZ today re this company.

[sendler]

Wow!

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by sendler

Wow!

If you enjoyed reading that, then try the ever-reliable (for a world class rant) Karl Deninger (“Market Ticker”) from 5/12 on how NHTSA likely allowed Tesla to game crash safety tests.

“We’re sorry, but the Tesla Toaster has no mechanical interior door release. Until the occupants are quick-roasted to a crackly crunch, access is forbidden”.

Can’t protect occupants from battery as the car essentially IS the battery? “Stupid” has a whole new meaning in re “customers”. (Earlier MT posts).

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

braking is purely mechanical / hydraulic. It doesn't even have what virtually all other EV's have, which is regenerative braking integrated onto the braking system.

Really? (Source? I had a quick look for info & didn't find any.)


In that case, the only way to modulate regen level is via the accelerator position, which would be bizarre.


The 1st gen Insight had odd regen in that it only had 2 levels: under coasting (light regen); under braking (moderate regen, regardless of brake pedal pressure -- as soon as the brake light switch was tripped, it activated). Adding to the regen oddity: you of course had to be in gear (manual trans) to get any regen, and the faster the engine was turning, the more you got. So it sometimes paid to downshift before regenning.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Touch screen:


"Are you sure you wish to initiate a full-ABS panic stop? [Y/N]"

It makes sense. We've already been conditioned to accept automatic transmissions that scratch their heads and wonder what we really want the car to do before doing something.