Has anyone done testing to see the energy differences between using one-pedal driving and not?
biosmith1220
In general, letting a vehicle slow in a coast is the most efficient way to convert the kinetic energy of the forward momentum to distance. Regenerative braking doesn't change this but it does avoid the heat loss of friction brakes.
The answer to your question is the variance will be so little from Off to High that the better question to ask and answer is which setting, Off, Normal, or High, gives your passengers the smoothest ride.
The answer to your question is the variance will be so little from Off to High that the better question to ask and answer is which setting, Off, Normal, or High, gives your passengers the smoothest ride.
So there’s a negligible energy difference between using one-pedal driving and not using it. Am I reading you correctly?
OPD is just as smooth as conventional driving unless you tend to operate the accelerator pedal in a binary fashion (ie, ON or OFF).
With OPD you don't take your foot off the accelerator to "coast", you just back off the pedal until thrust/regen is close to neutral. From cruise to stop just back off the pedal gradually as you approach a stop and it's buttery smooth because it's one continuous gradation. A surprise/panic stop is going to be jerky regardless of which mode you use.
Actually, conventional 2 pedal driving has more potential to be jerky simply because there are three possible states (some accelerator/neither accelerator nor brakes/some brake) whereas OPD is only one continuous spectrum (unless you run out of room and have to touch the brake pedal). I guess if you use the regen paddle in 2PD mode there are now 4 useful states to further put inflection points in your decel curve!!
Regardless of OPD/2PD most people drive pretty jerky anyways, too much gas, too much brakes, jerky stops. A good driver can stop hard for that red light you didn't quite beat and still fade off the brakes to a smooth stop.
Anyone who finds OPD too jerky can use OPD as a useful "training tool" and it will make them a smoother driver by enforcing pedal discipline.
With OPD you don't take your foot off the accelerator to "coast", you just back off the pedal until thrust/regen is close to neutral. From cruise to stop just back off the pedal gradually as you approach a stop and it's buttery smooth because it's one continuous gradation. A surprise/panic stop is going to be jerky regardless of which mode you use.
Actually, conventional 2 pedal driving has more potential to be jerky simply because there are three possible states (some accelerator/neither accelerator nor brakes/some brake) whereas OPD is only one continuous spectrum (unless you run out of room and have to touch the brake pedal). I guess if you use the regen paddle in 2PD mode there are now 4 useful states to further put inflection points in your decel curve!!
Regardless of OPD/2PD most people drive pretty jerky anyways, too much gas, too much brakes, jerky stops. A good driver can stop hard for that red light you didn't quite beat and still fade off the brakes to a smooth stop.
Anyone who finds OPD too jerky can use OPD as a useful "training tool" and it will make them a smoother driver by enforcing pedal discipline.
I can say that with both of the Volts we used to own, I always drove it in “L”. My wife never drove it in “L”. Although Volt did not have OPD, L provided more regen. In the Gen 2 Volt the paddles on the steering wheel also provided regen, like the one paddle on the left side of the EQEV. I almost always out-performed the stated range. My wife rarely out-performed the stated range. Very non-scientific and probably speaks to overall driving styles. But note that I am a much more aggressive driver. My other cars are high powered sports cars and I drive ’em like I stole ‘em 
Maybe not quite scientific, but I have tried it with and without on my hour commute to work, all things being equal (temp, traffic, etc). I noticed no difference. Reason why? Much of the commute is straight highway, so won't matter and if I did slow down, coasting worked well to keep my speed. I do have some stop-and-go, but not enough to make a difference.
Do I still use one pedal? Yes. When in traffic, its just easier.
Do I still use one pedal? Yes. When in traffic, its just easier.
Considering that the brake pedal uses and modulates Regen up until u exceed max Regen decel, or u get to a minimum speed, I don't expect any difference other than driving style.
Please the Equinox EV brakes start out as regenerative and progress to fiction breaking. Friction braking is what you are trying to avoid - converting momentum into heat. One pedal drive is a method to achieve that.
I suspect (but haven't googled) that if someone were to do a study we would find that teaching someone to drive for the first time is easier in OPD mode. I can't believe that using a combination of 2 pedals and a paddle is more intuitive. I know lots of people prefer that configuration but...not I. I mean, talk about making smooth driving more work!
I'm pretty sure we all started off as 2 pedal drivers and some of us 3 pedals, not to mention the parking brake pedal and the floor dimmer or starter lol. Most of us get comfortable and don't want to change. That's human nature. But occasionally a paradigm shift comes along that forces us into discomfort for a while. Sometimes we can overcome that and OPD was like that for me. Sometimes we just can't or won't. Having experienced the many pedal methods I have to say I really like OPD.
I find using OPD smoothly is no more difficult than using brakes or accelerator smoothly. I don't rely on muscle memory and consider it a detriment unless you're always operating the same vehicle in the same situation.
I simply apply the control inputs to make the machine do what I want. If my input isn't enough, or is too much, I alter it accordingly.
