BlackLeaf13
Member
The manual wasn't clear on how to engage B Mode. I was in D Mode and shifted again, left and down. It engaged B Mode. Is it bad for the motor to driving in B Mode all the time?
BlackLeaf13 said:The manual wasn't clear on how to engage B Mode. I was in D Mode and shifted again, left and down. It engaged B Mode. Is it bad for the motor to driving in B Mode all the time?
BlackLeaf13 said:The manual wasn't clear on how to engage B Mode. I was in D Mode and shifted again, left and down. It engaged B Mode. Is it bad for the motor to driving in B Mode all the time?
DaveinOlyWA said:Do u always get the max available regen that way when your foot is off accelerator?
LEAFfan said:DaveinOlyWA said:Do u always get the max available regen that way when your foot is off accelerator?
It pegs the meter and bubbles at 38mph and drops off below that speed.
I'm no expert on either electric motors or the inner guts of the Prius, but I thought the planetary gear in the Prius allowed a second motor/generator to spin much faster than the primary motor/generator when the engine was stopped. My assumption (perhaps incorrect) is that electric motors can't generate as much energy when they are turning slowly. The LEAF has only one motor and its speed, like the speed of the primary motor in the Prius, is always directly synchronized with the speed of the wheels.DaveinOlyWA said:so has to be faster than 38 mph? oh well, that kinda sucks since i can do that manually very easily. my issue is not being able to fill those last bubbles at a lower speed where i believe i could really add to my range and save on my brakes (shooting for 200,000 miles instead of a measly 100,000 miles! )
was hoping B mode was more like it is on the Prius
If by energy you mean power (kW), then you are correct. The LEAF's motor has a fairly flat torque curve from 0 mph to around 30 mph. Power climbs from 0 kW to around 80 kW through those speeds. From 30 mph+, power remains at 80 kW, but torque (and rate of acceleration) falls off.planet4ever said:My assumption (perhaps incorrect) is that electric motors can't generate as much energy when they are turning slowly. The LEAF has only one motor and its speed, like the speed of the primary motor in the Prius, is always directly synchronized with the speed of the wheels.
Dang! You caught me. Yes, of course, I meant power. I guess I have now lost my license to criticize people when they say kW instead of kWh, or vice versa.drees said:If by energy you mean power (kW), then you are correct.
DaveinOlyWA said:LEAFfan said:DaveinOlyWA said:Do u always get the max available regen that way when your foot is off accelerator?
It pegs the meter and bubbles at 38mph and drops off below that speed.
so has to be faster than 38 mph? oh well, that kinda sucks since i can do that manually very easily. my issue is not being able to fill those last bubbles at a lower speed where i believe i could really add to my range and save on my brakes (shooting for 200,000 miles instead of a measly 100,000 miles! )
was hoping B mode was more like it is on the Prius
My experience is that regen braking in ECO is similar to 3rd gear in a 4-speed A/T. B-mode is similar to 2nd gear. No problem taking mountain roads at all in that regard.hyperlexis said:How does the leaf handle mountain driving? Either a newer one with B-mode or an older one or 2013 base S model with only Eco?
The 2011/2012 LEAF is ok on mountain descents but it needed a bit more regen to avoid use of the brake pedal on steep hills. The 2013 with B mode should have improved on that considerably, based on LEAFfan's numbers.hyperlexis said:How does the leaf handle mountain driving? Either a newer one with B-mode or an older one or 2013 base S model with only Eco? I mean is there something in there like a transmission or something that allows for 'engine braking' or would one really just have to ride the brakes going downhill? That would concern me a bit. Anyone experience this? Fortunately I live in a flat area of the country, but if in the future we finally get our highways electrified with fast chargers and one wanted to take a trip.....
Nope, no transmission, and none needed. The equivalent of engine braking comes from the brains in the car converting the motor to a generator. And it is all done electronically without shifting any gears. It takes a while for people to fully grasp the simplicity of the mechanical part of the setup. There are some reduction gears between the motor and the wheels, but no clutch and no gear shifting, ever. If the wheels are moving, the motor is spinning, even if you are in "neutral". If the wheels are moving backwards, the motor is spinning backwards. If you are stopped, the motor is stopped. Period.hyperlexis said:I mean is there something in there like a transmission or something that allows for 'engine braking' or would one really just have to ride the brakes going downhill?
I had the same experience when I was transitioning from the LEAF to the ActiveE. I prefer strong regen now, and heard from many others that feel the same way once they get used to it. I think Nissan should considering turning the brake lights on when deceleration reaches a certain level, no matter how it was achieved (brakes or regen). Have fun with your new 2013.BlackLeaf13 said:So...I've been driving around with B Mode for a few days. The car really slows down when you lift your foot off the accelator. You have to feather the pedal for a smooth transition. The regen seems to be twice as much as regular D mode. I used the brakes less. It was kinda dangerous when cars were following me close. They couldn't tell I was slowing down that quickly without my brakes. I still have to get use to driving in B mode.
For the most part yes, B mode is most useful descending hills. However, you could use it to slow quickly for an upcoming stop instead of using the brake pedal, assuming you teach yourself when to shift in time to make the stop. That's the short answer. The longer answer:LauraA said:I have a new 2013 Leaf (my second Leaf) and I don't really understand B Mode - even after reading these comments. I live in very flat coastal GA. Is it only really useful with hills? Thanks, LauraA
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