I've had my Leaf for a couple of weeks now and I'm figuring out how to best optimize regeneration, since I live on a hill and go downhill to start. It is well known that regeneration is much more effective ECO mode.
1. OK, if the charge is 100%, it doesn't regenerate because the battery is full. OK, makes sense.
2. Unfortunately, if you charge to 80%, it sets 80% as the battery full point, and it still won't regenerate. (EDIT: This is incorrect. What apparently happened is that there was an untimed charge, and when it is untimed it goes to 100%. At 80% charge, 2 bars are gone)
3. OK, now I set it on a timer and leave some portion of the battery uncharged.
3a. 1 bar of battery depletion seems to give 1-2 dots of regeneration when the gas is let up in Eco mode
3b. 2 bars depletion seems to give 2-3 dots of regeneration
3c. 3 bars of depletion seems to give 3-4 dots of regeneration
--I wish regeneration didn't ramp up so slowly. I live on a hill and can use maximal regeneration from the get go...
The Leaf needs a brake mode like the Prius so you can maximally regenerate when you want to slow down...
Toshi
1. OK, if the charge is 100%, it doesn't regenerate because the battery is full. OK, makes sense.
2. Unfortunately, if you charge to 80%, it sets 80% as the battery full point, and it still won't regenerate. (EDIT: This is incorrect. What apparently happened is that there was an untimed charge, and when it is untimed it goes to 100%. At 80% charge, 2 bars are gone)
3. OK, now I set it on a timer and leave some portion of the battery uncharged.
3a. 1 bar of battery depletion seems to give 1-2 dots of regeneration when the gas is let up in Eco mode
3b. 2 bars depletion seems to give 2-3 dots of regeneration
3c. 3 bars of depletion seems to give 3-4 dots of regeneration
--I wish regeneration didn't ramp up so slowly. I live on a hill and can use maximal regeneration from the get go...
The Leaf needs a brake mode like the Prius so you can maximally regenerate when you want to slow down...
Toshi