braking technique
#11
07-22-2009, 11:56 AM
Re: braking technique
Well, I have a different priority than charging the battery.
In fact my goal is to use they "hybridness" of my hybrid as little as possible.
My priority is using as little gas to begin with by avoiding use of my brakes.
I try hard to NOT to get up to a speed that I'd need to brake down from.
I really think of braking as a little failure on my part.
Here's why:
A hybrid converts kinetic energy to electrical energy, stores it, then powers a moter to convert it back into kinetic energy via braking/regen. (ignoring wind and road friction which is a wash)
No system is perfect and I read that the hybrid system overall can only recover 30% of the kinetic energy.
That means a full 70% of your hybrid's kinetic energy is wasted.
I'd rather waste 0%.
If I was able to NEVER use my brakes I'd go farther on the gas that I used to get up to speed, and I would waste zero kinetic energy.
Once I GET going I try to KEEP going as far as possible - and use less gas by only get up to a minimum speed to begin with.
I've learned to gauge the distance in front of me and adjust my speed to minimize braking use.
I must be doing' something right.
My average MPG for the last 4 years of hybrid driving is over 60 MPG.
In fact my goal is to use they "hybridness" of my hybrid as little as possible.
My priority is using as little gas to begin with by avoiding use of my brakes.
I try hard to NOT to get up to a speed that I'd need to brake down from.
I really think of braking as a little failure on my part.
Here's why:
A hybrid converts kinetic energy to electrical energy, stores it, then powers a moter to convert it back into kinetic energy via braking/regen. (ignoring wind and road friction which is a wash)
No system is perfect and I read that the hybrid system overall can only recover 30% of the kinetic energy.
That means a full 70% of your hybrid's kinetic energy is wasted.
I'd rather waste 0%.
If I was able to NEVER use my brakes I'd go farther on the gas that I used to get up to speed, and I would waste zero kinetic energy.
Once I GET going I try to KEEP going as far as possible - and use less gas by only get up to a minimum speed to begin with.
I've learned to gauge the distance in front of me and adjust my speed to minimize braking use.
I must be doing' something right.
My average MPG for the last 4 years of hybrid driving is over 60 MPG.
#12
09-30-2009, 08:52 PM
Re: braking technique
Smooth driving will always do better for mileage in almost any car. Thus the slow acceleration and natural decelleration folks will get great mileage. that said, this thread seemed to be about braking technique to maximize regen. If so, if you have a charge meter (like the NAH), you accomodate your braking pressure to maximize your charge and hold the charge level until you either need to stop or are already stopping. Obviously this is all secondary to making your stop so pay attention out there.
#13
09-30-2009, 09:21 PM
Re: braking technique
I know, the message I'm responding to is kinda old, but I figured it had to be said.
Hum... I don't think so.
The shorter the stop, the more pressure you have to apply to the brakes. The more pressure there is between the brake pad and rotor, the more friction it creates... which creates more heat. Because heat generated isn't just by time two pieces are rubbing, but also by pressure. The higher the pressure also increases the "ability" for the pads and rotor to eat away at each other... plus the extra heat means your brake pads are wearing down faster and there's the chance of extra wear on the rotor, or worse, gouging a groove into the rotor (which I've done, since I brake hard).
If you've gouged a groove into the rotor, it now reduces (ever so slightly) it's braking ability next time you need to stop. And the only way to fix that is for a machine shop to grind the rotor surface until it is smooth again. Do that too many times and the rotor will catastrophically fail (locking the wheel).
So in ANY car... the easier you are on the brakes the better... for the brakes. But like previous posters have said... ain't gonna do you much good if you're gonna miss the stop
The shorter the stop, the more pressure you have to apply to the brakes. The more pressure there is between the brake pad and rotor, the more friction it creates... which creates more heat. Because heat generated isn't just by time two pieces are rubbing, but also by pressure. The higher the pressure also increases the "ability" for the pads and rotor to eat away at each other... plus the extra heat means your brake pads are wearing down faster and there's the chance of extra wear on the rotor, or worse, gouging a groove into the rotor (which I've done, since I brake hard).
If you've gouged a groove into the rotor, it now reduces (ever so slightly) it's braking ability next time you need to stop. And the only way to fix that is for a machine shop to grind the rotor surface until it is smooth again. Do that too many times and the rotor will catastrophically fail (locking the wheel).
So in ANY car... the easier you are on the brakes the better... for the brakes. But like previous posters have said... ain't gonna do you much good if you're gonna miss the stop
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