Tag Archives: regenerative brakes

Mazda’s Regenerative Brakes Promise Better Fuel Economy

Mazda LogoAbout a month ago, Ford claimed that their regenerative braking system could recapture up to three-times the kinetic energy of their competitors’ systems. Mazda is putting that claim to the test with their new regenerative braking system, the Mazda i-ELOOP.

While normal brakes use friction to slow and stop the vehicle, regenerative brakes reverse the vehicle’s electric motor, recapture the kinetic energy, and put that energy back into the vehicle’s battery to power the headlights and climate control. The Mazda6 doesn’t have to use as much fuel to power these systems, and the vehicle earns a higher fuel economy.

According to Mazda, a 2014 Mazda6 equipped with i-ELOOP will achieve 28 city/40 highway/32 combined mpg, an improvement on the typical 2014 Mazda6 which has a highway fuel economy of 38 mpg. Unfortunately, i-ELOOP is not standard on the Mazda6 and is only available with the GT Technology Package, so car shoppers considering the Mazda6 will have to pay more for it. Still, the savings on gas might make the expense of the i-ELOOP worth it in the long run.

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Ford Announces New, Improved Regenerative Brakes

Ford Regenerative BrakesSince regenerative braking systems were introduced in the 1990s, automakers have been working to improve efficiency and transfer more braking energy back into the vehicle. Now, Ford is claiming that their new regenerative brakes can recapture twice or three-times the kinetic energy of their competitors.

A normal braking system utilizes friction between the brake pads and brake rotors, and the friction turns the kinetic energy into heat. In comparison, regenerative brakes reverse the vehicle’s electric motor, and the energy that is produced goes back into the vehicle’s battery. In the past, these brakes could recapture about 30 to 50 percent of the kinetic energy, but Dave Crombez, a technical expert at Ford, claims that Ford’s latest regenerative brakes can recapture up to 95 percent of that energy.

If the brakes can live up to these claims, Ford drivers will see a huge improvement in their vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Ford is predicting as much as 30 percent improvement, though once again it might not live up to those numbers in practice. When regenerative brakes are combined with lighter vehicle bodies, better engines, and other updates, however, they will create a much more fuel efficient vehicle together.

 Are you looking for a safer car or one with better fuel efficiency? No matter what you’re looking for, Approved Loan Store wants to help you get in a car you want at terms you can afford! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!