One-pedal driving is one of the most talked-about aspects of owning an electric vehicle and one of the most misunderstood. Here is a plain-English explanation of what it is, how it works, and what to expect the first time you try it.
What it is
One-pedal driving describes a driving style where the accelerator pedal does almost all the work both accelerating and decelerating without the driver needing to press the brake pedal for most slowing and stopping.
You accelerate by pressing the pedal. You slow down and often come to a complete stop by simply lifting off it.
How it works
When you lift off the accelerator in an EV with strong regenerative braking, the motor switches into generator mode using the vehicle's momentum to generate electricity, which is fed back into the battery.
This resistance is what slows the car. The stronger the regen setting, the more aggressively the vehicle slows when you lift off.
On vehicles where regen is strong enough, this braking force is sufficient to bring the car to a complete stop meaning the physical brake pedal is only needed for emergency stops or very precise low-speed manoeuvring.
What it feels like
The first time you experience strong regen, it feels unusual lifting off the accelerator and having the car slow noticeably is not what decades of petrol driving has conditioned you to expect.
Most drivers find it feels natural within a few miles and preferable within a few days. Anticipating stops and planning ahead becomes instinctive. Fuel consumption or energy consumption improves, because you are recovering energy rather than wasting it as heat in the brakes.
Do you have to use it?
No. Most EVs allow you to adjust regen strength some down to almost zero, giving a more conventional coasting feel. And the physical brakes work exactly as they always have.
One-pedal driving is an option, not a requirement. But most EV drivers who try it choose to keep it.
