What you have to do to prevent your electric car from having problems with the brakes
What you have to do to prevent your electric car from having problems with the brakes
Regenerative braking is a feature in electric cars that helps recover the energy used during acceleration and slows down the car without using mechanical brakes. That is beneficial for both energy efficiency and brake pads and discs.
However, if regenerative braking is used too much, mechanical brakes are not the brake pads and discs. Therefore, it’s important to use both regenerative braking and mechanical brakes in a balanced way to prevent any problems with the brakes.
Just like our bodies need exercise to stay healthy, the brakes in a car need to be used regularly to stay in good condition. If a car sits idle for a long time, especially in wet conditions, or is only driven gently, the brake discs can develop rust.
That can happen because rust forms on the metal surface of the brake discs when they’re not being used regularly. As a result, when the brakes are applied, they may not work as effectively and can cause safety issues. Therefore, it’s important to drive the car regularly and use it properly to prevent rust from forming on the brake discs.
If the brake discs in a car become rusty or degrade over time, it can lead to a decrease in the car’s braking performance. That means that it will take a longer distance for the car to come to a complete stop, especially in emergencies.
That can be dangerous and put the driver and passengers at risk. In addition to the safety risks, if the brake discs degrade, they will need to be replaced, which can be very expensive, costing hundreds of euros. Therefore, it’s important to take care of the brakes and use them properly to prevent any damage and ensure they work effectively when needed.
Electric cars and their brakes
The problem of brakes losing their effectiveness due to lack of use can happen to all types of cars, whether they’re electric, diesel, or gasoline. However, experts say that electric cars have some unique characteristics that make this problem particularly important to consider.
For example, if an electric car is parked for a long time, the regenerative braking system that’s used to slow down the car and recharge the battery may not be used as much, which can cause the brake pads and discs to lose their effectiveness.
Additionally, electric cars use regenerative braking more frequently than traditional cars, and mechanical brakes are used less often. Over time, this can cause the brakes to degrade and be less effective. Therefore, electric car drivers need to be aware of these issues and take steps to prevent them from happening.
In an electric car, the mechanical brakes are used when the driver presses down hard on the brake pedal. If these brakes are not used often enough, they can become less effective because the brake pads become “sleepy” and don’t develop enough friction. That can happen because the brake pads need to be in contact with the brake discs regularly to maintain their effectiveness.
Therefore, if the mechanical brakes are not used frequently, the brake pads can become less responsive and cause the car to take longer to come to a stop. It’s important to use both the regenerative braking system and the mechanical brakes regularly to keep the brake pads and discs in good condition to prevent this.
Some car manufacturers have chosen to install drum brakes on the rear wheels of electric cars, which have been criticized for being outdated. However, some professionals defend this option precisely because it can help prevent the problem of brake discs becoming oxidized and less effective.
Drum brakes work differently than disc brakes, using brake shoes that press against the inside of a drum to slow down the car. That means that the brake shoes are not exposed to the elements in the same way that brake pads are, which can help prevent oxidation and maintain their effectiveness over time.
While drum brakes may be less common on modern cars, they can be a good option for electric cars that use regenerative braking more frequently and may have issues with the effectiveness of the mechanical brakes over time.
The solution to the problem of brakes losing their effectiveness due to lack of use is quite simple. It’s important to step hard on the mechanical brakes from time to time even if it’s not really necessary, to remove any traces of rust that may be starting to occur. That can help keep the brake pads and discs in good condition and prevent them from degrading over time. By using the brakes regularly, you’ll ensure that they stay responsive and effective, even in emergencies.
It’s a good idea to do this regularly, especially if you don’t use mechanical brakes very often in your driving. By taking this simple step, you can help keep your electric car’s brakes in good condition and ensure your safety on the road.
To keep your electric car’s brakes in good condition, you can follow a simple technique that involves stepping hard on the mechanical brakes from time to time. You can do this by finding a safe place with no traffic, accelerating to a certain speed (it doesn’t have to be very high, and can be 50 or 60 km/h), and then firmly pressing down on the brake pedal.
That will help remove any rust or oxidation that may have accumulated on the brake pads and discs due to lack of use. It’s important to make sure that you’re in a safe location with no other vehicles around when you do this so that you don’t pose a danger to yourself or other drivers.
You’ll help maintain the effectiveness of your car’s brakes and ensure your safety on the road by doing this regularly.
Another way to exercise your electric car’s mechanical brakes is to step on them firmly when you’re approaching a roundabout or a crossroad, and you’re certain that is no car behind you. That can help remove any rust or oxidation that may have accumulated on the brake pads and discs due to lack of use.
However, it’s important to exercise caution and make sure that you’re not putting yourself or other drivers in danger. Always be aware of your surroundings, and only do this when it’s safe to do so by incorporating this into your driving routine, you’ll help keep your electric car’s brakes in good condition and ensure that they remain effective when you need them most.
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