Regenerative Braking Systems in Electric Vehicles
Summary
Regenerative braking systems capture kinetic energy during vehicle deceleration and convert it into electrical energy for storage in the traction battery. By blending electric motor actuation with traditional friction brakes, these systems can recover up to 30 per cent of the energy otherwise dissipated as heat, thereby extending driving range and reducing overall energy consumption. Modern implementations employ advanced control algorithms to allocate braking torque between the electric machine and hydraulic or mechanical brakes, ensuring both energy efficiency and passenger safety. Key factors such as vehicle speed, battery state of charge and temperature, and driver braking intent are continuously monitored to optimise energy recuperation without compromising stability. As electric vehicle adoption grows worldwide, regenerative braking has emerged as a critical technology for lowering operational costs, cutting urban emissions and enhancing grid resilience through vehicle-to-grid integration.
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Regenerative Braking Systems in Electric Vehicles publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in regenerative braking systems in electric vehicles across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Regenerative braking system: A mechanism that converts vehicle kinetic energy into electrical energy during deceleration for storage in the battery.
Brake-by-wire: An electronic braking architecture that replaces mechanical or hydraulic linkages with sensors, actuators and electrical signals for force transmission.
State of charge (SOC): The current charge level of a battery expressed as a percentage of its total capacity, influencing regenerative efficiency.
I-curve: The idealised distribution curve defining the optimal partitioning of braking force between front and rear axles to maintain stability and maximise energy recovery.
References
- Evaluation of regenerative braking based on single-pedal control for electric vehicles. Frontiers of Mechanical Engineering (2019).
- Review on the Development, Control Method and Application Prospect of Brake-by-Wire Actuator. Actuators (2020).
- A Survey of Brake-by-Wire System for Intelligent Connected Electric Vehicles. IEEE Access (2020).
- Energy Recovery Strategy Based on Ideal Braking Force Distribution for Regenerative Braking System of a Four-Wheel Drive Electric Vehicle. IEEE Access (2020).
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