EV terms, in plain English
Regenerative braking and one-pedal driving
Regenerative braking slows the car while putting some energy back into the battery. One-pedal driving is a stronger version of the same idea.
An EV can recover some of the energy that would otherwise be lost when you slow down.
When you lift off the accelerator or press the brake, the electric motor can work as a generator. It slows the car and sends some energy back to the battery. This is called regenerative braking, or regen.
Many EVs let you choose how strong the effect feels. A low setting can feel like coasting in a petrol car. A higher setting slows the car more firmly when you lift off.
One-pedal driving uses strong regenerative braking so you can control much of your acceleration and slowing with the accelerator pedal alone. Depending on the vehicle, it may bring the car to a complete stop or leave you to use the brake for the final part.
The normal brakes are still there and must be used whenever you need more stopping power. Regen may also be limited when the battery is full, very cold or unable to accept much more energy.
Why it matters: regen can improve efficiency in stop-start driving and reduce wear on the friction brakes. The feel varies between EVs, so include it in your test drive rather than assuming every one-pedal system works the same way.
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