Tesla recuperation always good? Therefore brake normally!

One of the great advantages of electric cars, which is immediately noticeable 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 when braking.

This is not only good for the range, but also reduces wear on the 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 huge 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, it was even possible to adjust the strength of 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. Because if brake discs and pads are hardly used, rust builds up, which can significantly reduce the braking effect.

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

You will also notice how quickly rust builds up in 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 compiled a list of other things 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 hard once every few days removes the rust before it can cause much trouble.

It's best to put the brakes in neutral (N) while driving, as recuperation is then switched off and only the normal brakes are used.

With little effort, you can keep the brake discs in good condition - and they 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