One pedal driving inconsistencies

[Killer95Stang]

With the Rivian being our first experience with Regen, I think I have adapted to really liking it. But, it is pretty inconsistent overall. Sometimes I feel the need to top off to 85 -90% if my wife decides we are going to take a long distance drive somewhere without any planning. It's a straight two block shot back to the house and sometimes my foot is a little heavy before i make the left into our neighborhood. Making that turn, the Rivian has zero of the expected Regen, which can be a little un-nerving if you are expecting it to work. Also, sometimes it feels overly heavy if stopping from 25mph, but very light if coming down from 45mph.

Along with the simulated Regen like Tesla uses, I would also like one of the unused buttons on the steering wheel to be a momentary switch where I can turn off regen for shirt periods. For instance, readjusting your foot while traveling on the freeway. Being able to coast for a second instead of dropping 20mph when you move your foot on the gas peddle would be nice. Also, making a turn with coast and being able to brake normally would also come in handy.

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[Electrified Outdoors]

Tesla addresses this by automatically blending friction brakes when Regen is limited (it's an option) Rivian could do something similar for folks that want consistency. I personally would rather adjust my driving when Regen is limited by seeing a warning in the display.

 

[madgrey]

I'm fine with the current one-pedal-driving implementation that Rivian has adopted. Driving conditions change, we adapt. The OPD inconsistency to me is just another form of variability. OPD has more benefits than down-sides.

I'm not sure I want my car breaking for me, I see this as unnecessary complexity and possibly another variable that might need to be accounted for. I'd rather keep my braking muscle memory in good condition rather than let it atrpohy with more nannies.

 

[SDH]

First off, I dislike one pedal driving to begin with.

I take your point on the pedal variability, but just wondering why you bought an EV in the first place?

Personally I think EVs are ideal for stop/start urban driving. So much easier to use with one pedal.

 

[iBang]

While I personally like one pedal driving, I completely agree with you that the inconsistency in one pedal driving when it’s cold is material and not good.

While some have explained the reason why regen breaking isn’t available in the cold, there is still a choice rivian has made on how users experience one pedal driving in the cold. Tesla went through something similar where they started out doing what rivian does. Then they switched to give a more consistent experience using one pedal driving by using the friction brakes when it’s too cold to use regen.

I think Tesla’s latest approach is better and rivian should adopt it.

Very well said! I was going to say my Tesla model S doesn't behave this way but you covered it. Although there is reason for one pedal driving experience to vary that's engineer's job to make it transparent to the drivers. The drivers shouldn't have to know how the battery works. Most of them just want to drive the same way every day therefore the consistency matters.

 

[moosetags]

We have adapted to Rivian's one pedal driving and have found that we like it very much. As it rarely dips below freezing here, I don't know if we will ever see the battery too cold warning. We will keep an eye out for any of these warnings. Thank you for letting us know that this can happen when it gets really cold.

Brian

 

[R1Tom]

Tesla did an update about a year ago where they use the brakes to mimic regen braking when the full regen capability isn’t available.

I agree that inconsistent behavior while decelerating is suboptimal and introduces a level of risk. The experience would ideally be consistent every time.

I hope Rivian eventually mimics Tesla’s software approach. Although I imagine there’s enough complexity that it won’t be on their short term priority list.

I am curious...because I don't want to use friction brakes anymore than I absolutely have to, does Tesla then let you know when you are about to start using the friction brakes?

I personally love the current Rivian implementation so if this Tesla approach means I start using friction, I want to at least be very aware it is happening, so I can do best to extend stopping distances to avoid.

 

[RalphB]

I love the one pedal driving in my R1T, but i agree with the post here. The number of times that regen is limited while driving on mountain roads is very frustrating. This is not because of high SOC, there is some other limiting factor in the motor/converter configuration. It is extremely disappointing when you are driving a twisty mountain road and one curve is handled easily with regen and the next one regen isn't there. Makes for a very inconsistent and , at times, dangerous driving experience. They need to provide a braking system option to provide similar deceleration when regen is limited. I believe that Tesla offers this.

 

[Mathme]

Been does behave different in different ambient temps, battery state of charge, and downhill slope. The truck always displays a warning when OPD is limited, and it also shows a little icon on the dash near the blue power/green region bar. The green region display will also show little hash marks to let you know how limited regen is at any point.

If you pay attention, the truck does tell you so you can adjust accordingly.

 

[Throwdown]

They need a regen feel setting for when the regen isn't fully available like tesla does. As well as a creep mode

 

[NineElectrics]

The fact that a this creates a variable interface for the user is odd. Especially where speed control systems are concerned. The car should perform consistently.

I would far prefer no lift-off regen at all to this variable state. Poor design choice.

Regen braking behavior can also change depending on the state of charge of the battery and whether regen is "overloaded", as when descending a steep mountain pass.

It's definitely a safety issue. For this reason, Tesla implemented "blended braking," where the regen is simulated by the physical brakes when regen is unavailable, for a more consistent (and safe) experience.

Rivian should implement this as well.

 

[NineElectrics]

If you pay attention, the truck does tell you so you can adjust accordingly.

It doesn't always do so. When regen fails because it's "overloaded," it just turns off. It doesn't give you a warning before it does so--even if you're in the middle of braking. I've experienced this on a mountain pass. There are some threads in this forum on the topic. Not great.

 

[Rivdog]

This has nothing to do with “knowing how to drive”. The vehicle is inconsistent, period.

I’m with you on this - the mandatory regen is the only real issue I have with the Rivian. I know the regen will instantly drop significantly at some point during my commute but I never know when. It’s a legitimate safety issue right now.

 

[HenryThe8th]

I dislike one pedal driving to begin with... changes how it enables regen braking when the battery is cold .... The fact that a this creates a variable interface for the user is odd. Especially where speed control systems are concerned.

Totally agree about the inconsistency. There is also regen inconsistency when the battery is at a "high" state of charge or [rumored] when some other unknown component(s), maybe inverters?, are unwilling/unable/too hot to cooperate.

I mostly appreciate what Rivian's one-pedal driving (1PD) does for me, but I think its inconsistencies and the rewiring of decades [in my case] of braking-muscle memory is not a good combination. Likewise, a newer driver who is only familiar with 1PD would also need to rewire their muscle memory to a non-EV brake pedal.

From a human factors perspective, I believe drivers should be required to use a brake pedal to stop a vehicle and keep a vehicle stopped, and the vehicle can decide if the deceleration is from regeneration or friction.

Ultimately, accident data will write the ending to this story.

 

[iBang]

Been does behave different in different ambient temps, battery state of charge, and downhill slope. The truck always displays a warning when OPD is limited, and it also shows a little icon on the dash near the blue power/green region bar. The green region display will also show little hash marks to let you know how limited regen is at any point.

If you pay attention, the truck does tell you so you can adjust accordingly.

Not every driver is intuitive or knowledgeable like you. Even with software background I couldn't understand that warning first time it poped up. My wife still doesn't understand why that warning pops up everytime she is driving down the hill. If Rivian wants to sell millions of cars (I hope this is the case since I own significant number of Rivian shares @ $98) then they have to aim toward the general market. There are only a few enthusiasts or early adapters out there.

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