How electric cars drive

By the end of this topic you can

• You can explain why an electric car has no clutch pedal or gear changes.
• You can describe regenerative braking and how one-pedal driving works.
• You can control the car smoothly at low speed using gentle accelerator movements.
• You can explain why pedestrians and cyclists may not hear you coming.
• You can plan a journey with the car's range in mind.

What you need to know and understand

• Electric cars have automatic transmission, so there is no clutch and you select drive, reverse, neutral and park.
• Electric motors deliver strong pulling power from a standstill, so acceleration can be very quick.
• Regenerative braking uses the motor to slow the car and puts some energy back into the battery.
• Many electric cars let you choose how strong the regenerative braking is; the strongest settings allow one-pedal driving.
• You still need the footbrake for emergency stops and for holding the car when required.
• Highway Code rule 224 notes that electric vehicles can be quiet, so other road users may not hear them.
• Range is how far the car can go on a charge. It usually falls in cold weather, at high speed and with heating on.

Instant power and smooth control

Press the accelerator in an electric car and the motor responds immediately. That is useful for joining traffic, but it can catch learners out when moving off near pedestrians or creeping forward at a junction. Use small, gentle movements of your right foot, and keep your speed low in car parks.

Because there are no gears, your attention can stay on mirrors, signals and the road. The basic routines from the car syllabus, such as the mirror-signal-manoeuvre routine, are exactly the same.

Regenerative braking and one-pedal driving

When you ease off the accelerator, the motor works in reverse as a generator. This slows the car and recharges the battery a little. On a strong setting the car slows firmly, sometimes to a stop, without you touching the brake pedal. This is called one-pedal driving.

It takes practice. Plan ahead, lift off early and smoothly, and be ready to cover the brake. Not every car shows its brake lights the same way during regenerative braking, so check the handbook and leave a sensible gap for the driver behind.

• Lift off gently: a sudden lift on a strong setting can feel like hard braking.
• Use the footbrake for any emergency stop. Press it firmly and promptly.
• On slippery roads, a lower regenerative setting may help you stay smooth.

Quiet running

At low speed an electric car can be almost silent. Newer models make an artificial warning sound at low speeds, but it is easy to miss. Pedestrians, especially children, older people and those with sight loss, may step out without knowing you are there. Take extra care in car parks, shared spaces, residential streets and near schools, and be ready to give way.

Thinking about range

1. Check the battery level and the estimated range before setting off.
2. Allow extra margin in cold weather, on fast roads and with heating or air conditioning on.
3. Know where you could charge on longer trips before you need to.
4. Drive smoothly: gentle acceleration and good anticipation increase range.

Common mistakes

• Pressing the accelerator too hard when moving off. Squeeze it gently until you know how the car responds.
• Lifting off suddenly on a strong regenerative setting. Ease off early so the driver behind is not surprised.
• Forgetting the brake pedal exists. You still need it for emergencies and at times when the car does not stop fully.
• Assuming people can hear you. Watch for pedestrians who have not seen you.
• Setting off with too little charge. Check range before every journey.

Test yourself: How electric cars drive

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.