D or B!

[peteo48]

Yes, like Kremmen I rarely use "D" but, then again, most of my driving is in an urban setting and "B" mode excels in this environment. There's almost an element of one pedal driving.

Longer journeys on the motorway I tend to use "D" as I occasionally use ACC.

[shufty]

... Yeah Honda say use what you like when you like 

[RustyK]

Have been wandering about how using either 'D' or 'B' may affect battery life.  I would seem to me that when using 'B' mode the amount of energy going into and out of the battery would be increased over the 'D' mode, resulting in the battery system being worked more ...... any thoughts?
Personally, I have so far generally used 'D' but changed to 'B' mode when doing longer descents or when driving in hilly areas.

[Hicardo]

And i'm with Nicksey and Lord Voltermore, in that I use D most of the time, but B going down steeper hills.  It's how I used to drive Toyota hybrids also.  Not saying there is anything wrong with using B more if you prefer that way. Why do you suppose that Honda disable ACC in B mode?

[Jocko]

I don't think that battery degradation would be an issue. Ev batteries have come a long way. The regen is far less severe than charging an EV battery from the mains and even once it does start to deteriorate it is unlikely to even be noticed as the ICE would just come in a little earlier. Perhaps if you were accurately monitoring and recording fuel consumption you would notice a gradual drop off as the car aged. It would not be something I would worry about.
ACC and B may be down to the thinking that if you want to recover a lot of energy (the purpose of B) there is not much point in wasting it running Climate Control.

[Jeff15]

B for me all the time, time it right and you hardly ever need to brake...

[Jazzik]

ACC and B may be down to the thinking that if you want to recover a lot of energy (the purpose of B) there is not much point in wasting it running Climate Control.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

[Lord Voltermore]

As Jazzik points out, by adding the word "and" Honda effectively say  ' use B if you want to.'
But i ask myself  "why wouldnt you want an increase in regenerative braking ?  ' If its beneficial most of the time why not make  B the 'normal' and D an option only used if you want ACC. It could even be automatically switched to D mode operation when  you select ACC.

And why does it need D option at all?   My guess is that the ACC would struggles to maintain and reduce speeds using regenerative braking, and a constant shift between higher than normal regenerative braking, and the occasional need to apply mechanical brakes  would confuse the system and the driver.  And could well have an adverse affect on fuel consumption.   
ACC generally uses less fuel  because you are maintaining a steady speed,  but when it needs to reduce speed then increase it again it may do so quite aggressively which uses more fuel   . B mode level of  retardation may make this worse. And may do so under similar road conditions  (main road as well as  motorway,) even  when controlling your speed manually without using ACC.

At the risk of repeating myself,  my attitude to manual brakes is 'use them or lose them. '  I have twice needed to replace rusty disc rotors,and often needed to overhaul  gummed up moving parts  on cars that only got occasional use.   Its a long time since I ever needed just to replace worn disc pads .   If you primarily use regenerative braking in B mode,  your brakes effectively get little use, even if you use the car regularly. 

Coming down a longish hill in B  mode the HV battery  may be full long before you reach the bottom. You cannot add more charge to the battery   so there is no longer any free energy   and the car needs to find other way of dumping the excess energy and retarding  the car as best it can.     I believe it sometimes utilises genuine engine braking using  compression of the ICE  engine , but this can be quite noisy.  I dont suppose this ,or putting more power  into the electromagnets  when in B mode ,  adds any significant strain on the  drive chain  , and it happens to some extent even in D mode ,   but  I'd rather just use brakes more. Replacing brake pads if necessary is no big deal expense wise.  .       

But ultimately its whatever works best  for you, and may depend on where you habitually drive, particularly in town. 

[Mellorshark]

Near me is a fairly steep hill that is descended on most journeys. Unscientific tests have given me the impression that descending in B mode produces less charge than in D with braking.
I have always been under the impression that light braking does not involve the mechanical brakes.

[Lord Voltermore]

Near me is a fairly steep hill that is descended on most journeys. Unscientific tests have given me the impression that descending in B mode produces less charge than in D with braking.
I have always been under the impression that light braking does not involve the mechanical brakes.

Yeah I think if your demand on the footbrake is light enough  it may only   use regenerative braking, and gain some free charging,  rather than waste energy heating up discs and pads. 

    I have come down several long mountain passes, in D mode  , and a combination of  'engine braking' and occasional light  application of the brakes has been more than enough.  (with the battery long since fully charged.  )  I have even compared how often I needed to use the brake pedal  compared to the brake lights of 'conventional' cars in front of me, descending at the  same pace.   Their brake lights sometimes came on twice as often as mine would have done.  I tried B mode as an experiment a couple of times but there was no noticeable advantage that cant be matched by simply descending at a sensible speed.  Any exceptionally   steep stretch rarely lasts for long enough to overheat modern brakes , unless you are racing down like an idiot. 

Sorry .I  know I bleat on about this.    I Drive a lot in  mountains much bigger  than anything in the UK .  Maybe if I primarily drove in town I'd think differently ,but so far D suits me fine there too. 

[Jocko]

At the risk of repeating myself,  my attitude to manual brakes is 'use them or lose them. '  I have twice needed to replace rusty disc rotors,and often needed to overhaul  gummed up moving parts  on cars that only got occasional use.

I very seldom use my brakes, I pride myself in being able to anticipate road and traffic conditions so as not to need them. I have done 60,000 miles, over six years, in my 16 year-old-car and have never needed anything done to any part of the braking system, other than a brake pipe replaced.

[Kremmen]

Same here, look ahead, anticipate.

I always used to change my cars at about 33k miles, 3 years when I was commuting and I can't remember the last time I needed new tyres or brakes.

The last service on each always reported well over half of disc pad and tyre tread left.

[Neil Ives]

I also try and avoid heavy braking but no matter how good you are at anticipation there will often be times when an urgent stop is required, especially now when so many drivers do not indicate their intention. I don't worry about my brake discs rusting.

[Lord Voltermore]

I also try and avoid heavy braking but no matter how good you are at anticipation there will often be times when an urgent stop is required, especially now when so many drivers do not indicate their intention. I don't worry about my brake discs rusting.

Austin 7 training.  Herbert Austin once said in answer to criticism that  good drivers dont need good brakes.  Partly true. But it nice to have the option .

[Neil Ives]

I also try and avoid heavy braking but no matter how good you are at anticipation there will often be times when an urgent stop is required, especially now when so many drivers do not indicate their intention. I don't worry about my brake discs rusting.

Austin 7 training.  Herbert Austin once said in answer to criticism that  good drivers dont need good brakes.  Partly true. But it nice to have the option .

He may also have said, 'Good brakes encourage furious driving'. He was right!