I am in control, not muscle memory. That's not to say I don't have muscle memory, just that I'm not a slave to it or dependant on it. Its certainly useful in split second reaction type situations.
Like the statistical majority (also a statistical fallacy), I consider myself a very good driver and have always found switching vehicles and learning new controls very easy and natural. That has made it non stressful for me to adapt to different cars, manual/auto transmissions, motorcycles, snowmobiles, airplanes, etc. I understand that for some people driving feels less natural and more like something they need to practice practice practice and once they get comfortable they have to put an equal amount into learning the next thing.
I think I feel the same resistance to Telsa's center touchscreen philosophy that others are exhibiting towards OPD. And I admit I could probably adapt to a Cybertruck cabin layout. But I don't want to lol. Similarly, this is probably true for OPD for others.
But GM gave us the option and for this reason multiple driving styles and preferences are successfully accommodated.
I'm pretty sure we all started off as 2 pedal drivers and some of us 3 pedals, not to mention the parking brake pedal and the floor dimmer or starter lol. Most of us get comfortable and don't want to change. That's human nature. But occasionally a paradigm shift comes along that forces us into discomfort for a while. Sometimes we can overcome that and OPD was like that for me. Sometimes we just can't or won't. Having experienced the many pedal methods I have to say I really like OPD.
I find using OPD smoothly is no more difficult than using brakes or accelerator smoothly. I don't rely on muscle memory and consider it a detriment unless you're always operating the same vehicle in the same situation.
I simply apply the control inputs to make the machine do what I want. If my input isn't enough, or is too much, I alter it accordingly.
I am in control, not muscle memory. That's not to say I don't have muscle memory, just that I'm not a slave to it or dependant on it. Its certainly useful in split second reaction type situations.
Like the statistical majority (also a statistical fallacy), I consider myself a very good driver and have always found switching vehicles and learning new controls very easy and natural. That has made it non stressful for me to adapt to different cars, manual/auto transmissions, motorcycles, snowmobiles, airplanes, etc. I understand that for some people driving feels less natural and more like something they need to practice practice practice and once they get comfortable they have to put an equal amount into learning the next thing.
I think I feel the same resistance to Telsa's center touchscreen philosophy that others are exhibiting towards OPD. And I admit I could probably adapt to a Cybertruck cabin layout. But I don't want to lol. Similarly, this is probably true for OPD for others.
But GM gave us the option and for this reason multiple driving styles and preferences are successfully accommodated.
You've never driven a stick shift and moved to an automatic. In a hard stop you use both feet in a stick shift. The left foot hits the clutch pedal to the floor - HARD. When you do this in an automatic you end up slamming on the brakes as the brake pedal in most automatics is wide enough to go to where the clutch is in a manual transmission. Muscle memory is what causes this.
my 2LT is the first EV, I was sceptical on OPD and first few days dove with OPD OFF. it does some regeneration, but friction brakes are always in use. Then I tried OPD, did not like it the first half an hour, but forced myself to practice. After couple hours I liked it and now 100% using OPD on HIGH. Friction brakes on reverse only and rarely on the road. Do not care too much on regeneration savings, just love OPD
For a change of pace and to see the other side I've turned off OPD for the rest of the week. It's actually the first time I've driven an Ultium vehicle without OPD.
According to the DIC, all my brake pedal pushing so far has been using regen as opposed to friction. I just haven't braked very hard I suppose.
I will say that GM has done a remarkable job making the brake pedal feel like brakes when it's regenerating; excellent pedal feel and a predictable application curve. It really underscores the point that the Eq Ev drives like a normal car and shouldn't scare an EV neophyte (which includes me) away.
At the end of the week I'll probably put OPD back on high as that seems to be my preference.
According to the DIC, all my brake pedal pushing so far has been using regen as opposed to friction. I just haven't braked very hard I suppose.
I will say that GM has done a remarkable job making the brake pedal feel like brakes when it's regenerating; excellent pedal feel and a predictable application curve. It really underscores the point that the Eq Ev drives like a normal car and shouldn't scare an EV neophyte (which includes me) away.
At the end of the week I'll probably put OPD back on high as that seems to be my preference.
I've owned my Equinox for about three months now. Spent the first two months with OPD off since I'd never had a feature like that before and didn't want to change my driving style. I then noticed that "tips for increasing battery efficiency" included turning on OPD, so I did. And while I love it (after getting used to it) and won't change back, I have seen absolutely no difference in energy efficiency. I haven't tried the "high" setting though because it seems far too sensitive.
Two pedal driving uses way more energy. But ever since I sold my bicycle and bought my Equinox, I have certainly used less energy, but more electricity.
There is only one thing I am still working on with OPD. When I need to hit the brake pedal because I need to slow down faster, there is this awkward deceleration when moving my foot back to the OPD/accelerator pedal. Perhaps I need to try high vs. normal.
There is only one thing I am still working on with OPD. When I need to hit the brake pedal because I need to slow down faster, there is this awkward deceleration when moving my foot back to the OPD/accelerator pedal. Perhaps I need to try high vs. normal.
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