One of the more fascinating and brilliant features involved with new model hybrid and electric cars (in my humble opinion) is regenerative braking.

The standard braking system used on gas powered cars is called friction braking or dynamic braking. In simple terms, we spend energy to speed a car up, and when we slow down, brake pads are rubbed against the tires. The friction of the brake pads turns the kinetic energy of the car into heat energy. However, as we pay to replace our brake pads, this obviously isn’t the most efficient solution.

Regenerative braking is beautiful in its elegance. Through regenerative braking, some of the car’s kinetic energy is converted into electricity. This would be next to useless in a gas powered automobile, but in electric cars this can be invaluable. Used in combination with dynamic braking, regenerative braking provides a chance to recover energy for the car, while sacrificing none of the safety of a purely friction based braking system.

Regenerative braking works due to the simple fact that an electric motor functions in much the same way as an electric generator. If you put electricity in it will make the motor turn, but if you make the motor turn on its own, electricity is produced. While there are limits to its function (eg. the system does not work as effectively at slow speeds) it’s a clever way to make your car more efficient, as each stop pays back some of the energy that was used to accelerate the car in the first place.

Regenerative braking is also used in some electric-powered locomotives.