Category: Dashboard Symbols & Tell-tales

One Pedal

This is a One Pedal Driving Dashboard Indicator symbol. One pedal driving is a feature of electric vehicles, where much of the braking is accomplished by the electric motor as the accelerator pedal is released. The brake pedal is not touched in most cases when the system is activated.

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This is part and parcel of Regenerative Braking, where the energy used to slow the vehicle is captured and returned to the the high voltage battery. There is a misconception that this accomplished through the vehicles brake system, which is simply not the case (I once listened to a dealership owner explain regenerative braking to a customer perfectly wrong!). In fact the electric motor reverses, which slows the vehicle a sends energy back to the battery.

From a driver’s perspective, regenerative braking turns out to be quite intuitive. The more the accelerator pedal is released, the harder the braking action. This is very similar to actual braking., where the more the brake pedal is pushed, the harder the braking action.

Emergency stops in an EV will still require the use of the brake pedal. But moment to moment driving can be accomplished with the accelerator pedal only. Most manufacturers allow the driver to choose the amount of braking action applied by the electric motor. One pedal driving is accomplished only at the highest setting.

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Marc Favreau

The author has 25 years of automotive experience and has assembled the most extensive collection of symbols and warning lights anywhere (over 1,000!) and can help you open and start any keyless start car with a dead key fob battery. BA, St. Joseph’s College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY