When we all start driving electric cars...

[CrutyRammers]

A thought occurred to me the other day. Assuming electric cars become the norm, I wonder if, over time, left foot braking will become the norm. After all, if you've only got two pedals, why would you use one foot for both?

I know autos are the same but we're still in a world where autos and manuals are mixed and people are taught to drive in a way that lets them drive both. In, say, 30 years' time, when a generation has grown up without gearboxes, will the old ways persist I wonder?

[Muddle238]

I reckon that the tech and computers in electric cars wouldn't allow both pedals to be pressed at once, with a bias towards braking, the sudden effect of the throttle cutting out would make for such a jerky ride I'm guessing it will persuade people not too.

That being said, there will probably be the mouth breathers in 30 years time who are the offspring of today's mouth breathers, who possibly use the wrong feet on the wrong pedals and think it's the norm. No idea how many drivers already do this as it's difficult to observe from another vehicle.

[Fas1975]

No need for left foot breaking if current trends continue. Tesla have a video on youtube, just by lifting your foot off the accelerator slows down the car and applies a brake directly to the electric motor, it goes into the mechanics, and they're using the phrase, one pedal driving

Will try to find the video but in the meantime, there's this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ-ZFtahRNQ

https://modelscoil.com/2013/12/02/one-pedal-drivin...

Edited by Fas1975 on Thursday 23 March 10:24

[TellYaWhatItIs]

Muddle238 said:

I reckon that the tech and computers in electric cars wouldn't allow both pedals to be pressed at once, with a bias towards braking, the sudden effect of the throttle cutting out would make for such a jerky ride I'm guessing it will persuade people not too.

I thought most if not all modern DBW systems do this already.

[lost in espace]

Fas1975 said:

No need for left foot breaking if current trends continue. Tesla have a video on youtube, just by lifting your foot off the accelerator slows down the car and applies a brake directly to the electric motor, it goes into the mechanics, and they're using the phrase, one pedal driving

Will try to find the video but in the meantime, there's this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ-ZFtahRNQ

Leaf does this.

[CrutyRammers]

Fas1975 said:

No need for left foot breaking if current trends continue. Tesla have a video on youtube, just by lifting your foot off the accelerator slows down the car and applies a brake directly to the electric motor, it goes into the mechanics, and they're using the phrase, one pedal driving

Will try to find the video but in the meantime, there's this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ-ZFtahRNQ

https://modelscoil.com/2013/12/02/one-pedal-drivin...

Edited by Fas1975 on Thursday 23 March 10:24

My boss has one and does say that he doesn't need to use the brake much because of this; but I'd have thought you'll always want something there for stopping proper fast, or if pressing on. The idea of doing an emergency stop just by lifting off the pedal quickly seems a bit prone to be rather jerky, but maybe people will learn.

[Krikkit]

CrutyRammers said:

Fas1975 said:

No need for left foot breaking if current trends continue. Tesla have a video on youtube, just by lifting your foot off the accelerator slows down the car and applies a brake directly to the electric motor, it goes into the mechanics, and they're using the phrase, one pedal driving

Will try to find the video but in the meantime, there's this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ-ZFtahRNQ

https://modelscoil.com/2013/12/02/one-pedal-drivin...

Edited by Fas1975 on Thursday 23 March 10:24

My boss has one and does say that he doesn't need to use the brake much because of this; but I'd have thought you'll always want something there for stopping proper fast, or if pressing on. The idea of doing an emergency stop just by lifting off the pedal quickly seems a bit prone to be rather jerky, but maybe people will learn.

Illuminating the brake lights every time you lift off to coast would also cause massive traffic issues.

IMO you'll always have some form of hydraulic braking on an electric car, even if they blend in motor recovery with it.

[Atomic12C]

Hopefully it won't become law to only allow electric vehicles on the road within my lifetime.

That will likely be for the tree hugging climate change generation to 'enjoy'.

[Guvernator]

Isn't it more likely that in 30 years time we won't be using pedals or even touching the controls at all? I suspect 30 years is plenty of time for automated cars to become a thing, in which case, you'll more than likely be sitting in the back browsing your Ipad 35.

