Tesla recuperation always good? Therefore brake normally!

One of the great advantages of electric cars, which you notice immediately when driving a Tesla, is the so-called recuperation. The vehicle uses its electric motor as a kind of generator to convert kinetic energy into electrical energy. Or in short: the battery is charged during braking.

This is not only good for the range, but also reduces the wear on conventional brake discs and makes so-called "one-pedal driving", i.e. driving without pressing the brake pedal, possible. 

But is it a good idea to rely solely on recuperation and never use the mechanical brakes? Find out in this article.

Tesla recuperation: efficiency is increased

Another enormous advantage of recuperation is its environmental friendliness. If energy that has already been used for movement can be recovered as soon as the movement is to be slowed down, the efficiency of the vehicle increases. This describes what percentage of the energy used can actually be converted into forward motion.

In the past, you could even set the strength of the Tesla recuperation, but unfortunately this is no longer possible. Nevertheless, the efficiency of electric vehicles is significantly higher than that of combustion engines, not least because of recuperation - and the less energy is wasted, the more beneficial this is for the environment.

Tesla brakes: only recuperation is harmful in the long term 

However, the use of recuperation does not only have advantages. The low wear on the brakes is also the Achilles heel of the technology, so to speak. This is because if brake discs and pads are hardly used, rust builds up, which can significantly reduce the braking effect. 

If you need more braking force than recuperation alone can provide, for example in an emergency stop, this can have fatal consequences. 

You will also notice how quickly rust sets in during the winter or in wet weather. If you park the car in the evening after a journey, you will notice in the morning that the handbrake is difficult to release - it has rusted shut. We have put together what else you can look out for in winter here.

How to protect the Tesla brake 

Luckily, it is very easy to prevent the brakes from rusting: You just use them. Braking once every few days removes the rust before it can cause much trouble. 

It is best to engage neutral (N) for braking while driving, as recuperation is then switched off and only the normal brake is used. 

With little effort, you can keep your brake discs in good condition - and they will look better too. 

To help you keep wear and tear on the rest of your Tesla to a minimum, Teslabs has all kinds of accessories for protection and care.

Source contribution image: Robin van Greenen via Unsplash