Recuperation: Efficient driving thanks to energy recovery
One word that you often hear, particularly in the area of electric mobility, is “recuperation.” It should contribute to particularly energy-efficient driving. How recuperating brake energy works and how do you electric car Find out here how to drive as sparingly as possible.
What is recuperation? A definition.
Recuperation stands for the recovery of energy that would be lost without this technology. Recuperation, for example, can be used to recover braking energy in order to drive more economically. The word “recuperate” comes from Latin: “recuperare” means “recover” or even “regain.”
Recuperation is receiving particular attention, particularly as a result of the spread of electric mobility. But energy recovery actually takes place not only in e-cars, but also in cars with combustion engines and even in factories.
How does recuperation work in an electric car?
As soon as you start your motor, electrical energy is converted into kinetic energy - i.e. kinetic energy. This ensures that your car starts to drive. Braking creates heat in the brakes and most of the energy is lost as frictional heat — at least in vehicles with internal combustion engines.
It's different with electric cars and hybrid cars: Here, the braking energy is converted and the vehicle's battery (if available) is charged. As part of energy recovery through recuperation, the car brakes sharply as soon as you take your foot off the gas. The kinetic energy drives a generator whose electromotive resistance generates electricity. The electricity generated in this way is fed back into the car's battery and can be used for acceleration.
Recuperation thus enables a familiar driving experience for electric cars: The One pedal driving. Acceleration and braking can be controlled with the accelerator pedal. The mechanical brake is hardly needed anymore. Some cars don't even need it to stop because certain models can recuperate to a standstill. However, in case of emergency braking, you should continue to use the “normal” brake.
Recuperation with various drives
In particular, vehicles with electric motors, whether e-cars, hybrid cars, but also electrically powered trains (electric locomotives and trams), use auxiliary braking - as the generation of braking energy is also known. Here, the electricity generated during braking is fed into the overhead lines.
Recuperation was and is also used in cars with combustion engines. Here, the alternator produces electricity while driving and feeds it into the starter battery.
Good to know:
Heating systems, ventilation systems and factories also use a type of recuperation. The exhaust air heat energy is converted and stored via heat exchangers. Energy can also be recovered in this way.
Can a (plug-in) hybrid recuperate?
The answer: A resounding yes! The principle of recuperation is the same for hybrids.
However, depending on the type of hybrid car, it has a slightly different effect. In the case of plug-in hybrids, it is most comparable to electric cars, as they have a battery that is charged by plugging in the charging cable.
But even a micro-hybrid or a mild hybrid car that has no external charging option benefits from energy recovery. In fact, it's the only way to charge the battery on these models.
For hybrid cars, recuperation means one thing in particular: less consumption, less refueling or charging, and reduced pollutant emissions.
What are the benefits of recovering braking energy in electric and hybrid cars?
We have already mentioned most of the advantages of recuperation in the text above. In summary, drivers benefit from energy recovery through the following effects:
- Energy consumption is reduced: Recuperation charges the car's battery. In the case of pure electric cars, this leads to an increased range, in hybrid cars, the internal combustion engine is supported, which results in lower fuel consumption
- The brakes are spared: The heavy braking as part of recuperation means that you simply need less mechanical brakes. As a result, they last longer and also release less brake dust.
- Less brake dust means, above all, less particulate matter in the air. A plus for air quality, the environment and health
Can I recharge my battery by recuperating?
The dream of many electric car drivers will probably be as follows: Drive off and arrive with a full battery through predictive driving and consistent recuperation.
Unfortunately, this will have to remain a dream. Although recuperation significantly reduces energy consumption, no one is likely to be able to fully recharge a battery. This is because the recuperation capacity of every car is limited to protect the battery. Depending on the lithium-ion battery installed, the recuperation output is 50 to 90 kW.
However: Should your battery run out and the nearest charging station is actually a bit too far away, recuperation can help you still reach the charging option despite the display. Read more about this in our blog:”Battery empty: What now?“
But: How much energy can I really recover through recuperation?
Some sources assume that around 70% of the energy escaping from braking can be recovered as battery charge through recuperation. 30% of braking energy is lost as heat.
This means that a range of around 20-30% can be gained through consistent recuperation. That means simply letting the car sail, because that saves you energy and money.
Can I switch off recuperation in my e-car?
Most e-car drivers quickly get used to one-pedal driving and even find it extremely relaxed. Of course, it is also a matter of getting used to and is the main difference in driving experience compared to a classic combustion vehicle.
If driving only with the gas pedal and with almost no brakes bothers you, you can adjust the degree of recuperation in most e-car models. A lower degree means less braking when the foot is removed from the gas. This is how you get back to the classic driving experience.
However, we would recommend that you leave the recuperation rate set to high, as this is the only way to achieve the highest energy efficiency of your e-vehicle — including the greatest energy saving potential.