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.

 

[frankvb]

My strong preference as well. Though I recognize some may prefer it another way and that is ok, as long as it is totally optional.

There's nothing wrong with adding blended braking, while keeping the existing regen as it is, and adding a config slider for regen.

As others have said in this thread, people who are happy with the way it currently works, just keep regen at 100% and nothing will change for them, while others who prefer lower regen can do that, and that should only have a very small impact on efficiency (unlike the current system).

Though in the end this is likely irrelevant as I expect that the way the brake system is designed doesn't even allow for blended braking.

 

[Amanfromconn]

I didn't think I was gonna like regen braking at first. But got so used to it in a day or two and now I'm loving it. After awhile I just know when to slow down so the car can come to a complete stop. This year will be the first for me driving in the snow. We shall see.

 

[JoeFresco]

Did any/all US cars actually end up getting this back, or was this just for the Chinese market cars?

I have a Model Y LR purchased new Sept 2023. It does not have the ability to control regen braking through the screen. I went looking for this when I started skidding around while braking on snow. I'm looking at getting a S3XY knob to deal with this issue and to fix the crap wiper controls.