REGEN with "L" button on 2017

[GortBot]

Hi All,

I wanted to report my findings yesterday. I went up the mountains and completed depleted my bigger 7.6KW battery and my 1.4KW battery. So when I started to head back down obviously The car would only allow "Auto" and not "EV" mode. I found that using the "L" button regenerated the 1.4KW battery with in a minute or two and then my car switched over to the depleted 7.6KW battery and started recharging it. I read ( i think on the CMAXX energi forum) that normally the regen is about 4KWH when coasting, but when using the "L" option, which slows the car down quickly and can be applied at any speed, will regen at around 35KWH. I would agree with this, since within 40 minutes of using the "L" while going down the mountain, both my batteries were fully charged and I was once again able to drive straight EV back to my house.

 

Although when I try to just drive in normal stop and go city driving, I don't get enough regen to justify keeping it in "L" mode.

[murphy]

There is only 1 HVB.

It is allocated as follows:

5.6 kWh electric only drive

1.5 kWh hybrid mode

0.5 kWh for use of the car only, not available to move the car

______

7.6 kWh total size of the battery

[GortBot]

Thank you Murphy, That makes more since, I was wondering why I would have 3 batteries (12volt included).

Anycase does anyone know if the brake light comes on when you hit the "L" button?

[murphy]

Thank you Murphy, That makes more since, I was wondering why I would have 3 batteries (12volt included).

Anycase does anyone know if the brake light comes on when you hit the "L" button?

I don't think it does.  This is no different than driving a stick shift car and down shifting to reduce speed.  There is no brake light in that case either.  I did that for years with my 1953 Ford.  I have been driving my 2013 in L for over 6 years with no accidents.  My greatest worry is the idiot that is looking at his cell phone instead of the road.  He wouldn't see the brake light even if it was on.

[rowekmr]

Where is the L button or are you talking about the shift detent Lo?

So you coasted down the mountain with L engage and the brake regeneration charged your HV back to full? If so how long did that take? There are no hills around me so I guess I can't try it myself lol

[jsamp]

1 hour ago, rowekmr said:

Where is the L button or are you talking about the shift detent Lo?

So you coasted down the mountain with L engage and the brake regeneration charged your HV back to full? If so how long did that take? There are no hills around me so I guess I can't try it myself lol

 

Yes, we mean with the gear shifter in 'L'.   You need a LONG hill to get a full battery from regen.  The most I've done is over "the grapevine" in southern CA (Interstate 5).  The main drop is from Lebec, CA ~3500' elevation to  the bottom of the hill just before you get to Grapevine, CA ~1500' elevation, over the course of 6.5 miles.  I gained 6 miles EV in the 6-1/2 minutes it took to get down the hill.  So you'd need somewhere in the range of 8000' of drop to fill the battery from 0-100%.  Pike's peak in CO is one such hill where someone accomplished that. 

 

The longest hill in my city gives me +8% charge from top to bottom, and is a little less than 2 miles long.

[Red-Energi-Plat]

On 10/28/2019 at 6:13 PM, murphy said:

There is only 1 HVB.

It is allocated as follows:

5.6 kWh electric only drive

1.5 kWh hybrid mode

0.5 kWh for use of the car only, not available to move the car

______

7.6 kWh total size of the battery

 I realize I'm a little late to the party, we just picked up our FFE in Spring of 2022. Thanks for the info. I was wondering how this battery operated because it seems to act like two batteries when I watch the battery meter. Can you describe what happens when you press the L button on a 2017 Energi? Is it safe to use that mode frequently and for long periods of time?

[jsamp]

It is only one battery, the software just utilizes the capacity in segments.  There aren't physical compartments with in the battery.

 

"L" is merely a software controlled mode, not a physical gear like on most cars.  It just increases the amount of energy capture when you release the accelerator pedal.  It allows for 'single pedal driving' where you rarely use the brakes.  It's not as effective on the Energi as on some other EVs, but they operate on the same principle.