# New energy saving car??

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-energy-saving-car/73889>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 26, 2001, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-energy-saving-car/73889 "2001-07-26T19:37:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 3

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**Author:** ![sewalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@sewalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sewalk)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2001, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-energy-saving-car/73889/3 "2001-07-26T20:35:50Z")

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In a word:No. Just like the good doctor said, but in a very subtle way, yes. Most, if not all, current electric designs use regenerative braking meaning that electrical energy is generated by braking and routed back into the battery. This lets you recapture _some_ of the enrgy used to propel the car. Obviously, you still need some large power source for getting the car in motion, climbing hills, and overcoming friction.

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