Tesla's New EVs Won't Come With Different Regenerative Braking Options

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

For quite some time, Tesla's electric vehicles have offered consumers between the choice of two regenerative braking settings: standard and low. No, it's not a wide range of options, but it's something that helps drivers take some wear and tear off of their brakes, while getting some range back if their driving in urban areas where more regen is handy. Unfortunately, it sounds like Tesla is going to simplify its regenerative braking settings for its new electric vehicles.


Tesla Simplifying Its Options


According to a report by Electrek and recent forum posts on the Tesla Motors Club, Tesla's regenerative braking system will only have one setting. Instead of standard and low, standard will be the only available regenerative braking setting going forward. As one Model S owner claims on the forum, a mobile tech told him or her that "as of June 2020, all Model S vehicles manufactured no longer have the ability to switch regenerative braking to Low." The same owner posted a picture of the Driving settings of their Model S, and regenerative braking isn't even an available feature.


This isn't a huge change for consumers and it probably won't matter to interested buyers, but it's an interesting change for Tesla to make at the moment. As we pointed out earlier, regenerative braking isn't just a way for owners to save their brakes, but it also helps get some vital range back. This is done by turning kinetic energy into electricity that's routed back to the battery pack.


The majority of electric vehicles usually have two settings for the regenerative braking system – a mild one and a much more aggressive one. Usually, the more aggressive one can only be used in low-speed settings like driving through neighborhoods and urban areas, as the regen is too strong to be used at high speeds.


Why The Change?


Now, it looks like the standard setting is going to be the only option for Tesla owners, which is concerning, as it's the more aggressive regenerative braking option. It's going to be interesting to see how this affects the way owners drive on the highway and at higher speeds. Since Tesla doesn't have a public relations department anymore, we can't contact them for a response or an explanation on why it made the change.


Higher regenerative braking can also be dangerous when driving on ice, as less regenerative braking reduces the amount of slippage and traction loss. Additionally, people that aren't used to the way an electric vehicle drives can get nauseous with high levels or regen, as it feels like someone is applying the brake in an aggressive manner.


We're unsure if Tesla is doing this to all vehicles through an over-the-air-update or if it's just something that affects new models. If so, this may be something potential buyers want to look into, because it could make used models more attractive than new ones.

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods