Snow Mode--still too much regenerative braking

[Bullwinkle]

We had very icy roads in Minneapolis earlier this week. I switched to snow mode, but still had the regenerative braking cause sliding when I took my foot off the accelerator. I assume that had I braked hard, the antilock may have helped--but this is very counterintuitive to 40 years of winter driving.

The suddenness of sliding after releasing the accelerator is dangerous. I could mitigate sliding by feathering the accelerator, but in an emergency situation, I am not sure I would do this well. Also, switching between our Grand Cherokee and Rivian now requires completely different behavior when it is very slippery. Finally, regenerative braking negates the antilock system, which is not good.

Possible solutions are to allow turning regenerative braking off in snow mode or adding an ice mode.

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[SteveInBend]

Don't just "release" the accelerator pedal; "ease" back on it. JMO.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Don't just "release" the accelerator pedal; "ease" back on it. JMO.

That is what meant by feather--still the antilock do not work in the exact situation they wee designed for.

"I could mitigate sliding by feathering the accelerator, but in an emergency situation, I am not sure I would do this well."

 

[SteveInBend]

That is what meant by feather--still the antilock do not work in the exact situation they wee designed for.

"I could mitigate sliding by feathering the accelerator, but in an emergency situation, I am not sure I would do this well."

My bad! I just read the first part. I agree it can be a problem in an emergency situation. The weight of the vehicle certainly doesn't help!

 

[HaveBlue]

Teslas don't have as much regen i think and also have a coast mode or something I think

 

[Rivdog]

I’ve been harping on this from day one. My biggest, and really only complaint with my Rivian is the mandatory regen. I knew it was gonna be the case when I got the vehicle, but I’m still holding out hope they change course or at least add a “creep” mode so it behaves more like an ICE automatic transmission at extremely low speeds.

 

[Blu Angel]

We had very icy roads in Minneapolis earlier this week.
I switched to snow mode, but still had the regenerative braking cause sliding when I took my foot off the accelerator.

@Bullwinkle
I’m a huge believer in two sets of wheels……
one with summer rubber
and the second with winter rubber

Naturally, a smaller wheel diameter like 20” for winter wheels
and light-weight forged wheels for summer (21” or 22” Atomic)

P.S.I highly recommend these winter boots for Rivian BEV

https://www.hankooktire.com/ca/en/tire/ion/icept-suv.html

https://na.nokiantyres.com/snow-winter-tires/nokian-tyres-hakkapeliitta-r5-suv/

 

[Blu Angel]

Teslas don't have as much regen i think and also have a coast mode or something I think

@HaveBlue
Tesla has two regen modes: Standard and Low
winter driving would benefit from LOW regen mode

P.S. I switch to LOW regen and winter tires once the cold season
sets in. BTW, winter rubber is superior to all-season once the exterior temperature is below 7’C (Canada) or 44.6 ‘F

 

[HaveBlue]

@HaveBlue
Tesla has two regen modes: Standard and Low
winter driving would benefit from LOW regen mode

P.S. I switch to LOW regen and winter tires once the cold season
sets in. BTW, winter rubber is superior to all-season once the exterior temperature is below 7’C (Canada) or 44.6 ‘F

Is low basically like an automatic or manual gearbox car? It's been a long time since I've driven one.

 

[good2go]

I was in downtown Minneapolis that night. When I drove home there was a 12 car pile up on 394, right out side of downtown. Then after that there was another 2 car crash. And on 100 south there was a car off the road. It was ice.

I was in a Highlander.

regen braking would be an issue on ice. As in any quick breaking. In my own neighborhood I slide right through a stop sign. The nice part is Highlanders just slide straight, it does not go sideways or spin.

Rough conditions, but I agree it would be nice to turn off regen braking.

 

[R1TCntrlMaIzzy]

I agree the regen system needs to be modified for snow, icy conditions. I had a situation where it felt like the brakes, regen just locked up. I could not stop and I sled across a light. Luckily I just hit a snow/ice bank, not another car.

As much as I'd like to, I bet fully disabling regen would be a huge liability issue for Riv. Our vehicles are heavy, to say the least.

 

[Blu Angel]

Is low basically like an automatic or manual gearbox car? It's been a long time since I've driven one.

LOW Regen is exactly like an automatic transmission…..
All TeslaS are one speed motors so there is no jerkiness of
changing gears and inducing a spin!
BUT, I reiterate, snow tires make all the diff

 

[egar]

Do the Gen 2's have different regen settings? I too am in Minnesota and I was out in the ice Wednesday night. I put my R1T DM in the snow setting and really had no issues with regen and stopping traction. It is my first winter in an R1T and I was curious to see how it would do, and I was satisfied with the control I had on very icy roads.

 

[Doug]

I also live in MN and have driven my QM R1T thru two winters. I have only used snow mode a few times and have found just feathering back on the go pedal and driving a little slower in poor conditions has worked well for me. I also live in outstate so it is easier to do that then in the Minneapolis area. To the OP if you recently got your R1S it does take a little getting used to with one pedal driving and especially in winter driving.

 

[jwanderson88]

In certain regen situations, the car will activate the brake lights. Does it also activate the ABS system? It's hard for me to wrap my head around how regen and ABS would work together. Or do they?

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