Intelligent Driver's Challenge...

[GingerBeer CEng]

The key objective for comfortable, economical, and safe driving is ‘smoothness’: the absence of sudden or rapid changes in speed or direction.

Smooth driving will also reduce the loading and wear on a car’s suspension, brakes, tyres, and drive train.

 

The car’s intelligent sensing functions can be very helpful, but they are far from perfect and left to themselves they will not always provide a smooth drive. This then, is the intelligent driver’s challenge: to anticipate when the sensing functions will not be helpful and cancel/reset them as appropriate.

 

In free-flowing traffic, use ACC in Normal/Econ mode*, set the target speed at what would be the comfortable safe speed if the road was clear. Suspend use temporarily using the cancel pushbutton (or paddle flip) when manoeuvres (yours or others) will cause the ACC response to be too aggressive.

 

For example:

·        When moving to a clear lane to overtake from a speed well below the target

·        When a target vehicle moves off a highway onto a slip road.

·        When a vehicle appears in the ACC line of sight although not on your path (e.g., on a bend-fork).

 

Reset when the circumstances allow.

 

*Choose according to your preference for throttle responsiveness and A/C effectiveness.

 

Use of the paddle to increase regenerative braking will deactivate ACC and can be useful in many circumstances, but if appropriate, it is more efficient to CANCEL ACC and allow the car to slow ‘naturally’ with minimal regenerative braking – rolling resistance, drag and gravity (up-inclines) may slow the car sufficiently or allow later engagement of braking. If needing to slow on a down-incline, paddle invoked regenerative braking will be useful. If vehicles are following, at an appropriate point switch to the use of the foot brake to alert them with the rear brake lights.

 

When ACC is not appropriate because of varying speed limits that would prompt continual ACC set target changes, use intelligent LIM.  Use cancel/reset to avoid difficulties when overtaking obstructions e.g., parked, or slow-moving vehicles, or in anticipation of an increased speed limit change where observance right up to the zone end would be unhelpful e.g., possibly prompting following vehicles into rash overtaking or it would delay acceleration on a joining slip road.

 

In town/city traffic, it may be appropriate to use sport mode so that regen level does NOT default back to a low level. Adjust regen to suit the prevailing conditions. Switch towards high regen when congested traffic makes an approximation towards ‘single pedal’ type control useful.  (Regen will NOT bring the car to a stop by itself in true one-pedal style. Regen does not help at a few mph.)

 

In a traffic jam with stop/go movement, ‘brake hold’ is a boon. Well, actually, anytime: I never leave home without it – is always switched on. I can’t see any reason not to.

 

When parking, apply the parking brake BEFORE shifting to park (P). This ensures that the weight load of the car is carried by the parking brake and not the transmission lock. I like to shift to neutral (N) and then take my foot of the foot brake to ensure the car settles on the parking brake before I shift to Park (P). (A habit acquired from a cable operated parking brake where the force depended on how hard I applied the brake.)  If the car moves when in neutral, you will know there is something wrong with the parking brake.

 

Other ideas/considerations?

Edited September 6, 2023 by GingerBeer CEng

[Alan gsd]

Is that from a manual ? Bit too heavy for this old bloke, I'd throw that right out of the window if it is!!

 

[BAZZER RN 1]

Bit too long for this Forum me thinks Alan, judging by the previous Members comment did you paste and copy this .it looks like it ????

 

[BAZZER RN 1]

I didn't infer you had submitted this Alan sorry if it sounded like you did

 

[GingerBeer CEng]

NOT from any manual.  The fruit of long consideration...😉

[Alan gsd]

Didn't think you had Bazzer RN 1 for one moment, think you know me a little now, Air con - window open your window - bad starting get the old starting handle out and a tin on boiled sweets on the dash.

Think Ginger Beer CEng you have been speaking to an expert I have a lot of them in my line of dog training and behaviour never had a dog but read loads of books and know everything.....until a 12 stone (sorry don't do Kg's hahahah Rottie comes along that hasn't read the books!!! 😃