The explosion of electric vehicles has brought on a surge of innovation with every manufacturer looking to get an edge, it seems like there is a new technology to learn about every week. The Nissan ‘e-Pedal’ is one such innovation, combining several technologies unique to electric vehicles together in such a way that makes the driving experience more convenient. So what is the Nissan e-Pedal, and how does it work?
What is the Nissan e-Pedal?
The Nissan e-Pedal removes the need for a brake pedal, in much the same way that an automatic transmission removes the need for a clutch pedal. It allows the driver to accelerate and decelerate with just the one pedal. Simply put, you press the pedal to go, and you release the pedal to stop.
Of course, conventional cars work like this to a point—if you lift your foot off of the accelerator in a regular internal combustion engine vehicle, it will slow down. Where the Nissan Leaf e-Pedal differs is in the fact that it actively brakes as you release the pedal.
How does the Nissan e Pedal work?
When activated, the Nissan Leaf e-Pedal is much stiffer than usual, and will respond more rapidly to being released than a typical accelerator pedal. If this weren’t the case, the driver would probably be lurching all over the place when stopping and starting—not getting the smooth acceleration/deceleration that Nissan promise.
The car achieves its braking through a mixture of regenerative braking and conventional hydraulic brakes, allowing it to achieve a smooth deceleration initially, while still coming to a complete stop when needed. The Leaf will also hold on hills if you lift your foot off of the pedal.
Lifting your foot off of the Nissan e Pedal while the vehicle is in motion will cause the brake lights to illuminate as though you were actively pressing the brake pedal. This may cause drivers behind you to wonder what on earth is going on as you get used to the pedal, but that’s infinitely preferable to catching them unawares when you slow down or stop.
Regenerative Braking?
Regenerative braking happens when the vehicle harvests the kinetic energy of the moving car to generate electricity and charge the battery. Energy transfer isn’t free, and the creation of electrical charge slows the vehicle down. This is a good reason to use the e-Pedal, as it gives your batteries a little charge back whenever you slow down.
The energy used to get the car moving in the first place came from the batteries, and no energy transfer is 100% efficient, so regenerative braking is a way to prolong the charge in your vehicle, but you will still need to charge it up, no matter how much braking you do.
What is the Nissan e-Pedal Like to Drive?
Like any sufficiently new technology, it takes a bit of getting used to. Many first-time users of the e Pedal find that the braking power exerted by the car when releasing the Nissan e Pedal is much stronger than they expected. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long to adjust your driving, and you soon get a feel for how the car reacts to your input. It soon becomes possible to drive the Leaf for long journeys without ever needing the brake pedal (which the Leaf does have if you want to use it).
It is also worth noting that the Nissan e Pedal is not your only option. It can be switched on and off through the car’s controls, allowing you to use the accelerator and brake pedals in the conventional manner. You do however lose out on the regenerative braking functionality.
Conclusions
The relentless march of technological progress continues in the automotive industry, with electric vehicles providing an entirely new realm for manufacturers to innovate in. Nissan’s latest contribution to this market is an exciting one that could well change the way we drive cars, and it will be interesting to see how other manufacturers respond.
