One-Pedal Driving – A New Driving Mode For Me

by Mike Gulett – 

We recently bought our first electric car, a Lucid Air Pure. This has been a terrific experience as I am learning about new things that can only be done with an electric car compared to a gas powered car. Like on a cold day the heater is hot right away with no waiting for the engine to warm up. Or I can set the cabin temperature and turn on the seat heaters and steering wheel heater remotely with my smart phone and have it all warm and comfortable before we get in (or remotely cool down the cabin and cool the seats on a hot day).

Another fascinating feature of electric cars is regenerative braking, which reverses the electric motor when the accelerator is lifted and slows the car and sends electricity back to the battery capturing some of the kinetic energy and recharging the battery. This is energy that is lost in a gas powered car and is dissipated as heat from the brakes. This not only saves some battery power but also reduces wear on the mechanical brakes.

This feature creates the opportunity to learn a new skill that can only be done in an electric car — one-pedal driving. By modulating the pressure on the accelerator the car delivers a blend of brake and power setting up a very interesting and fun driving dynamic.

Photo by Lucid Motors

One-pedal driving

How it works

• Press pedal → accelerate

• Lift pedal → regenerative braking slows the car

• The brake pedal use is saved for emergencies or quick stopping

Driver experience

• Accelerator becomes a speed control lever – both faster and slower

• Precise modulation replaces downshifting in a manual gas powered car

• Driving becomes fluid and intuitive

Strengths

• Energy efficient (energy recovery that otherwise would be lost)

• Reduced brake wear

• More sense of control once the skill is learned

With one-pedal driving, lifting off is an intentional action with different results than a gas powered car, much like selecting a lower gear in a manual transmission. In the Lucid Air Pure Standard regenerative braking mode there is no coasting, the car is either accelerating or braking.

Why drivers often like one-pedal driving

• Feels similar to engine braking

• Encourages anticipation and smoothness

• More precise control

• Less interruption between acceleration and deceleration

Many drivers who love manual transmissions find one-pedal driving surprisingly satisfying—while drivers used to automatics often prefer lighter regenerative modes or no regenerative mode.

In my Lucid Air Pure there are three modes for regenerative braking: Standard (maximum), Low (medium) and Off (none). Off mode feels like a gas powered car and allows coasting. These different modes allow a new electric car driver to learn the skill at their own pace, which I appreciated. I now drive regularly in Standard (maximum) mode.

Bottom line

• Manual is about mechanical involvement

• Automatic is about effortless convenience

• One-pedal driving is about continuous, intuitive control

One-pedal driving doesn’t replace the romance of shifting gears—but it does replace the thought process behind it.

It is a completely new skill that has been fun to learn. I like to see how long I can drive without using the brake pedal. This is a new way to connect with my car.

I suspect that one-pedal driving will become more and more popular with car lovers as time goes by.

Let us know what you think in the Comments.

This power meter in front of the driver shows the Power being used (to the right) or the Charge being returned (to the left) – Mike Gulett

Research and some text by ChatGPT 5.2.

Summary

Article Name

One-Pedal Driving - A New Driving Mode For Me

Description

A fascinating feature of electric cars is regenerative braking, which reverses the electric motor when the accelerator is lifted and slows the car and sends electricity back to the battery.

Author

Mike Gulett