Brake Lights with 1-Pedal

[Kiggulak]

I think a lot has changed since the focus EV...

I doubt a EV exists that does not use brake lights on strong regen settings like 1 pedal.

Yeah I have to drive in L on the Focus EV to get stronger regen ... nowhere near 1 - pedal driving level of regen/deceleration in the Lightning. My Chevy Volt doesn't activate the brakes when regen braking either. In-laws tesla model 3 does but now I'm interested in the cruise control behavior in the Tesla.

Sounds like the Mach - E and Lightning have improved behavior but ACC is still lacking. Glad we can get OTA to possibly improve.

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[frautumn]

the brake lights only activate if the brake pedal is pressed, or the 1-pedal activates the brakes itself - there is no brake lights for any 'regeneration' deceleration, since the brakes are not engaged - you are just slowing down.

This is definitely not true in my Lightning (and I assume mine is representative of all). The brake lights wrap around enough that it's very easy to see the lights come on in your sideview mirror. Put it in 1PD and try it. The brakes are not activating during this time, it's purely regenerative (that's the whole point of 1PD, it always gets a perfect braking score).

 

[Blainestang]

Brake lights don't activate when I down shift either.

While I do agree it would be great to have some sort of indicator for deceleration (heck I would even like a coasting indicator) it has never exited before and is part of what is expected of the operator.

You're right, but I would say most engine braking is a lower deceleration rate than regen, but it really depends on the car in both cases. People using a high level of engine braking to slow down is also much more rare than heavy regen in an EV mode designed to use just 1 pedal. Regen in the VW eGolf and Leafs I drove was very weak. Regen in the i3 was much stronger, and it lit the brake lights at a certain level of deceleration. I think most new EVs have pretty strong regen available, depending on mode.

If the Lightning has significant regen, it should automatically light the taillights, IMO, because it's the right way to do it, even if technically they could put the onus on the driver.

 

[VTbuckeye]

The European requirements are based on acceleration. At a certain level 1.2m/s they (brake lights) shall activate. 0.6m/s to 1.2m/s they may activate. US requirements are that brake lights shall activate when the brake pedal is activated. They may activate if a particular level of acceleration is detected (I think that Chevy uses 0.3g if my memory is correct from my volt/bolt ownership). Apparently it is not a requirement (it should be) rbs (regenerative brake system) is part of the service brake system and when service brake system is activated (including the rbs) the lights will activate. However, if rbs is activated by means other than the service brake system activation????? Nhtsa does not seem to account for one pedal driving.

Interestingly: "Service brakes shall be operated by means of a foot control". It does not say that it must only be by means of a foot control. And technically stepping off the accelerator with your foot is "foot control".

 

[IdeaOfTheDayCom]

I have never driven behind my Lightning, but I drive behind my wife's Mach-E fairly often. She does not use one-petal so that might be a different story, but I do find it curious that adaptive cruise control most definitely does NOT use brake lights. And I thought it odd. I was following behind my wife's Mach-E in heavy traffic and noticed as ACC brought her to a complete stop in traffic with not even a flicker from the brake lights.

I was in traffic later that week behind another Mach-E and that one did the exact same thing. Kinda dangerous I think. Particularly with how aggressively ACC can slow a vehicle down if it wants to.

Has anyone else experienced this?

YES... and I think it may be why somebody once hit my Mach-E from behind!

I was at a red light and the adaptive cruise control was on, and so is the hold on stop option, which I love because it lets me rest my leg after coming to a complete stop.

The light turned green and I took a second to react, but out of the blue, somebody hit me from behind. There was only minor damage, but I still wonder whether my brake light was off and he thought I was starting to move.

 

[Maquis]

YES... and I think it may be why somebody once hit my Mach-E from behind!

I was at a red light and the adaptive cruise control was on, and so is the hold on stop option, which I love because it lets me rest my leg after coming to a complete stop.

The light turned green and I took a second to react, but out of the blue, somebody hit me from behind. There was only minor damage, but I still wonder whether my brake light was off and he thought I was starting to move.

Let me get this straight. You’re sitting perfectly still and someone rear-ends you. And the problem is your brake lights!?!?!?

 

[IdeaOfTheDayCom]

Let me get this straight. You’re sitting perfectly still and someone rear-ends you. And the problem is your brake lights!?!?!?

As with all rear end accidents, it's 100% his fault either way. I was definitely stopped.

He didn't speak English well, so I couldn't ask him what made him hit the pedal, but I kept wondering if he thought I took my foot off the brake. In reality, I didn't have my foot on either pedal, but I still wonder if that brake light was lit because the only reason I was at a stop was that the adaptive cruise control kicked in.

 

[Skidrowe]

The brake light on my Energica pulses when it's slowing down due to regen and then goes solid red when the brakes are applied. I think they got the idea from Formula 1.

 

[shadycoh]

if you have the brake hold engaged then even with your foot off thge brake your lights are on

 

[Ken]

found this thread since I picked the truck up this morning and have been driving in traffic with 1 pedal on. LIke it, but worry as to whether I'm telling the people behind me that I'm slowing down. I'll have to check the mirror to see. Where's the setting for brake hold? On my GL350 you push the brake in at the stop

 

[Maquis]

found this thread since I picked the truck up this morning and have been driving in traffic with 1 pedal on. LIke it, but worry as to whether I'm telling the people behind me that I'm slowing down. I'll have to check the mirror to see. Where's the setting for brake hold? On my GL350 you push the brake in at the stop

With 1PD engaged, brake hold is automatic. The friction brakes engage when you stop and release when you press the go pedal.
The brake lights work fine. You’ll be able to tell for sure when driving at night.

 

[frautumn]

The brake lights work fine. You’ll be able to tell for sure when driving at night.

I can easily see when the rear brake lights go on while driving, just look in your sideview mirror, the brake lights wrap around enough that it's pretty easy to see when they go on/off.

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