Wouldn't that basically require a "coasting" stop?
City driving would require conventional brakes that could add nothing but dust and heat.
Wouldn't that basically require a "coasting" stop?
City driving would require conventional brakes that could add nothing but dust and heat.
An electric motor turned into a generator (under braking) can take a serious amount of horsepower to turn. Easily enough to lock up the tires if it has any amount of power as a motor at all (And I wouldn't own one that didn't). You can get more braking than you need, especially at around town speeds.
This is one of the reasons why a prius gets better mpg in the city than on the highway.
--Wouldn't that basically require a "coasting" stop? City driving would require conventional brakes that could add nothing but dust and heat.--
Electrical motors can generate tremendous torque; similarly, electrical generators can require tremendous torque to turn. This torque can be used to slow the car in a manner similar to friction brakes.