Sport mode add-on
Discussion
I recently hired a Peugeot e2008 and it was very smooth to stop on eco mode, but I experienced a not very smooth stopping action when not in eco mode as the mechanical brakes seemed to cut in jerkily. I was always taught to brake smoothly where possible to save brake pads, not that I suppose this was my issue with a hire car but I prefer a smooth stopping action. (I have actually come from driving older cars without modes other than occasionally driving a Ford Kuga).
I think then perhaps modern cars are often more or less designed to work well in eco-mode and the 'sport' modes seem gimmicky and not as controllable as eco-modes, which seems counter intuitive. The acceleration response was greater in sport mode but then this was also not as controlled.
What experience with sport modes in other EVs (and hybrids) do others have?
I think then perhaps modern cars are often more or less designed to work well in eco-mode and the 'sport' modes seem gimmicky and not as controllable as eco-modes, which seems counter intuitive. The acceleration response was greater in sport mode but then this was also not as controlled.
What experience with sport modes in other EVs (and hybrids) do others have?
Edited by Aluminium on Friday 10th October 09:17
That car may use the same system as my Corsa-e. What seems to happen in "B" mode - when regenerative braking is active - is:
1. You release the accelerator and the overrun charges the battery. This doesn't activate the brake lights.
2. When you then lightly press the brake pedal it increases the amount of regen braking, and the brake lights come on.
3. Press harder and the physical brakes are activated.
Sometimes the overlap between 2 and 3 can be quite sudden, and results in the car braking very hard. It takes a bit of getting used to before you can transition from 2 and 3 without breaking your nose on the steering wheel.
1. You release the accelerator and the overrun charges the battery. This doesn't activate the brake lights.
2. When you then lightly press the brake pedal it increases the amount of regen braking, and the brake lights come on.
3. Press harder and the physical brakes are activated.
Sometimes the overlap between 2 and 3 can be quite sudden, and results in the car braking very hard. It takes a bit of getting used to before you can transition from 2 and 3 without breaking your nose on the steering wheel.
Many (but by no means all) EVs have a problem with weird pedal feel and/or jerky braking at the point of transition between pure regen and combined regen and friction braking. It's just shoddy engineering. PSA's EVs are, in my experience, amongst the worst for it.
I do agree that sport modes are often horrible. Whilst the brakes on our MG are fine, the throttle response in sport mode is just silly, with 80% of the torque demand coming in the top about 10% of pedal travel. It's not "sporty" it just rubbish!
Edited by kambites on Friday 10th October 09:46
kambites said:
Many (but by no means all) EVs have a problem with weird pedal feel and/or jerky braking at the point of transition between pure regen and combined regen and friction braking. It's just shoddy engineering. PSA's EVs are, in my experience, amongst the worst for it.
Edited by kambites on Friday 10th October 09:46
I’ve got a 2025 E-Class. The brakes are awful, to the point I was thinking of taking it to the dealers to have a look at them.
I then read up that other people were having similar issues with this, and for the reasons you have explained. Basically poor calibration between the regen motors and physical brakes. Not only does it have a really spongey pedal feel, on the transition it actually lets go of the brakes for a fraction of a second which feels really unnerving.
By far the worst brakes I’ve had in any car, including my first car, a 1979 Mazda 323 with drum brakes all round.
king awful thing.Aluminium said:
I think then perhaps modern cars are often more or less designed to work well in eco-mode and the 'sport' modes seem gimmicky and not as controllable as eco-modes, which seems counter intuitive. The acceleration response was greater in sport mode but then this was also not as controlled.
That’s a very sweeping statement based on a sample of one. In most cars I’ve driven with multiple modes, I generally prefer the “Sport” mode and find that “Eco” mode tends to cripple the car’s overall performance. I do think some EVs have more contrived driving modes than they really need. They make some sense when you have active suspension or in a track focused car. But otherwise I just want a well mapped throttle pedal with all the power available, all the time. Tesla does that very well. Braking performance in an EV really comes down to how well regen braking is blended with the physical brakes and some manufacturers are just much better than others at tuning it. Edited by Aluminium on Friday 10th October 09:17
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