Regen Vs Coasting test in the Kona Electric

What's more efficient?

Coasting or Regen?

Same distance, same road, same frugal driver with a gentle foot..

Uphill. Is Regen 0 better than Regen 2
Downhill, Is Regen 2 better than coasting?

Regen 3 was too aggressive for the slope in question.

In reality a longer route would be better but if the hill was too steep and long, you'd just get 999.99 in miles per kWh going downhill. It did register 64miles/kWh at one point.

The results going downhill confirm to me the enormous difference Regen makes in the final 50 meters of slowing down. As such , the result could be swayed in either direction depending on a few extra metres of Regen before the display updates.

In driving style , I slowed for the speed bumps in Regen more than I did in coasting where keeping up momentum is most important.

Although an uninteresting result in many ways at least I now know, going uphill with Regen is no different to coasting mode.
Downhill Regen counts in the final stages so keep Regen going for as long as possible.

UK Kona Electric specs:

Bulb referral code. Gain £50 each by swapping energy supplier to Bulb. Their rates are low and stay low. No fixed term contracts.

[Dave-in-France]

I'm really pleased you did this test as I've been wondering about this ever since I drove the Ionic and the Kona EV's. On flat roads running in 0 regen the cars both felt much more free-flowing and allowed me to take me foot right off the throttle pedal very often, with the vehicle maintaining it's speed.

[donrinearjr]

Nigel, thank you for sharing your experience. I have been watching as the Kona is on my short list for possible EV purchase. I will have to drive my purchase from NY to Wisconsin when the time comes though. WI is not yet an ZEV state.
On a side note, I appreciate the drives around Norwich. I was stationed at RAF Mildenhall from 1994 to 2002 and we spent many a weekend in Norwich. We had our favorite pancake shop just outside the shopping area.
Thanks again!

[mikenelson]

Useful and instructive. Again thank you. I do like your approach!

[dcvariousvids]

I think it depends on the most prominent gradient. If the gradient is sufficient to use a lower gear in a fossil-burner, it would be worth regen. But if it’s a more gentle slope, where you wouldn’t have changed down or brakes to slow down before. Then you might as well coast.

[fordgrunt]

Thanks for the test Nigel.

Your short test proves what I was saying in my last comments in a previous video of yours that coasting is more efficient than regen set all the time.

The great thing with the Kona EV (and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV) is you can easily adjust the regen on the fly with the paddles so quick adjustments up and down - no need to set with the selector like the Nissan Leaf.

I always coast on freeways/long roads and only use regen to slow the car for traffic or to keep within speed limits going down a steep hill (but only use regen momentarily to just wipe off some speed then set back to 0 for coasting again).

Coasting also allows you to simply adjust the speed but removing your foot from the accelerator momentarily to keep your speed (rather than speed and use regen to slow then accelerate again) - with practice it is very easy to do due to EVs have a much more linear feel than an ICE car.

The only time I leave regen set on at any level other than 0 (coast) is when travelling in slow start and stop traffic for comfort reasons - benefits of coast efficiency are limited in these circumstances anyway.

Be great if you did a longer test on the efficiently of coast say on a trip (like a range test comparison) would appreciate to see it 👍🏻

[alexwilson]

Interesting test Nigel, what you didn't tell us was how many miles were added back on the range while using regen, this way although the results for your efficiency were similar with regen it does add back to the battery.
Always enjoy watching your videos.

[S.M.]

I travel a few times a year through the Adirondak mountains in New York State. I think that the regenerative 2 would add up to some distance over many miles of up and down mountains.

[BSAT]

Good for you supporting Norwich Nigel
Maybe a few trips out showing us what the local charge points are like for exploring while( or after) charging
Regen can only recover a proportion of the energy input so if the slope won't need braking then coasting should be better :)

[Stoic-of-Rome]

The discomfort and feeling of overspeeding around bends with no regen plus the need to use brakes is why I drive everywhere on regen level 3. I did same tests because I thought Regen was having a vampire effect up hills or on the flat but I could not see any difference in the figures but get great regen and rarely use the brake pedal. The paddle brake function is brilliant and draws the car to a halt much smother and without the final lurch you often get from the foot brake.

[myers]

It makes no sense using regen braking when driving on the open road, freeway driving, or downhill. You will always get better "mileage" if you are coasting as apposed to breaking (ICE or EV, its physics, its all the same). Regen is only useful in stop and go or stop and slow driving.

[robsmitha]

Advertising Norwich, you are starting to sound like Alan Partridge. I would imagine that if you had to brake to keep to the speed limit you were getting regen that way when in coast mode. After 2 years with the Zoe I am perfectly happy to use the brakes to get extra regen. I am a little undecided as to whether one pedal driving is something I want or not. I do notice that driving on the speed limiter seems a little more efficient that trying to hold speed manually.

[anahatamelodeon]

Not surprising there's no difference going up hill!
Downhill: if you've selected coasting mode, what happens when you use the footbrake? In a Nissan LEAF, braking is still done by regen where possible, adding friction brakes only when you stomp harder on the pedal. Does the Kona use regen when you hit the brake pedal?
I'm guessing you went down the hill faster in coasting mode. That might make the comparison a bit vague as it introduces an extra variable.

Good one, and you arrived at the same conclusion I did. I will just use what feels more comfortable 😀

[labnovodentelamego]

I have some confusion about Regen.
If I travel on the highway at Regen level 0 the brake pedal Regen before the disks ?
It's better on the highway to travel with 0 Regen or level 3?

[decimal]

XTC nice. That was one of my first singles!

[alanboothby]

Thank you for your video, unfortunately my car must have out of date software as the option to check or uncheck isn’t there in driver assistance and in the other menu with LKA, attention level, tyre pressure, there isn’t there isn’t speed limit warning showing, mine has three sections but your video shows four
I will phone the dealer to tomorrow, unfortunately he wasn’t up to speed with the car as it’s the first Kona EV the dealership had seen. That will be a challenge explaining what’s missing to him
Thank you for your explanation

[yodagerhard]

Cousting is the more efficient way in any situation.

I like England very much, but i fear for left side driving, lol
It would take a while to do this from self.
Espcially in bigger roundabouts i would be lost.

nice greetings from Austria

[TheWitchfinderGenral]

What do you think of the pedestrianisation of Norwich city centre?

[golfish]

What happens if you pull back on both regen paddles at the sames time?
I herd from one place it will bring the car to a complete stop.
Is this true?

[DM_Laf]

When you drive in "regen" level your car (Ioniq 5) is regenerating energy even while you driving, but doing so it lose more energy than it produces, obviously. If you drive in level 0, there is no resistance and no energy los.

Best to drive on level 0!
To extende you range you mast plane you driving:
1. left your foot from the throttle and glid as long you are not slowing the trafic bihand, then
2. regen to slow, then
3 brake to stop.