What is regenerative braking?

Regenerative braking is a system used in EVs and hybrids that captures energy normally lost as heat during braking and feeds it back into the battery, rather than wasting it entirely.

How it works:

• When you lift off the accelerator or brake, the electric motor reverses its role and acts as a generator, using the car's momentum to generate electricity
• This slows the car down (sometimes noticeably, depending on the setting) while simultaneously topping up the battery
• Many EVs let you adjust the strength of regenerative braking, from a light effect similar to a normal petrol car coasting, to a strong "one-pedal driving" mode where lifting off the accelerator alone can bring the car to a near-complete stop

Why it matters:

Regenerative braking improves real-world efficiency, particularly in stop-start city driving where there's a lot of braking and accelerating, and it also reduces wear on the conventional friction brakes, since the electric motor is doing much of the slowing-down work. This is one reason EV brake pads and discs often last significantly longer than on an equivalent petrol or diesel car — something worth keeping in mind when comparing maintenance costs.