Why did Tesla remove option to disable regenerative braking?

[Tipjar]

I'm asking here instead of directly to Tesla because their only Contact Us options were for solar roofs or calling a store and neither of them knows....

While test driving the Model Y I noticed the regenerative braking was pretty aggressive. I called the sales person from the car to ask if I could adjust it. He explained that unfortunately Tesla removed the option to disable regenerative braking in the October 2020 software update, and suggested cheerfully that it's a driving experience drivers adapt to. (Some context here, I'm used to regenerative braking from my Prius of the past five years, but I like the freedom of easily toggling it on or off as needed, and its resistance is considerably milder than Tesla's.) I found Tesla's regenerative braking to be so strong it was similar to actively depressing a brake pedal half way to the floor when the foot wasn't on the accelerator. In my opinion it was a fatiguing nuisance having to stay on top of the accelerator all the time. I know you can engage cruise control as a workaround but cruise is only useful in certain conditions.

I went to an Earth Day fair a week later because many makes and models of EVs would be there and I wanted to hear pros and cons directly from owners. One Model Y owner said he'd always driven with regenerative braking at the maximum setting anyway so it didn't bother him, but he felt sure there was still a way to turn it off. Then a woman, intrigued by the topic, offered to take me on a test drive in her Model Y and go through all the settings for regenerative braking. We did and both agreed none of the settings made much difference. Then she confessed that she can't take her best friend around in her car because the regenerative braking gives her friend motion sickness, and that she'd heard similar stories from others. (But she was still crazy about her Model Y.)

What do you think Tesla's rationale is for removing the option of turning off regenerative braking, especially when it could limit their pool of consumers? It's a deal breaker for any buyer who has to consider how many kids/relatives, friends, business associates, or other unknown future passengers it might affect. My only thought has been maybe Tesla wants to pump up their range statistics and didn't realize that it could make some people ill or fatigued if they suffer from motion sickness or certain disabilities.

Aside from that, I'm bothered a seller can change something without my permission after I've paid for it.

 

[Big Earl]

Ah! The battery indicator uses a flat EPA factor whereas most cars use the average consumption as the main indicator. I believe that explains the discrepancy. Said another way, you're comparing apples to oranges. Open up the energy graph on your Tesla and look at the estimated range remaining go up as you go downhill... That will be closer to the Prime's display I believe.
The real measure would be how many kWh were put back in the battery. Unfortunately the cars don't show that on the displays.

Right. The Prius range estimator is an estimation of available range based on recent driving. In addition to gaining energy in the battery by going down hill, you're using energy more efficiently, causing the prediction to get more optimistic. In the Tesla, it's only showing you energy in the battery (using EPA rated range), so you aren't seeing that additional optimism from recent efficient driving.

Conversely, you probably see the range indicator tick down more quickly in the Prius when climbing a mountain than you would see in a Tesla.

 

[iamnid]

For example going downhill in the prime i get a few miles back, going at or above say 50mph. The Tesla gain on same hills are zero.
Could just be that the Tesla Range estimator just sucks.

Go into the usage graphs, you'll see it adding back mileage every time the graph line is green. I've certainly come down mountains in my tesla and seen miles added back. Also, the usage kw/h will be a negative number during long downhill trips.

 

[whisperingshad]

Not so much a mountain like Idyllwild , just like going down from orangecrest down central or down a hill in whittier on Colima. The prime would go from a standard prius to a charged prime( ie able to use full ev) of a few miles. Might be apples and oranges, Just be nicer if the range was more like the prime lol.

 

[Tipjar]

Thank you all for your input. It confirmed the option was taken away for the reason I suspected: to give Tesla better numbers. As for those suggesting it's about a learning curve to driving smoother, I've been driving forty years and have experience operating a wide range of vehicles, every style of motorcycle and stick shift cars, trucks, box trucks, and tractors to name a few. I can work a clutch as smooth as any automatic. So I know how to finesse a pedal. The problem is I'm older and have a disability. Little tasks that used to be mildly invigorating as part of the process of engagement now sap valuable energy I need to budget to get through a day. It's not something able bodied people have to think twice about. I never did. Could I drive a Tesla with strong regenerative braking and stay on top of the accelerator all the time? Sure. Is it the best choice for me? No.

CorneliusRox had a good idea with an opt out fee. To which I'd add maybe Tesla could then remove those vehicles that opt out from the pool of vehicles they use to come up with range statistics.

GtiMart says it hasn't been removed on cars that were already sold. If so, that's hopeful. I'd heard differently. I'll keep my mind open to the older units. And while doing so I'll also keep in mind jjrandorin and scissorfighter's point there was never an option to completely turn it off.

 

[GtiMart]

It is clear and well known that Tesla have not removed the "low" option on existing cars, so far. I have a 2020 model 3 and can attest to that.

Alternatively, you might want to look at full self driving. That would make the drive even easier and remove the burden of feathering the pedal. With your disability that might be the best.

 

[whisperingshad]

It is clear and well known that Tesla have not removed the "low" option on existing cars, so far. I have a 2020 model 3 and can attest to that.

Alternatively, you might want to look at full self driving. That would make the drive even easier and remove the burden of feathering the pedal. With your disability that might be the best.

Feathering the wheel is a PAIN

 

[GtiMart]

I respectfully disagree. Keep your hand on the wheel, for example on one side, and the system should be happy. That's what I do, although I only have autopilot. Yes, ideally it would drive without intervention but that might come eventually. Not having to care about speed, slowing for cars, lane changes etc is already a gain. And, when you're not using fsd, you need your hands on the wheel anyway so it's certainly not worse.

