Electric cars & maybe Hybrids?

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Electric cars & maybe Hybrids?

Ffoxy

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So... there are moves afoot to have the brake light come on when you take your foot off the "Go" pedal rather than when you press the brake pedal on Electric & maybe Hybrid cars (in electric mode)!

Due to the braking effect created by regenerative charge systems...

Watch out when you're following one of those bad boyz!
 
seems a bit stupid, unless the regenerative braking is such that it is substantially quicker than slowing in a normal car in gear and no throttle, and is it not wastefull having to constantly keep your foot on the go pedal to maintain speed, if say coming upto red traffic lights...
 
It has been done before. If the computer sensed the accelerator was suddenly released (like you are about to hit the brake peddle in an emergency) the brake lights would come on. This gave the driver behind a fraction of a second more warning which in turn reduces stopping distances/rear end shunts.
 
When I was last at Blackpool Pleasure (?) Beach, about 25 years ago, they had little petrol go-karts that operated on the same principle. Don't know how easily that would transfer to a road vehicle though - just a matter of getting used to it I guess
 
It's the legislation that gets in the way of implementing an effective brake light system to work in tandem with regenerative braking.

It has already been said that dropping a cog or two and leaving your foot off the accelerator can have a dramatic deceleration effect. In my opinion, the problem with brake lights is that they are either on or off, there is no indication of the severity with which the car is braking. If I had things my way, the brakelights in the light clusters would be either on or off depending on the brake pedal. However, I would make the high-level light as one long LED light bar, controlled by a decelerometer, programmed such that more LEDs are lit the more intense the braking (or other means of slowing down). By having two seperately activated systems, you increase the reliability of the system, as well as indicating deceleration by other methods (including regenerative), and giving the driver behind an indication of how hard to brake. Would stop most of the suicide braking on the outer lane of the M6 for sure.

Now of course, my idea would never pass legislation, that's why I am happy to air it publically since it would never make me any money.
 
It's the legislation that gets in the way of implementing an effective brake light system to work in tandem with regenerative braking.

It has already been said that dropping a cog or two and leaving your foot off the accelerator can have a dramatic deceleration effect. In my opinion, the problem with brake lights is that they are either on or off, there is no indication of the severity with which the car is braking. If I had things my way, the brakelights in the light clusters would be either on or off depending on the brake pedal. However, I would make the high-level light as one long LED light bar, controlled by a decelerometer, programmed such that more LEDs are lit the more intense the braking (or other means of slowing down). By having two seperately activated systems, you increase the reliability of the system, as well as indicating deceleration by other methods (including regenerative), and giving the driver behind an indication of how hard to brake. Would stop most of the suicide braking on the outer lane of the M6 for sure.

Now of course, my idea would never pass legislation, that's why I am happy to air it publically since it would never make me any money.

My brother came up with that exact idea about 13 years ago - I remember as it was when I passed my test. He also wondered if it would work with a strobe effect - the faster the lights flash, the harder the braking.

We also realised, just as you did, that this idea would never pass legislation. It's a shame really. I think these are good ideas and should be investigated.
 
I must have saw a hybrid mondeo taxi today because he kept bloody breaking for no reason!

Just typical Ford wiring ;)

Was following an escort van last night. Exactly the same :p

It's the legislation that gets in the way of implementing an effective brake light system to work in tandem with regenerative braking.

It has already been said that dropping a cog or two and leaving your foot off the accelerator can have a dramatic deceleration effect. In my opinion, the problem with brake lights is that they are either on or off, there is no indication of the severity with which the car is braking. If I had things my way, the brakelights in the light clusters would be either on or off depending on the brake pedal. However, I would make the high-level light as one long LED light bar, controlled by a decelerometer, programmed such that more LEDs are lit the more intense the braking (or other means of slowing down). By having two seperately activated systems, you increase the reliability of the system, as well as indicating deceleration by other methods (including regenerative), and giving the driver behind an indication of how hard to brake. Would stop most of the suicide braking on the outer lane of the M6 for sure.

Now of course, my idea would never pass legislation, that's why I am happy to air it publically since it would never make me any money.

I remember seeing at the tomorrows world live event (god that was years ago) an invention to be fitted to cars, where the 3rd brake lights brightness would increase the harder a brake pedal was pressed. That was impressive.

As some have said, alot of modern cars flash the hazzards, or even brake lights in the case of the new Corsas, but only if ABS kicks in. So no good if it doesn't kick in due to cars wheels not locking (n)
 
As some have said, alot of modern cars flash the hazzards, or even brake lights in the case of the new Corsas, but only if ABS kicks in. So no good if it doesn't kick in due to cars wheels not locking (n)

surely though, you'd be aware of brake lights, and judge how hard they're stopping even without lights to flash and tell you? :confused: anyway hazards flashing is only suitable for motorways when there's a hazard! flashing brake lights is questionable!
 
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surely though, you'd be aware of brake lights, and judge how hard they're stopping even without lights to flash and tell you? :confused: anyway hazards flashing is only suitable for motorways when there's a hazard! flashing brake lights is questionable!

Motorway. 70mph (of sticking to speed limit), approaching a shockwave, not always clear that cars have practically stopped. (n)
 
but surely once you've experienced it once, you know to watch out for. just fed up of silly devices restricting peoples thinking when it comes to cars, round here where the police seem to do **** all to traffic, lights are not relyed on, i ALWAYS see at least one car with brake lights out, same with fog lights. what if the hazards come on whenever the brake is pushed or something create even more problems, just think that more electric "help" is going to breed many people who shouldn't be driving being allowed to drive.
 
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