DETROIT, Mich.–Driving electric vehicles (EVs) has come a long way, and it’s getting even more dynamic with drivers in charge of just how much regenerative braking is deployed.
Hyundai has developed an app, for example, that allows owners to easily tinker their electric car’s performance by adjusting how much regenerative braking is in the mix for keeping the battery charged.
The driving experience, as affected by regen braking, is one of the biggest complaints that drivers level against their car when they buy or lease an EV. Varying the affect based on a driver’s preference, even if it compromises overall energy optimization, is considered a valuable point of difference going forward.
Hyundai’s app allows for adjusting seven different car settings, including maximum motor torque, “responsiveness,” the amount of regenerative braking used and even how much energy is used to power the climate control. The app gives drivers specific settings to engage, whether to help conserve battery power for the remainder of a journey or jazz up the car’s sporty character for more fun.
The unique part of Hyundai’s feature to be offered is the app-based feature. In Tesla vehicles, that feature is in the cockpit.
Beyond the driver’s seat, users can share their customization settings online as well as try out other users’ custom settings. Customers can also apply recommended settings by Hyundai based on the condition of roads, from country roads to the city center or mountain ranges.
“As Hyundai Motor Group is planning to deploy 44 eco-friendly models by year 2025, including 23 electric vehicles, we see the potential of technologies and services inherent in non-combustion vehicles,” said research fellow JeongSoo Eo from Hyundai Motor Group. “By developing paradigm-shifting mobility technology like this one, we will continue to strive to improve user experience for electric vehicles customized to individual preferences.”
Hyundai-Kia says it is expecting to deploy the feature on some of the 23 electric vehicles it is launching by 2025.
