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Tesla drops regenerative braking options for new EVs

It looks like one single standard will be applied to regenerative braking for Tesla cars from here on out.

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If you love regenerative braking, this means nothing to you.

Nick Miotke/Roadshow

If you want just a little more control over regenerative braking in your new , there's bad news. According to new owner posts in various communities such as Reddit, Tesla no longer includes an option to switch between regenerative braking settings.

This certainly isn't the biggest loss, but for those not used to a regen system, being able to switch could help them ease in. Regenerative brakes turn typically lost kinetic energy into fresh electrons to dump back into the battery pack, which can help extend an electric car's range a tad. Tesla's previous cars let owners choose between "Standard" or "Low" modes, with the latter option being less aggressive.

Now, owners report the Standard option is the only option to select, apparently in cars built after June of this year. Tesla does not operate a public relations department to field requests for comment, so we don't know why exactly Tesla would delete the option. Perhaps Tesla knows regenerative braking can give ranges a boost, so it's simply going forward with a default setting.

If you're not used to a regen system, it's not hard to pick up on. Think of regenerative brakes like downshifting in a manual transmission where the engine brake kicks in. It's also the sensation that allows a lot of automakers to tout "one-pedal driving," since some EVs will nearly bring the car to a stop without using the physical brakes. But, if you really want less regen action, it looks like you're out of luck, at least until Tesla decides to provide an explanation or revamped settings.

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Sean Szymkowski
It all started with Gran Turismo. From those early PlayStation days, Sean was drawn to anything with four wheels. Prior to joining the Roadshow team, he was a freelance contributor for Motor Authority, The Car Connection and Green Car Reports. As for what's in the garage, Sean owns a 2016 Chevrolet SS, and yes, it has Holden badges.
Sean Szymkowski
It all started with Gran Turismo. From those early PlayStation days, Sean was drawn to anything with four wheels. Prior to joining the Roadshow team, he was a freelance contributor for Motor Authority, The Car Connection and Green Car Reports. As for what's in the garage, Sean owns a 2016 Chevrolet SS, and yes, it has Holden badges.

Article updated on October 28, 2020 at 7:38 AM PDT

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Sean Szymkowski
It all started with Gran Turismo. From those early PlayStation days, Sean was drawn to anything with four wheels. Prior to joining the Roadshow team, he was a freelance contributor for Motor Authority, The Car Connection and Green Car Reports. As for what's in the garage, Sean owns a 2016 Chevrolet SS, and yes, it has Holden badges.
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