Yes, this can happen in certain conditions. If you go over a bump or if you have wet roads for example, regen can disengage. There are other threads on this if you do a search.
Problem with the regen paddle
Twice today on route to work, when applying the regen paddle on the steering wheel to brake it started to slow the Volt and then "seemingly" let go as though it was not applied at all requiring me to hit the brake pedal quickly. The Volt was not fully charged when this occurred and my foot was off the accelerator and not on the brake. Kind of scary as this hasn't happened in the past. Any ideas? No warning indicators on the driver's information panel.
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"there are other threads on this if you do a search."
I searched some threads and viewed many replies about why one should avoid using Regen, etc. but I could not find a definitive reason for the loss of regen when using the paddle
I searched some threads and viewed many replies about why one should avoid using Regen, etc. but I could not find a definitive reason for the loss of regen when using the paddle
All good, I recalled seeing references in posts, see here..."there are other threads on this if you do a search."
I searched some threads and viewed many replies about why one should avoid using Regen, etc. but I could not find a definitive reason for the loss of regen when using the paddle
So what conditions were you in when you experienced this? Did my couple of examples make sense?If I understand correctly, regen cuts out instantly when traction is lost so you feel a sudden loss of braking and you might at first think your brakes have failed or you're skidding. (this has happened to me on gravel at stop signs) So wouldn't it make sense as suggested above to lock out regen when slowing on snow by putting the selector in N at some point? Sounds like a good plan, but I rarely encounter snow here in S. Cal to test this technique.
Since the paddle produces significant regen, there is a greater chance of breaking the front wheels free and thus activating the ABS...
I searched some threads and viewed many replies about why one should avoid using Regen, etc. but I could not find a definitive reason for the loss of regen when using the paddle
I'm guessing either you slightly let go of the button (I've had that happen before, where I was holding it but moved my finger and it "let go" even though I didn't feel the button un-click), or you went over a bump. Regenerative brakes physically cannot remain active if a wheel loses traction; they have to re-apply after the wheel gains traction again. This is why I normally cover my brake pedal when I use the paddle.
Dry pavement
Bumps or potholes can also activate ABS and disable regen. Was there anything like that?Dry pavement
I too have had this happen, if my fingers relax and let the paddle out ever so slightly, even though its not enough for the physical "un-click" to occur, it does seem to be enough to disengage the electronic switch in the paddle.I'm guessing either you slightly let go of the button (I've had that happen before, where I was holding it but moved my finger and it "let go" even though I didn't feel the button un-click), or you went over a bump.
Driving over bumps also can make the car feel like it momentarily surges forward. I've experienced this in other cars besides the Volt, as well, with their ABS systems. But it feels slightly more pronounced with the Volt's regen.
If your foot is hovering above the accelerator & you ever so slightly & unknowingly touch the accelerator, it will release regen. It took me a while to figure out that was causing it for me.
For sure accelerator pedal input overrides the regen braking. I have also experienced spurious, and unexpected electrical faults during heavy dynamic braking (loss of function on the regen paddle). Perhaps they were resettable instantaneous over current or over voltage faults- I will never know for sure, but other drive systems have similar cut-outs to protect the power electronics from letting the smoke out.
A few times I have caught my foot resting on the gas pedal and a small bump will engage that. A few times it was clearly a system fault/reset as my foot was not on the gas.
A few times I have caught my foot resting on the gas pedal and a small bump will engage that. A few times it was clearly a system fault/reset as my foot was not on the gas.
No, absolutely no obvious stuff like snow, slippery conditions, bumps, letting go of the paddle, fingers relaxing on the paddle, battery fully charged, foot on accelerator, etc. What I am talking about is the regen paddle in the on position with the volt beginning to slow and suddenly "letting go" as if the paddle was not engaged requiring a fast stomp on the break to avoid a catastrophe. And it happened twice today. So I'm going to take it in for a service appt and see what's up. Regretfully it doesn't happen all the time which would make it so much easier to diagnose.Bumps or potholes can also activate ABS and disable regen. Was there anything like that?
That's the kind of feeling I get when I touch the foot brake lightly. It'll release the regen paddle brake. Maybe, you don't realize that you ride the brake, or the accelerator, which seems like it would do the same. A lot of people don't realize that they ride the brake or accelerator. Also, a disturbance in the road surface, as several people have noted, like a bump, will also disengage the paddle. If you're in Mass, then the roads are hellacious!
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