In an electric vehicle; what is regenerative braking?

Sub: Science and tech

Sec: Basic science

Context:

What is braking?

Braking is the mechanism by which an automotive vehicle in motion slows down.
A vehicle moving faster has more kinetic energy than a vehicle moving slower, so the process of braking removes (mostly) kinetic energy from the vehicle.

What is regenerative braking?

Regenerative braking is an energy recovery mechanism that slows down a moving vehicle or object by converting its kinetic energy or potential energy into a form that can be either used immediately or stored until needed.
It works by driving an electric motor in reverse to recapture energy that would otherwise be lost as heat during braking, effectively turning the traction motor into a generator.
During regenerative braking, the motor operates as a generator, turning mechanical energy back to electrical energy.
In addition to improving the overall efficiency of the vehicle, regeneration can significantly extend the life of the braking system.

How it is different from conventional braking systems:

Regenerative braking system contrasts with conventional braking systems, where excess kinetic energy is converted to unwanted and wasted heat due to friction in the brakes.
Similarly, with rheostatic brakes, energy is recovered by using electric motors as generators but is immediately dissipated as heat in resistors.

Does regenerative braking have downsides?

Regenerative braking alone often doesn’t suffice to bring an electric vehicle to a halt.
It has to be used together with a conventional system that dissipates some of the kinetic energy as heat.
A regenerative brake can mostly be beneficial for an electric vehicle’s energy-use efficiency in stop-start traffic.