Cody Hyman

HC399

What is Regenerative
Braking?

Conventional braking systems convert

kinetic energy into heat, usually via
friction.
This wastes a great deal of energy!

Regenerative braking systems reclaim

and storing the kinetic energy in a
reusable manner
Many modern electric drive vehicles
including electric locomotives and HEVs
have regenerative braking systems

Regen Braking Principles in

Electric Transportation

EVs use their drive motors to convert

kinetic energy into electromagnetic energy
Motors and generators operate under the same

principle and can be used interchangeably.

The First Law of Thermodynamics dictates that
the EV will slow down as this occurs.

The generated electrical energy can be

dissipated through a resistive network
(Dynamic Braking) or stored (Regen
Braking)

How Regen Braking Works

Part 1: The Mechanical
Vehicle has forward momentum
Aspect

The wheels are coupled to the rotors of

electric traction motors in an EV

Instead of a current being applied to the motor

to turn the rotors, the rotors are turned by the

wheels of the EV

The rotors experience opposing torque as

current is induced in the motor coils
This opposing torque slows the vehicle
The generated electrical energy is stored

Diagram of a Regen Braking

System

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/regenerativebrake-diagram.jpg

Part 2: Brake Control

Circuitry

Complex electronic circuits that handle

braking functions

Coordinates motor and friction brakes under a wide

range of situations
The controller will take the following parameters
into account and determines how the vehicle will
brake
Speed of vehicle
Driver input (pedals)
Storage medium state-of-charge

Routes and regulates generated power

Depending on the desired output, the brake

controller must be able to supply vehicle batteries

or capacitors with the proper polarity, current, and
voltage for safe charging (depends on battery state
of charge)

Options for storing the

Energy

Recharging vehicle battery packs

State of charge influences how much of the

generated current can be safely stored

Ubiquitous method for hybrid cars

Charging an array of capacitors/supercapacitors

Pro: Very high charge/discharge rate (high

power density)
Con: Much lower energy density
than batteries
Allows for regen braking if batteries are at a
high state of charge
Implemented on some buses

Non-electrical methods
Fluid compression
Flywheels

Mechanical Methods

Hydraulic Regenerative
Braking
Slows the vehicle by

compressing gas and

storing it in an accumulator
Pressure is used to assist
the engine upon forward
acceleration
Potentially more efficient
than electric regenerative
brake systems
Source: http://www.hybridcars.com/relatedtechnologies/hydraulic-hybrids.html

A VW Beetle converted to
a hydraulic hybrid that claims
up to 80% regeneration
efficiency

Regenerative Braking in
Rail Vehicles

Dynamic Braking has been frequently

used in rail vehicles to reduce brake
wear
Diesel-Electric locomotives require
onboard energy storage for
regeneration
Impractical

Some electric rail/overhead line

locomotives with regenerative
braking can send power back through
supply line
Power can be received by other trains

connected to the line or sent back to the

grid

Differences Between AC
and DC Rail Lines

AC Locomotives
Can feed power back into the grid without the need for

large power inverters

The New Delhi Metro, after implementing regenerative
capabilities, cut down its power consumption by 30%, a
total savings of 112MWh between 2004-2007
Other AC traction lines in the UK and NZ have achieved
improvements of 15-17%

DC Locomotives
Cannot easily feed power back to external networks but it

can power other trains on the same line

Efficiency depends on the number of nearby locomotives
that can receive power from regeneration

DC Railway Regeneration
Estimates
% Energy recapture figures for DC Catenary Locomotives

Source: Institute for Futures Studies and

Technology Assessment

Regen Braking in Road

Vehicles

Road vehicles require onboard energy

storage as well as relatively quick
braking compared to rail vehicles
Regen braking improves the efficiency in
stop and go city traffic more than high
speed travel
Efficiency gains vary greatly from vehicle
to vehicle and under the driving
conditions
Prius regen efficiency 30%

Road Vehicle Efficiency

Data

Source: http://www.privatenrg.com/

Cars with Regenerative

Braking

Toyota Prius
Honda Insight
Ford Escape Hybrid
Tesla Roadster
Chevy Volt

Toyota Prius

It actually does have

regen braking*

Tesla Roadster
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/automobiles/au
toreviews/22-chevy-volt.html?_r=1&ref=technology

Regenerative Braking is not

All That New
The electric vehicle in this 1906 had

regenerative braking capabilities

Image source: http://www.shorpy.com/node/5734

Benefits of Regen
Braking

Increase of overall energy efficiency of a

vehicle
Increases vehicle range
Cuts down on pollution related to electricity

generation

Increases the lifespan of friction braking

systems
Less use of traditional mechanical brakes

leads to less wear over time

The Downsides

Added complexity of brake control

system
Only works for wheels connected to
motors
Most vehicle operation is done in 2WD

Friction brakes are still necessary

Safety
Motor braking power decreases as the

kinetic energy of the vehicle decreases

Conclusion

Regenerative braking is an effective

method of improving vehicle efficiency
and longevity
Is already in use in many EVs
The technology to do it exists and is
often well worth it
Mostly dependent on the wider adoption
of EVs or further development of
hydraulic regeneration systems

Sources
1.
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6.
7.

8.
9.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/brakes/braketypes/regenerative-braking.htm
http://www.hybridcars.com/components/regenerativebraking.html
http://www.hybridcars.com/related-technologies/hydraulichybrids.html
http://www.railway-technical.com/brake1.shtml
http://www.shorpy.com/node/5734
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/singleview/view//regenerative-braking-boosts-green-credentials.html
http://www.railwayenergy.org/static/Regenerative_braking_in_DC_systems_103.
php
http://privatenrg.com/
http://
cleantech.com/news/4201/delhi-metro-earns-carbon-credits-re