Neutral: Why is it available when driving?

[AudioBob]

For anyone changing cars there can be (rare) occasions where one can hit the wiper switch because your previous model or a recent rental had the lights or indicators there

Yesterday I absentmindedly put the gear into Neutral when intending to indicate and then wondered where the regen had gone .....

As you'd expect, we can't select Park or Reverse while driving. But this made me wonder why switching from Drive to Neutral is allowed by the system. What is the use-case?

 

[nwdiver]

As you'd expect, we can't select Park or Reverse while driving. But this made me wonder why switching from Drive to Neutral is allowed by the system. What is the use-case?

I use 'N' occasionally when I want to coast and don't feel like feathering the 'Go' pedal...

 

[Candleflame]

you have to be in full control of the vehicle at all times.

 

[nwdiver]

you have to be in full control of the vehicle at all times.

The car is still on

Way better than my old fools fuel manual transmission ICE... I'd turn the engine off on long gentle hills... steering and braking is a bit harder without hydraulics. But still possible

 

[Candleflame]

The car is still on

Way better than my old fools fuel manual transmission ICE... I'd turn the engine off on long gentle hills... steering and braking is a bit harder without hydraulics. But still possible

This would get you 10 points in the UK.

 

[nwdiver]

This would get you 10 points in the UK.

• Guess it's good I'm not in the UK
• How would they know the engine is off and/or in 'N'??

 

[boaterva]

When parking you may want to coast into a spot (when creep is on, but let’s not start that pro and con). We use the parking ‘humps’ in our garage and the space is so tight that sometimes you want to use neutral to ‘fall’ into them.

Not exactly sure why having neutral available is even a question....

 

[Candleflame]

• Guess it's good I'm not in the UK
• How would they know the engine is off and/or in 'N'??

they won't, but coasting is illegal and shutting our car off too. both as you need to be in full control of the vehicle at all times. For example in case you need to suddenly brake (Where being in gear adds engine braking) or if you need to suddenly accelerate to dodge something.

 

[ckoval7]

If you're hydroplaning, one of the best things to do is put your car in neutral and don't touch the brakes. It prevents unintended engine braking or acceleration. Of course once you're out of the hydroplane you would put the vehicle back into drive.

 

[scaesare]

Because it's interesting to compare the regen effect as compared to none on downhill grades.

 

[ewoodrick]

For anyone changing cars there can be (rare) occasions where one can hit the wiper switch because your previous model or a recent rental had the lights or indicators there

Yesterday I absentmindedly put the gear into Neutral when intending to indicate and then wondered where the regen had gone .....

As you'd expect, we can't select Park or Reverse while driving. But this made me wonder why switching from Drive to Neutral is allowed by the system. What is the use-case?

Because most every other car allows it?
Because why not?

 

[Darmie]

they won't, but coasting is illegal .

Not so in some states.
Is it illegal in any U.S. jurisdiction to be in neutral at a red light?

 

[AudioBob]

Because most every other car allows it?
Because why not?

But there are reasons in an ICE machine to have neutral (coasting to save fuel on downhill) or towing. Neither apply to the Tesla. Just seems an odd hangover.

 

[roblab]

• Guess it's good I'm not in the UK
• How would they know the engine is off and/or in 'N'??

I'd like to know what prize you get for 100 points. Or is it a thousand. Holiday for two paid in full?

 

[Corsair]

Useful for automated drive-thru car wash (not me)

 

[jgs]

Useful for automated drive-thru car wash (not me)

I believe we have a big winner.

But there are reasons in an ICE machine to have neutral (coasting to save fuel on downhill) or towing. Neither apply to the Tesla. Just seems an odd hangover.

Depending on particulars, coasting saves “fuel” in a Tesla too. There are tons of old threads about this, extending back years. The outline is, round-trip efficiency of regen is in the 60% range, whereas kinetic energy doesn’t suffer such losses.

 

[bhawkins4194]

Prob some silly law about having the ability to shift into neutral should your ICE engine throttle get stuck or something.

 

[Candleflame]

I'd like to know what prize you get for 100 points. Or is it a thousand. Holiday for two paid in full?

you get your license suspended if you reach 12 hehe.

 

[Candleflame]

Not so in some states.
Is it illegal in any U.S. jurisdiction to be in neutral at a red light?

well it is also not illegal to jump out of a window in all states. doesn't mean it is a good idea though. You shouldn't give up control of the vehicle. If you are on a private road fine, but if you share the road with other pedestrian/cyclists/motor vehicles you gotta have at least some respect for those.

 

[Brass Guy]

I do coast briefly on occasion. Usually when going down a slight downgrade, when the car won't speed up. Sometimes just to find out what my ancillary energy use is. I do not feel the loss of any control of the vehicle, on the contrary; I'm telling it what to do - in this case nothing. As long as you're over 5mph, you don't need the brake pedal to put it back into D.