Category: Articles & Commentaries

Discussions on topics of interest to drivers concerning things they may not understand about their vehicles as well as articles on the future of the auto industry.

How much energy does regenerative braking recover?

Regenerative braking So just how much energy does regenerative braking recover? Well, there’s quite a bit of information floating around about the topic out there, and most of it is highly subjective. That said, the best answer is “up to 20%” of an electric vehicle’s (EV) range. So, as a best case scenario, an EV …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/06/how-much-energy-does-regenerative-braking-recover/

Regenerative braking returns to brake rotor issues

Regenerative braking I decided I wanted to answer some common questions about regenerative braking and did some Google searches. AI gave the first response (a technology, by the way, that really hurts my business), and turned up some surprises. The largest of these is yet another reference to problems with the regular, or friction, brakes. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/06/regenerative-braking-returns-to-brake-rotor-issues/

NHTSA piles on the recalls

Recalls I missed three days of tracking traffic on X and getting caught up wound up reposting a full 24 recalls from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Today found another six, including another air bag recall, this time from Mazda. What initially got our attention were three back-up camera recalls. These devices have …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/06/nhtsa-pile-on-the-recalls/

So I got regenerative braking wrong

Regenerative braking I recall listening to the owner of the last car dealer I worked for explaining regenerative braking in electric and hybrid vehicles beautifully wrong. And I was sure I knew better. Well, his explanation, which included the brakes themselves, is still wrong. But I’ve had it wrong too! I was sure that I’d …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/06/so-i-got-regenerative-braking-wrong/

2024, 2025 dashboard symbols updates complete

Symbols updates With a second look at a Mini electric model, we have completed dashboard, or instrument panel, symbols updates for 2024 and most 2025 models from 50 manufacturers. Of course, we will soon need to start all over again as 2026 models are introduced in the fall. In the process of these updates, we …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/06/2024-2025-dashboard-symbols-updates-complete/

Extra Mini symbols update completed

Mini symbols Prompted by the lack of symbols for electric vehicles (EVs) on the Mini symbols page, we did a double check of the Countryman EV. And while we did add two symbols related to the EV, we ended up adding a full 10 symbols to the page. The Mini symbols page now has nearly …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/06/extra-mini-symbols-update-completed/

Mini throws an EV charge curve

EV Charge A final check of Mini dashboard symbols threw us a curve. The symbol often used to indicate a low high voltage battery charge or EV charge (below right) is used here to indicate a possible charging capacity issue, not a low state of charge! This leaves a driver with the need to consult …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/06/mini-throws-an-ev-charge-curve/