 

[whisperingshad]

I respectfully disagree. Keep your hand on the wheel, for example on one side, and the system should be happy. That's what I do, although I only have autopilot. Yes, ideally it would drive without intervention but that might come eventually. Not having to care about speed, slowing for cars, lane changes etc is already a gain. And, when you're not using fsd, you need your hands on the wheel anyway so it's certainly not worse.

i drive all cars with my left hand on lower part of wheel, it still makes me constantly check. I only have AP, so If i want to use, I drive like ANY other car and just have to speed up and speed down constantly, with an occasional but VERY annoying need to wiggle the wheel. To be honest the bad quality atm is what keeps me from doing FSD. I dont mind keeping my hand on wheel, but the construction AP is bad, including phantom braking. I I still like Autopilot, I wouldn't get a car that didnt have at least adaptive cruise like my prime has.

 

[polyphonic54]

Removing the low regen option is one of a handful of small but meaningful items that keeps me skeptical about coming back to Tesla.

If they did it to maximize range numbers, then that feels like a terribly misguided decision. Low regen in winter conditions makes it easier to control a vehicle.
For comfort, nothing beats what the Germans are doing with coasting (like low regen, but vehicle coasts for seemingly forever until applying the brake). As a passenger in Teslas and coasting EVs the experience is night/day even with a good driver. On the other hand the coasting cars lack one pedal driving. Can’t have it all, it seems.

 

[captanzuelo]

Free electricity. I would turn up the regen if I could

 

[Midnightsun]

GtiMart says it hasn't been removed on cars that were already sold. If so, that's hopeful. I'd heard differently. I'll keep my mind open to the older units. And while doing so I'll also keep in mind jjrandorin and scissorfighter's point there was never an option to completely turn it off.

I can confirm it is still active on cars that had it. Mine is an early August build. I have done all the updates as they come through, option is still there, in fact used it when I let my brother drive the car just last week since he did not know how to feather the throttle right off the bat. No it cannot be turned off but the low setting is rather weak, almost off and would not bother a driver that has no experience with regen braking.

 

[WillwayGTO]

Regen maximizes range. It also reduces the need to brake to almost zero. I am amazed at how steep a hill it can be going down and still actually reduce its speed. My model Y will never need brake pads. My dad taught me to drive and said drive with the gas not the brakes. Just get used to it. Very gentle inputs. its not tough just a little different.

 

[Gadget63]

Regen maximizes range. It also reduces the need to brake to almost zero. I am amazed at how steep a hill it can be going down and still actually reduce its speed. My model Y will never need brake pads. My dad taught me to drive and said drive with the gas not the brakes. Just get used to it. Very gentle inputs. its not tough just a little different.

It's actually so easy to get used to and a very relaxing way to drive

 

[golferguy]

My wife never liked the regenerative braking and in her profile turned it to the minimal setting. During an X test drive was very unhappy it was gone and at the time deferred buying the X, due to that removal.

 

[Midnightsun]

It's actually so easy to get used to and a very relaxing way to drive

Took me about a day or 2 and it then becomes second nature. Really easy to acquire.

 

[angus[Y]oung]

Took me about a day or 2 and it then becomes second nature. Really easy to acquire.

@Midnightsun weirdly, I took to it almost immediately during our test drives, yet it took me the better part of a week to get used to it once we got our MY recently. It was only a few days to get generally used to it, but getting to a point where it's not jerky took some effort. I moved into Chill mode for a few days and that helped, and just moved back to Standard yesterday to give it a try. I think I can stick with it and make it smooth.

 

[GtiMart]

I'm starting to realize that people driving stick shift before moving to EVs probably have an easier time with regen. Since manual transmissions stay in a smaller gear when you let go of the accelerator, we're more used to keeping part throttle when we want to keep a stable speed. Automatic transmission drivers can probably get away with letting go of the gas pedal more as the transmission just jumps to a high gear then and there is not much engine compression going on. It just takes a bit more getting used to

 

[longhorn8847]

Very interesting. I never owned manual and/or vehicles that had regenerative braking prior to Y. I never found the regen braking to be a problem under any driving circumstances. My wife, my 2 dogs and countless other passengers did not throw up or jump off the vehicle during the drive in last 8 months of ownership.. so I see this as people can adapt with regen braking.. right?

 

[MY-Y]

I'm glad my June 2020 has the option to set regen to low. I use low only when driving in the snow; that's an important option for me. If regen worked on all four wheels, it may be OK, but heavy rear-wheel-only regen in the snow is not ideal. You have to let off the gas pedal to hit the brakes, so gentle 4-wheel braking isn't possible without low regen.

 

[smogne41]

I'm starting to realize that people driving stick shift before moving to EVs probably have an easier time with regen. Since manual transmissions stay in a smaller gear when you let go of the accelerator, we're more used to keeping part throttle when we want to keep a stable speed. Automatic transmission drivers can probably get away with letting go of the gas pedal more as the transmission just jumps to a high gear then and there is not much engine compression going on. It just takes a bit more getting used to

That fit my own experience! Grew up on manuals (though my last car was an auto). Driving my Tesla uses a lot more of my manual instincts than I thought it would. I tell people I give test drives to to think of it as a '1-speed manual transmission' and not an auto. Those with manual experience tend to agree with that assessment. My wife is very prone to motion sickness when she is a passenger, but she has no extra trouble in the Tesla when I am driving compared to our old auto, and I keep the regen at full 95% of the time.

However I do agree it was rotten for Tesla to remove the setting from newer cars. Less safe in the snow particularly, and bad/unacceptable for some drivers obviously. Even though I don't need this setting very often, I doubt I would buy an EV that did not have a 'low' regen setting available (so probably no new Teslas in my future unfortunately).