[RicksAlfas]

Krikkit said:

Illuminating the brake lights every time you lift off to coast would also cause massive traffic issues.

I can almost bring my C350e to a halt without touching the brake pedal, but it doesn't illuminate the brake lights.
I have to be careful with it in traffic as it really does slow down rather than coast and it can upset the social media addict behind.

[Cupramax]

RicksAlfas said:

I can almost bring my C350e to a halt without touching the brake pedal, but it doesn't illuminate the brake lights.
I have to be careful with it in traffic as it really does slow down rather than coast and it can upset the social media addict behind.

I would be amazed if a manufacturer made a car with regenrative braking that didnt put the brake lights on. I can almost see the ambulance chasers rubbing their hands together.

[Shilvers]

...it will be chaos!!

Instant torque for everyone!

That will be fun!!

[RicksAlfas]

Cupramax said:

I would be amazed if a manufacturer made a car with regenrative braking that didnt put the brake lights on. I can almost see the ambulance chasers rubbing their hands together.

I'm absolutely sure it doesn't, but I'll look for any brake light reflections on my way home tonight.

[Shilvers]

Cupramax said:

I would be amazed if a manufacturer made a car with regenerative braking that didn't put the brake lights on. I can almost see the ambulance chasers rubbing their hands together.

Mine doesn't, but if you have the flappy paddles where you can adjust the ferocity of the regen, I'm sure it does activate the lights as the regen ramps up.

[Yeti97]

Muddle238 said:

I reckon that the tech and computers in electric cars wouldn't allow both pedals to be pressed at once, with a bias towards braking, the sudden effect of the throttle cutting out would make for such a jerky ride I'm guessing it will persuade people not too.

My Seat Leon won't let me press the brake and the accelerator at the same time. Just cuts all power and only uses the brake. Proper disappointment when I wanted to try Brake boosting for the first time!

[austinsmirk]

well, as ahem, an owner of a purely electric car- I find you actually brake far less, than I do in my normal car.

basically because you coast towards your intended stopping point to regen the batteries.

you actually drive differently- taking a longer, slower stop towards vehicles, lights. even going down hills, you might not accelerate at all, but just let the car power itself/freewheel.

i.e- as I'm in yorkshire and its dead hilly- if I take the car to work, because the hills/descent off the moors is so great- the range goes up by 8-9 miles AFTER I've actually arrived at work.

[wemorgan]

Talking of lost automotive skills - how many people would know how to start a classic car with a manual choke, or know to turn the wheels towards the curb when the handbrake is rubbish........happy days.

[HustleRussell]

CrutyRammers said:

A thought occurred to me the other day. Assuming electric cars become the norm, I wonder if, over time, left foot braking will become the norm. After all, if you've only got two pedals, why would you use one foot for both?

I know autos are the same but we're still in a world where autos and manuals are mixed and people are taught to drive in a way that lets them drive both. In, say, 30 years' time, when a generation has grown up without gearboxes, will the old ways persist I wonder?

I admire your optimism OP but helmsmanship is only going one way in future and that is fading into obscurity. Remember, electric cars with pedals which the driver operates are just a half-way house to electric cars which drive themselves. People will no more drive their cars than they program their washing machine- select program, hit 'go', do something else for an hour or two while the machine does it's work.

[CrutyRammers]

HustleRussell said:

I admire your optimism OP but helmsmanship is only going one way in future and that is fading into obscurity. Remember, electric cars with pedals which the driver operates are just a half-way house to electric cars which drive themselves. People will no more drive their cars than they program their washing machine- select program, hit 'go', do something else for an hour or two while the machine does it's work.

Yeah, there is that I suppose

[CrutyRammers]

wemorgan said:

Talking of lost automotive skills - how many people would know how to start a classic car with a manual choke, or know to turn the wheels towards the curb when the handbrake is rubbish........happy days.

Young lad at work only the other day had his handbrake fail on a hill and the car rolled into a wall. I asked him about this, and leaving it in gear, and he'd never heard of either. *sigh*