[nattydread]

I was driving down a very windy road the other day in my leaf in eco mode making full user of the regeneration to slow down for tight corners and the whole time I had this young guy in a small car polo? Right up my arse. Anyway eventually he started beeping me I assume because of my eco driving!

Had anyone else experienced regen rage?

 

[hopbackguy]

Tbh I wouldn't assume it's anything to do with regen or having an ev.... Most drivers , whatever they drive, have had an arrogant youngish twat driving two yards off the back bumper because they're in a hurry to get to .... well, the next world probably!

 

[GBEV]

Maybe all he could do to lower ICE fuel cost was let it run in neutral down hills to build up a bit of speed for free?.

If he had hit you though you would have seen even better regen .

 

[EV Rider]

I was driving down a very windy road the other day in my leaf in eco mode making full user of the regeneration to slow down for tight corners and the whole time I had this young guy in a small car polo? Right up my arse. Anyway eventually he started beeping me I assume because of my eco driving!

Had anyone else experienced regen rage?

I'm experimenting some with feathering the throttle,keeping consumption at Zero while rolling around cruise speed..I wouldn't be above demo'ing someone like that a very quick pair of heels,though!

 

[leave]

I've had this dozens of times, not just in the Leaf. Rest assured when he grows up, he'll see the folly of his youth...

That said, it's time like that I sometimes with I owned a old Land Rover Defender. With a big tow bar. And a little button on the dash that would disconnect the brake lights. A quick tap on the brakes and he'd soon get the message about not tailgating...

 

[Wowbagger]

I wouldn't call it regen rage because he's totally unaware that you are regenerating. It's just because you are driving rather slower than he wants to and he can't get past.

I saw a similar example today on the Dartford Bridge. A BMW driver was driving sensibly - shock! Horror! S/he was maintaining a fairly sensible 20 - 30 mph which periodically allowed a bit of a gap to open in front of him. Big lorry behind hooting like a hooty thing. The lorry driver seemed unable to grasp the fact that he would get to the tolls on the Kent side just as quickly, and use considerably less fuel, if he too kept up a constant speed.

 

[pwrkiter]

A very similar thing happened to me a few months ago. A crazed driver behind me was holding down his horn and flashing his lights just because I was driving carefully and within the speed limit. As others have said, nothing really to do with regen per say but driving an ev does encourage smoother more careful driving. I'm also sure the crazed idiot had no clue he was following an EV so I'm pretty sure this had no real bearing.
Although I have to admit I didn't help the situation by disengaging eco and leaving him for dust at the next set of lights & saying to myself "EAT MY ELECTRONS!". Childish I know, but very satisfying ;-)

 

[Mark J Constable]

Although I have to admit I didn't help the situation by disengaging eco and leaving him for dust at the next set of lights & saying to myself "EAT MY ELECTRONS!". Childish I know, but very satisfying ;-)

We've all done it.

You do know electrons don't actually come out the back, though, right? ;-)

 

[pwrkiter]

Hehe yeah but it would make a great bumper sticker ehy!

 

[Wowbagger]

I think the only possible response to "Eat my electrons!" Is "Are you positive?"

 

[Geoff]

One of my first cars was a Sunbeam Rapier which had a sign on the back saying "DANGER DISC BRAKES".
Maybe a sticker saying THIS CAR HAS REGEN SYSTEM could be an idea.

 

[Brooktop]

A very similar thing happened to me a few months ago. A crazed driver behind me was holding down his horn and flashing his lights just because I was driving carefully and within the speed limit. As others have said, nothing really to do with regen per say but driving an ev does encourage smoother more careful driving. I'm also sure the crazed idiot had no clue he was following an EV so I'm pretty sure this had no real bearing.
Although I have to admit I didn't help the situation by disengaging eco and leaving him for dust at the next set of lights & saying to myself "EAT MY ELECTRONS!". Childish I know, but very satisfying ;-)

Not necessarily defending him, but what was the speed limit and what speed were you doing?

If for example it was a NSL stretch and you were doing 30mph with no safe opportunity for him to overtake, then you were technically causing an obstruction and could be fined.

Just remember, everyone that overtakes you is a speed crazed demon and everyone that's in front of you going slower than you would like is a Sunday driving road hog!

 

[Brooktop]

One of my first cars was a Sunbeam Rapier which had a sign on the back saying "DANGER DISC BRAKES".
Maybe a sticker saying THIS CAR HAS REGEN SYSTEM could be an idea.

Think the average motorist would think it was a joke sticker and you are a Dr Who fan.

 

[Paul]

I used to brake harder with the engine at times than I ever could with regen in the LEAF, I don't think it's that much of an issue.

 

[Robwiz]

When I've been coasting and using regen I have been surprised how rarely the following car has overtaken me even when the road is straight and clear.

I've only had one instance of aggressive overtaking and that was when setting off from traffic lights – an oik wearing a baseball hat back-to-front, who was surprised by how quickly I'd set off from the previous junction.

 

[Bob Murphy]

I propose an anti-tailgating device...

Remember when 'Modified' cars were fitted with flame kits, allowing a Bunsen Burner effect from your exhaust using unburned fuel? Well, perhaps we need something similar - but with sparks...

That way, a cry of 'EAT MY ELECTRONS!' could be accompanied with suitable lightning effects...

 

[Brooktop]

Depending on your driving and the roads, it may result in an unsuspecting tail gater underestimating a bend.

On windy roads, you can sometimes gauge a bend on whether the car(s) in front are braking...unless it's one of those annoying, over cautious drivers that brakes on EVERY slight bend.

 

[PaulMorris]

I was driving down a very windy road the other day in my leaf in eco mode making full user of the regeneration to slow down for tight corners and the whole time I had this young guy in a small car polo? Right up my arse. Anyway eventually he started beeping me I assume because of my eco driving!

Had anyone else experienced regen rage?

Yes, and from a fellow Nissan, a 350Z was following me around my local village. I'm not sure what annoyed him more my lack of brake lights as I regen coasted into tight junctions or semi-silently whooshing away from said junction in non-eco hooligan mode and leaving him to play catch up persistently.

To be honest I was slightly flabbergasted and disturbed by the level of rage it seemed to instill... I was just enjoying my car and wasn't even trying to be a dick

 

[Brooktop]

Not sure you could expect too much brand camaraderie there @PaulMorris !

 

[derekb]

If by regen you mean "I was driving more slowly than normal" then maybe you were just going a bit too slow. The fact you were regen-ing was neither here nor there he wouldn't know or care about that. Whilst I wouldn't defend aggressive driving or tailgating I have no problem with someone who just wants to go a bit faster and / or overtake. I do detect these days that the very act of overtaking seems to be frowned upon - people always seem to beep at it!?