Regenerative Braking For DIY Electric Car – Should You Use…

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There are many advantages to owning a pure electric car. For starters, you’ll never need to stop by a gas filling station again. The only time I stop at the station is to buy candy or use the restroom. It’s a great feeling when your vehicle is no longer dependent on fossil fuels.

To save cost, many electric car enthusiasts are converting their gasoline powered car to electric through Do It Yourself (DIY) approach from their home garage. The general concept is to remove the internal combustion engine and replace it with a DC electric motor. To generate power, a series of deep cycle batteries are used.

During the electric car conversion process, there is one component that most EV retrofitters may consider. This is a regenerative braking system. What is regenerative braking on an electric car and why should we use it? Regenerative braking is a system that converts the kinetic energy of an electric car and uses it to drive an alternator to create electrical power. The generated electrical power can be fed back to extend the charge life of the battery.

As an analogy, a regenerative braking system is like using a gear downshift to slow down a vehicle. In EV, we are using the spinning torque of the electric motor to spin the alternator through a clutch system. However, there is a drawback to this system. You have to attach it manually.

If you want to use regenerative braking, you’ll need to install a switch on the steering wheel or gear knob. Every time you want to slow down your EV, you have to press the button to engage the clutch. Then the clutch will transfer the force from the motor to the generator.

How effective is the system? By using regenerative braking, it will increase your electric car drive mileage. Ultimately, its effectiveness will depend on the condition of the battery, alternator and even the weight of the car.

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