Use e-pedal to reduce physical brake wear?

[apara]

Hello everyone,

I read many threads on using an e-pedal, but most discuss battery efficiency/range. So, I stopped using e-pedal and switched to using B-Mode in the city and D-Mode on the freeway with ECO mode always enabled. What I am curious about is if e-pedal helps preserve the physical brake due to possibly more aggressive regen settings? Yeah, it's great to get additional range, but the cost of replacing brakes will likely overshadow any energy savings (assumption).

So, if I am not concerned about maximizing the range, would an e-pedal reduce physical brake wear?

 

[henrydehoja]

Yes, using e-pedal helps reduce brake wear.

I have been using e-pedal for 6 years and approx. 32,000 miles now, with rarely using the brakes. Since learning to drive, my son has also been using my car for the last 2 years now, but he doesn't like using e-pedal so he drives "regular" (w/ brakes).
My car's brakes are still in great condition and have never been replaced. And I have no problems getting sufficient range for my driving needs.

 

[Cameron]

I'm happy to be corrected, but IIRC, e-pedal uses regen and brakes.

 

[cdherman]

Regular D mode uses regen pretty much exclusively as long as you are a careful driver. B mode starts regen braking the moment you let off the accelerator pedal. It sort of corrects for lead foot drivers that forget to engage the mild regen braking early when they see a traffic slow down or light in the distance.

D mode can be the most efficient IF you are aware of traffic conditions, always trying to coast or regen to a stop. Its the driver that engages the friction brakes -- by being a lead foot until its too late and then needing to slam on the brakes.

 

[Drew21]

As mentioned above, it all comes down to how you drive. My ICE car has 123K miles. I did the first brake pad replacement on the front at approximately 115K miles, and that was only because one of the calipers stuck and chewed up an inside pad before I noticed the dragging brake. The front rotors are still fine. The rear brake drums are still well within tolerance and I'm still using the original brake shoes which have over 1/2 of their original thickness.

When we got our 2014 Leaf a few years ago it had 62K miles and rust-encrusted brake rotors that were bad enough that they had cut grooves into the brake pads. Less than half of the brake pad surface was engaging with a smooth area of the rotor. So, if you live in a salt state like I do it's sort of a use it or lose it proposition. I spent extra for fully coated rotors and nice brake pads and so far they seem to be holding up well, but if you're a non-aggressive and anticipatory driver your brake rotors/pads should last a long time, even in a heavier (for a small car) vehicle like a Leaf.

 

[Babs3204]

I've seen it listed multiple different places that e-pedal only engages the friction brakes at the last minute to fully stop the car and hold it in place but while I was using it for a while after getting the car it seemed like I was getting a bit of break dust build up on the wheels and that never happens in the hybrid that we have so I started using B mode sometimes and D and managing it myself.

 

[hradek]

I used e-pedal because I am older and it think it might make me a safer driver. I don't have a clue how much braking is applied but I rarely use the brake pedal. Only time will really give some indication with the need for brake pads?

 

[bojoho]

Apara,
In my 2018 Nissan leaf , the ePedal mode activates the friction brakes quite a bit more than I do when I use B mode alone. EPedal gives me worse range, lower efficiency than B mode alone. That being said, it just depends on ones driving style. With either mode, your brakes will likely last much longer than any gas car (life of car? Depending on conditions). Anticipating your stops early and allowing the Regen to start early with your stops is more important than which mode you choose.

In my opinion, E pedal will lead to faster wear of brake pads compared to B mode for the average Leaf driver.

 

[henrydehoja]

I'm happy to be corrected, but IIRC, e-pedal uses regen and brakes.

That depends on the road & driving conditions.
Under normal conditions, e-pedal uses the motor -- not the brakes -- for slowing down; the brakes are automatically applied when the car comes to a full stop.
Under low-traction conditions (e.g. slippery roads, worn tires, etc.), e-pedal uses the motor & may use brakes for slowing down.

You can learn more on how the e-pedal works from the link below.
https://www.nissan-global.com/EN/INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY/ARCHIVE/E_PEDAL/

There are also lots of threads on this forum on the e-pedal subject.

 

[countryleaf]

My experience is similar to @bojoho. E-pedal uses the brakes quite a bit. Example, when going down a steep hill, e-pedal will apply the brakes when removing foot from the accelerator if the car is not slowing down. In B mode it will go to maximum regeneration even if the car is slowly speeding up.

 

[Bobjenkins]

What is B mode exactly . Why would I use it ? Have never used it in 5 years.

 

[hradek]

My experience is similar to @bojoho. E-pedal uses the brakes quite a bit. Example, when going down a steep hill, e-pedal will apply the brakes when removing foot from the accelerator if the car is not slowing down. In B mode it will go to maximum regeneration even if the car is slowly speeding up.

"Easing off the accelerator pedal creates a deceleration force (max 0.2G) comparable to stepping on the brake pedal. Thanks to its precise electronic motor management, the e-Pedal system can even deliver smooth automated deceleration while traveling downhill." Hard to know if comparable means equal to or similar. Motor management implies similar, brake managements implies equal. I only use e-pedal. I will publish when I need my first brake pads change. I would like to know if anyone on the list has changed their brake pads, how many miles and how much they used e-pedal.
from

henrydehoja​

You can learn more on how the e-pedal works from the link below.
https://www.nissan-global.com/EN/INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY/ARCHIVE/E_PEDAL/

 

[Ancient1]

This has been covered quite well in other feeds (see Similar Threads, below) but is apparently a subject of considerable interest. Since I don't care for a car that "coasts", I like the slight deceleration I get in B range. In the 5 years I have had my Leaf, it has always been in B and Eco. Sure, driving in D and no Eco will give you all the power the car is capable of, but as far as I am concerned, that only leads to faster tire wear, and probably brake wear too. B and Eco works just fine for my needs. In the last couple of years, I have also started using E-pedal more and more, as I like being able to ease up to a stop without using the brakes. I don't see any difference in efficiency, and I like the feeling of control it provides.

 

[DavidMW]

I was puzzled by B mode in the early days of owning a Leaf. If you pull the 'gear lever' towards you it toggles between D and B mode. In B mode you get a moderate degree of regenerative braking (which doesn't happen in D mode). However, if the battery is nearly full - say 95% plus - there is no effect because you can't charge a full battery!
Regarding the ePedal, it's quite difficult to know to what extent the friction brakes are used, and I'm inclined to the view that they only come into play as you're finally coming to a halt.
My experience has been that economy suffers to some extent when using the ePedal and I think this is because the regenerative braking effect can be unnecessarily strong, unless you're very subtle when taking your foot off.
I do find the ePedal useful when in slow moving traffic, but I don't use it in fast-moving traffic.

 

[gcsnb]

Using epedal all the time wasn't recommended by my nissan dealer as all my brakes were seized for not being used. I make a point now of " exercising " the brakes occasionally and don't use epedal

 

[hradek]

Using epedal all the time wasn't recommended by my nissan dealer as all my brakes were seized for not being used. I make a point now of " exercising " the brakes occasionally and don't use epedal

Does this not suggest that e-pedal applies little braking? I bet your nissan dealer would not put that in writing but useful information in wet climates.