Tesla removes all but Hold regenerative braking option to maximize range in light of new EPA test
Tesla just lowered the official range estimates for a number of its electric vehicles in order to reflect the new EPA testing routine as well as improved "comfort and functionality" features that need a bit more juice from the battery than before.
The EPA now requires electric vehicles to be tested in their extreme ride height and acceleration scenarios, then takes the average for its estimates which results in "higher consumption and a slight decrease in overall range," according to Tesla.
As an example of one of its feature changes that are done in order to "display a more accurate, efficient range estimate" comes the recent change in the Stopping Mode options available on Tesla vehicles. All Model 3 and Model Y units produced since the beginning of the year will now default to the Hold stopping mode as the only available option for regenerative braking.
According to Tesla, the Hold mode "maximizes range and reduces brake wear by continuing to provide regenerative braking at speeds lower than with the Creep and Roll settings." The Creep and Roll stopping options will continue being available on older Tesla cars, though, save for the Model X and Model S which never had them in the first place.
It is not a big loss since most drivers are using the Hold mode which provides the best regenerative braking and one-pedal driving experience on their Teslas anyway. Moreover, anything that provides a more accurate range display is a welcome feature, even if that results in a 6% estimate cut - from 330 miles to 310 miles on the Model Y LR - in order to reflect the new EPA testing realities that seem to be more in sync with real world driving scenarios.
Since Tesla is applying all these changes in order to comply with the new Environmental Protection Agency EV range tests, they only affect US vehicles, while in Europe the WLTP cycle numbers haven't budged and neither have those on the overly generous Chinese CLTC cycle.
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