One-Pedal Driving: What Is It & Why Should You Do It?

It comes with a variety of names — i-Pedal, e-Pedal, One Pedal and others — but it’s all the same idea. One that EV and PHEV owners tend to embrace, if they know about it. But like all innovations, it’s also got some detractors, so it’s not universally embraced.

The concept is quite simple; it takes advantage of the nature of the electric motors and regenerative braking. Unlike a gas engine, an electric motor can easily run in forward or reverse. Regenerative braking is engaged when you lift the accelerator or, in some cars, with a paddle on the steering wheel. When engaged, it reverses the motor and converts the kinetic energy produced into electricity, which is stored in the battery. When the regen level is set at the highest level (on the models where that is possible—check your owner’s manual), you will encounter one-pedal driving. The measure of true one-pedal driving is whether you can bring the car to a complete stop without having to touch the brakes.

As you lift pressure on the accelerator pedal, the car will slow and energy will flow back into the battery. It can take some getting used to, but in a short time you’ll get a full sense of this unique vehicle control mechanism. What you’ll eventually find is the computer that controls the regen will give you smoother stops than you could consistently produce on your own.

The benefits

That’s how it works. What’s in it for you?

1. Your brakes. When you’re using one-pedal driving’s regen to slow and stop the car, you’re not using the brakes. They’re still there for emergencies — and should be used for any panic stops. But in normal stop-and-go driving, you’ll find you rarely touch the brakes. Anecdotal reports from commercial vehicles using one-pedal driving are saying normal brake service intervals are being greatly extended.
2. Your range. One-pedal driving maximizes the amount of energy returned to the battery in driving. All those saved electrons mean extended range. You’ll go farther on a charge using one-pedal driving. 
3. Handling. This one may be a bit subjective, but I live near some mountain roads that are some of my favorite driving spots. EVs generally give you a plus in handling because of the low center of gravity created by batteries typically found under the floor. As well, the batteries weight can create better front-rear weight distribution than your typical gas car. For me, I find one-pedal mode allows me to take on the mountain roads without having to spend as much time thinking about braking, which is a good thing on some of those switchbacks.
   
   

Related this is the convenience of not having to move your right foot from one pedal to another for braking. You still need to be ready to press that other pedal into service, but in most cases, you won’t need to.

Footnote: If you’re concerned about other drivers’ reaction to using one-pedal driving, don’t. When you lift on the accelerator, your brake lights will come on so anyone following will know you are slowing.

The next step

The next step is for you to check it out. If you’d like a quick overview and a look at one car’s system, check out this video from Polestar.

About the author

Michael Coates is an internationally recognized expert on automotive environmental issues. He publishes the Clean Fleet Report (https://cleanfleetreport.com/), writes for a variety of publications and also consults in the automotive industry.