What’s Regenerative Braking in Electric Vehicles and Hybrids?

If you're interested in buying or leasing an Electric Vehicle (EV) or hybrid, chances are you're going to hear about "regenerative braking." And, if you've never owned an EV before, there's also a chance that the term might sound like some sort of mad science experiment.

But regenerative braking-sometimes shortened to just "regen braking"-is a simple, intuitive process in electrified vehicles that allows them to recharge their batteries as they're driven by harnessing the energy from stopping. It's a key piece of EV technology and helps extend an EV's driving range. These vehicles' powertrains use electromagnetism to propel them, not combustion, and this technology has been developed alongside regenerative braking.

Scientifically, regenerative braking is a simple three-step process:

Kinetic energy is energy created by motion. A footstep, a punch or your brakes being applied to your brake pads-all of these create kinetic energy.

The technology in your EV turns the kinetic energy from braking into electric power. It's similar to how your gas-powered vehicle's alternator helps recharge the battery.

So now you know what regenerative braking is, and which vehicles use it in what way. Let's get into how it benefits you.

It’s not like you can NOT use your brakes when driving. And since regenerative braking harnesses electricity constantly, you’re steadily extending your driving range and EV efficiency. That means fewer stops at the pump or charging station, which means more time spent getting to your next destination—whether that’s a campsite, a jobsite, a hot new restaurant or home for the holidays.

Stopping wears down your braking components bit by bit. But by harnessing the kinetic energy from stopping, regenerative braking helps reduce the amount of wear and tear on your brakes.