I have a BMW i3 that I quite like but I’m thinking of moving to something with better range so I’ve been on a couple test drives. In the i3 you put your foot on the brake, press start, put it in drive, let off the brake and nothing happens until you press on the accelerator. But in the two cars I’ve test driven so far (Vauxhall Mokka and Hyundai Kona) when you let off the brake the car would creep forward like a regular petrol/diesel automatic transmission car would. Similarly with the regenerative braking, the i3 will come to a complete stop without using the brake pedal but the two cars I’ve tested require active braking to stop.
So the question - which electric car do you have, and does it behave like the i3, the other two, or something else? And if you’ve experienced both, which behaviour do you think is better?
I have a Kia Niro and it will generally creep forward like an ICE car, depending on what mode it’s in and how you stopped. 99% of the time I have it in ‘Eco mode’*, I’ve found that if I come to a stop with the brake pedal, it will creep forward when I take my foot off the brake. If I come to a stop using the steering wheel paddle, it’ll remain stopped until I push the gas (and even without ever touching the brake pedal, I can see the brake lights reflecting off the car behind me).
As for which is better, it doesn’t make a whole lot of difference to me. I typically use the brake pedal to stop because it’s more reliable (as far as where, exactly, I’ll stop), so I’m used to having my foot on the brake. But at the same time, I come from a lifetime of driving stick shift vehicles, so I’m also used to, when conditions are right, being able to have the car at a stop without my foot on the brake.
*The other modes may or may not act similarly. I don’t use them because I’m so used to this mode and the car takes off like an 'effin rocket in Normal or Sport mode.
I have a 2019 Hyundai Kona EV. When regen is at set to full, coming to a stop with the paddle will leave the car stopped without a foot on the pedal.
There is a button on the center console that will prevent creep when stopped at a lower regen level or with the pedal, but I don’t ever used that. I would prefer a no-creep behaviour in all stopped conditions.
I’ve got a Mach E. When starting and putting into gear, the automatic brake hold is active, so I have to tap the gas pedal (yes, I called it a gas pedal) to get it to creep. When stopping, the automatic brake hold takes effect if I keep my foot on the brake heavily, or doesn’t take effect if I keep my foot on the brake lightly. That is, I get the behavior I want whenever I want it without having to change modes.
In the driving mode I use, I’m not sure if the car will come to a complete stop without hitting the brake, assuming I’m not using BlueCruise or automatic cruise control. I could put it into one-pedal drive mode (I’m not a fan), and it does come to a complete stop, of course.
I love the fact that I have choices with my Mach E, rather than having someone else force the choice upon me.
I have the Kona and it creeps*, as you note. Previously I had a Leaf and with the e-pedal switch, it would come to a complete stop without using the brake. I liked this and would have kept it on if this was my only car, but I sometimes drive an ICE and I was worried about forgetting what car I was in and not using the brake.
*Unless you use the on-wheel paddle to brake, which I do frequently.
Yep. I prefer no creep. It’s closer to how a manual behaves. But more importantly, it means I can often make trips without touching the brake pedal at all (aside from putting it in gear initially).
I have a Chevy Bolt. In the “D” gear, it will creep. In the “L” gear, it does not. Chevy calls the “L” gear “one-pedal driving” since you can easily adjust your speed simply by how hard you are depressing the accelerator pedal.
With one-pedal driving and the hand-brake on the steering wheel (which increases the motor’s regen), I never have to use the friction brakes.
Thanks for the replies. It looks like mine might be the odd one out in that it doesn’t have a creep option. Unless it’s buried somewhere deep in an options screen that I haven’t explored.