Hi all, I have watched the YouTube video regarding D and B mode driving and call me stupid but I still don’t know when to use B mode and why don’t you use it all of the time Around town.
The video suggests it’s not efficient to drive in B mode.
I get the longer drive and how B mode would be too aggressive! But why not use it all of the time around town.
If not! Why is it there at all.
Any clearer explanation for a slightly confused old man would be most appreciated. Thanks Steve.
I agree with the emerging consensus - if you are able to drive in D mode without using the brakes much to slow down i.e. by anticipating stops and just using the car's momentum to take you where you need to stop - that is likely the most efficient approach. On the other hand, if you are in stop-start traffic or otherwise find you use the brakes when in D mode then B mode would be better, as it recovers more of the energy stored in th car's movement back into the battery and the brakes will last longer too.
I have got use to B Mode now and use it all the time. It is the most efficient as it reduces actual braking, using the motor instead to slow the vehicle and recovering the energy back to the battery. I guess if I was on a long motorway trip then D may be appropriate but B works fine foe me. Richy
I too wondered why you'd need the 2 modes but I've sussed it now. Use B mode when slower driving to come to a stop quicker, and D when travelling faster as you want the more gentle slowing down. Caveat is that you will need to manually change mode depending on specific circumstances!
Hi, I would suggest a lot of it depends on your driving style and the best way to find out would be to do some comparisons between the two modes to see which one suits you better.
When you have B mode selected and you lift off the accelerator, you will slow down far quicker. If you then need to accelerate again because the car slowed down quicker than you anticipated, you will be using more energy.
If you are not using B mode the vehicle will still regenerate but no where near as aggressive which means you can coast without applying accelerator for far longer.
Do some tests and let us know how you get on :)
Most of my driving is in town and, using only B mode, with careful driving the only time that you need to use the foot brake is to come to a complete stop whereby auto braking ("A" lights up on the dash) holds the car until you need to move off again.
My thoughts too. Looking forward to advice.