One-Pedal Driving and Brake Stuff

[Badleroybrown]

I’m super curious about the one-pedal driving mode on the Polestar 2! When does it kick in the mechanical brakes instead of just relying on regen braking? Anyone got the scoop or some experience with this? How can you tell when those mechanical brakes are actually in action?

 

[Cars90]

Hey there! The one-pedal driving mode on the Polestar 2 is pretty cool!
It primarily uses regenerative braking to slow down the car, but there are certain conditions when the mechanical brakes will go on:
On quick stops - whenever you need to stop faster than normal, like when you are approaching an intersection. In that moment the regen braking isn't enough to slow you down, so the mechanical brakes go on.
Or on low battery - when you have lower energy, the regen braking is limited. The mechanical brakes will take over to bring more stopping power.
You can tell when those mechanical brakes are in action when you feel a distinct difference in braking force and a change in pedal feel. If you have driven a car with a traditional braking system, then it is easy to notice the difference. Does it help?

 

[Lbutera036]

I’m super curious about the one-pedal driving mode on the Polestar 2! When does it kick in the mechanical brakes instead of just relying on regen braking? Anyone got the scoop or some experience with this? How can you tell when those mechanical brakes are actually in action?

Here’s the Owner’s Manual for additional reference. Hope it helps!

 

[papasMurf]

The brake lights only come on when you press the brake pedal. The system is smart. It uses regen first, then the brakes. You can see it on the dash. Polestar does a great job with this. Not all car companies do.

 

[sherwin143!]

Look, this one-pedal driving thing doesn't mean you never use the brakes. You'll still use the regenerative brakes most of the time. You really have to brake hard before the regular brakes even kick in.

 

[BaileyDrivesCar]

One-pedal driving on the Polestar 2 is definitely a cool feature but Regen braking is what slows you down most of the time in one-pedal mode, converting kinetic energy back into electricity. (Geek mode)

The mechanical brakes kick in when you need more stopping power, like in a hard stop or when regen isn't enough at very low speeds.

It can be tricky to tell exactly when the mechanical brakes are engaging, but a good clue is if you feel the car slowing down more sharply than usual, or if you hear a slight squeal or feel a subtle change in pedal feel. Basically, if you're stopping smoothly and gently, it's probably mostly regen, if you're braking harder, the mechanical brakes are likely helping out.