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Regen and Braking on Snow/Ice/Slick Roads

Discussion in 'Model S' started by DerbyDave, Feb 21, 2021.

  1. DerbyDave

    DerbyDave Member

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    I have noticed that both regen braking and normal braking are both anti-lock. I do not think it helps control the car in any way to turn regen on low for those cars that have this setting (pre-late 2020).
     
  2. murphyS90D

    murphyS90D Member

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    Regen braking is controllable with the accelerator pedal from zero to maximum. You do have to learn where the zero point is. When the accelerator pedal is held at the zero point there is neither braking nor acceleration. That is the essence of one pedal driving.
     
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  3. DerbyDave

    DerbyDave Member

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    My post was a reaction to those that have said that regen should be set to low when driving on snowy and icy roads. This seems to me like defeating antilock braking on the same surfaces, and may not generally provide the best results in most circumstances. Yes, you can coast with one pedal driving thru pedal modulation, but it is the regen braking I was trying to address. Even letting off for full regen braking in snow is antilock and anti skid.
     
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  4. AMPd

    AMPd Active Member

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    Those people have the ice car mentality of letting off the throttle = coasting. As murphys90d pointed out teslas one pedal driving is different in that you must not let off the throttle completely but rather feather it, it takes a minute to get used to it. I agree setting it to low doesn’t really do anything to help prevent skids, in my opinion.
     
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  5. beatle

    beatle Member

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    Are you saying that if the tires start to lock up while under regen braking, the car will lessen the amount of regen to allow the tires to regain traction like ABS does for mechanical brakes? If so, that's pretty neat.
     
  6. OlderThanDirt

    OlderThanDirt Member

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    ^^^^ THIS ^^^^
    Very well said!!!

    I see it and hear it repeatedly about concerns how these cars drive on snow and ice especially the regen thing. If...... they are driven as an EV.... These cars are superior winter cars in my opinion. And I believe I have the winter shitty road driving miles to back up that statement.
     
  7. DerbyDave

    DerbyDave Member

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    Yes, I seems the regen reduces itself to avoid any wheel slippage on slick and icy roads.
     
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  8. croman

    croman Active Member

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    I've never turned down my regen. Anyone blaming regen brakes or any braking for sliding doesn't know how to drive in the snow.

    I will only take Model S in bad weather. It's literally driving a dream. Traction control is unbelievable and Michelin X ice3 are the best studless winter tire. Pairs great with Tesla drivetrain. Never once have I felt out of control in 5 winters.
     
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  9. tmyl21

    tmyl21 Member

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    Can the same be said for earlier MS with only rear wheel motor as most now experience dual motor I'm sensing here?
     
  10. DerbyDave

    DerbyDave Member

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    I don't know, but I would think this is something that is updated thru the continual online updates. I have no experience with the single motor Teslas.
     
  11. tmyl21

    tmyl21 Member

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    Thanks for your input. I would like to hear from some others with only the RWD motor and note their experience. I have a RWD MS and although it's ok in the snow and slick roads I have not tested it so much and my experience is limited. I can recall a time where I lapsed and didn't 'feather' the accelerator optimally and the rear end began to slid out and I reduced that regen real fast haha
     
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  12. Huachipato

    Huachipato Member

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    After driving on snow and later ice last week I did notice the same thing. Living in TX I don't normally drive on snow or ice so I figured there would be all kinds of issues based on what I read here. But reality was that regen reduced all on it's own down to nothing on icy surfaces (no fancy foot work needed).

    I was able to confirm quite often that ABS was working too... lol...

    BTW - the dual motor was fun in the snow/ice. Having put new tires on the car less than a month ago probably helped quite a bit too.
     
  13. Jughead135

    Jughead135 Member

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    Following this discussion with interest. I’ve yet to drive my 2020 MS LR+ in any significant winter weather, but it’s only a matter of time.

    In particular, I’m intrigued by the “Slip Mode” for getting started on ice. How big a deal is that, anyway?? I assume it’s the flip side of what you guys are talking about the regen imposing some amount of “ABS-like” anti-slip?
     
  14. skshimer

    skshimer Member

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    I drove my 2020 Model S in light snow this weekend. Twice while trying to move my foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal at around 35 mph my car started to slide off the road and was not responsive to steering. All four wheels were in a skid. Anyone that has driven in snowy conditions for over 50 years knows that you do not hit your brakes but rather feather them lightly to avoid skidding. Feathering the throttle "expertly" is not easily accomplished. There is no evidence of any type of ABS like feature controlling regenerative braking or I would not have been skidding. One should definitely be able to turn off or decrease the amount of regenerative braking at the driver's option. Why did Tesla remove this option?
     
  15. DerbyDave

    DerbyDave Member

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    Because regenerative braking is anti skid, at least on my car on icy, snowy roads.
     
  16. skshimer

    skshimer Member

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    Just asking, how do you know it is anti skid? I had all four wheels lock up on a slick road surface. What year and model have you driven in icy roads? Thanks for the info.
     
  17. DerbyDave

    DerbyDave Member

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    I have a June 2020 build LR+. It has the option to reduce regen. Strange we are getting different results. Perhaps there was a regen anti controller added at some point that mine has, as they phased out the driver selectable option to reduce regen a few months later.
     
  18. croman

    croman Active Member

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    #18 croman, Feb 23, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2021
    What tires do you have? I've driven with 9 inches on the road and my S was freaking plowing the road. I've never lost traction in all 4. You can see the traction control in the IC as amber wavy parallel lines.

    Modern cars with ABS, slam your god damn brakes. No feathering. ****ing slam the brakes.*
    *Assumes you just want to minimize stopping distance. Turning the wheel, however little, introduces a bunch of other factors, this is about your comment about 4 wheels locking in a AWD dual motor Tesla model S.
     
  19. skshimer

    skshimer Member

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    Thanks. Mine has no option to reduce regen. That was an option earlier but no longer seems to exist.
     
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  20. skshimer

    skshimer Member

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    No, modern cars do not slam on the ABS. I also have and an Audi and bmw 4WD that do not skid when I transfer my foot from the accelerator to the brakes. Swearing does nothing to help your point.
     

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