The concept of a front brake light has been floating around the automotive industry for some time now. However, no vehicle manufacturer has yet embraced the idea and turned it into a reality on the
Every couple weeks or so I seem to find myself behind someone that’s always either accelerating, or braking, with the brake lights repeatedly flashing on momentarily for no apparent reason.
In many EVs and Hybrids the “letting off the accelerator” engages the regeneration drag which slows the car. A number of vehicle makers with particularly aggressive drag (which gets higher regen rates) automatically illuminate the brake lights. So if you’re behind one of these it will look like they are braking when they may have no foot on any pedal (brake or accelerator).
I just got a Chevy Volt and when I let up off the accelerator it will start the regen and significantly decrease my speed. I assume that my brake lights are coming on because so far no one has rear-ended me or yelled at me for not having brake lights. I wish there was a good way to tell for sure though. I think it’s Hyundai that does not engage the brake lights for situations like this, as I’ve about hit one before.
I was curious if anyone had actually tested it or not, and I found the video above where they get right into it, without any intros or family history or begging to like & subscribe… just a short video where they test it and find that, YES!, the brake lights do come on when you use the steering wheel paddle brake or when you’re in L gear and take your foot off the accelerator.
In many EVs and Hybrids the “letting off the accelerator” engages the regeneration drag which slows the car. A number of vehicle makers with particularly aggressive drag (which gets higher regen rates) automatically illuminate the brake lights. So if you’re behind one of these it will look like they are braking when they may have no foot on any pedal (brake or accelerator).
thanks for this information. Next time i see this I won’t be confused
I just got a Chevy Volt and when I let up off the accelerator it will start the regen and significantly decrease my speed. I assume that my brake lights are coming on because so far no one has rear-ended me or yelled at me for not having brake lights. I wish there was a good way to tell for sure though. I think it’s Hyundai that does not engage the brake lights for situations like this, as I’ve about hit one before.
I don’t think they illuminate the brake lights, hence my comment. Technology connections has talked about this, although IDK which video it was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F4iyghT-qA
I was curious if anyone had actually tested it or not, and I found the video above where they get right into it, without any intros or family history or begging to like & subscribe… just a short video where they test it and find that, YES!, the brake lights do come on when you use the steering wheel paddle brake or when you’re in L gear and take your foot off the accelerator.
Here’s the technology connections test/analysis from 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0YW7x9U5TQ
The claim is we need more comprehensive regulation for brake/slow down lights.