I agree, though I would be a bit more subtle and there would be some 'rate detection' function on throttle position because you might be backing off in a normal flow of traffic downhill (maybe Model S already does this). You do need to avoid the highway situation where controlling speed on the pedal in traffic is met with a constant on-off of the brake light to those following you, as that would be confusing and distracting. (Of course, some people actually drive like that! Fortunately quite few!)Rebel44 wrote:I dont see why it would be bad idea - to other drivers its signal that you are slowing down and it doesnt matter if you are using brakes or regen braking....
It would take ages for most drivers to learn that such new light even exist. Current braking lights also dont show any difference between light and heavy braking.donald wrote:I agree, though I would be a bit more subtle and there would be some 'rate detection' function on throttle position because you might be backing off in a normal flow of traffic downhill (maybe Model S already does this). You do need to avoid the highway situation where controlling speed on the pedal in traffic is met with a constant on-off of the brake light to those following you, as that would be confusing and distracting. (Of course, some people actually drive like that! Fortunately quite few!)Rebel44 wrote:I dont see why it would be bad idea - to other drivers its signal that you are slowing down and it doesnt matter if you are using brakes or regen braking....
Ultimately, this could actually be a more informative signal than a regular ICE brake pedal because with an ICE you can be rolling downhill with the brake light lit yet accelerating on light braking, or rolling uphill off throttle and decelerating with no brake light lit.
Some motorcycles and trucks have a similar feature when engine braking - makes sense for an EV, too.JeremyW wrote:AFAIK the Model S brings on the brake lights due to the rate of deceleration (at a certain threshold). There is no need for a different light. If they're stopping, they're stopping, and you should too.
Nice write-up:donald wrote:If you are talking about 'environmental impacts' then give up on discussing having more range.
EVs have a lower lifetime CO2 emission because they 'only' have ~25kWh of battery. Double the emissions for producing a battery twice as large and you wipe out the lifetime CO2 savings compared with an equivalent ICE. If you have to replace a battery twice as large during its lifetime, then you've really destroyed the argument for EVs over ICE, on CO2 grounds.
Ford tried to do that back in the mid 80's when the Taurus/Sable was first introduced. It was called an "InstaClear" windshield: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quickclear" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;DNAinaGoodWay wrote:It's been done before, and is in the MB EV now I believe, but I would like a heated windshield. It would be worth paying for, even as an option. In certain weather conditions, I have to use defrost all the time.
It would be really useful to help melt off snow and ice when I've set a timer to preheat when it's unplugged in the parking lot, before I leave work.