Why does Tesla always ＂brake failure＂？

This article comes from:Sina Weibo @ Wang Tonggen, Author: Wang Tonggen, title map from: vision china

Tesla’s brakes have failed again, and such news will appear every once in a while. But if we ask further, what happened in the end, not many people can answer. Every major traffic accident in Tesla has turned into a farce vent: people who hate Tesla are like the New Year, shouting that Tesla’s brakes are out of order and disregard for human life; Tesla’s diehard fans are convinced that the owner is lying, gnashing his teeth and praying that he must let the bottom of the prison sit through.
　

Unfortunately, I didn’t see any reliable analysis on the whole Chinese Internet. I’ll do it. After reading this article, you will know more about Tesla’s braking problems than most onlookers, and everyone should know what Tesla has done-after all, we are all traffic participants.
　

First, the mandatory "single pedal mode"

　

Especially in the past two years, Tesla’s sales have been unprecedented. But even so successful, Tesla has sold hundreds of thousands of cars in China. You know, there are more than 300 million cars in China, and there are nearly 500 million driver’s licenses, so no matter what, only a small number of people have driven Tesla in China.

　

Tesla has a unique setting: forced single pedal mode.

　

Most people are confused when they hear this word. "Single pedal? What do you mean by that? Is there only one pedal under the feet of Tesla owners? "

The masses are full of confusion and curiosity about the single pedal, and Tesla fans and Tesla fans are another grand occasion. The single pedal mode will be shown off as a unique advantage in the circle of friends of Tesla sales specialists. Many Tesla owners also proudly put a single pedal on their lips: "I basically don’t step on the brakes now." "The single pedal mode is too fragrant."

Salespeople regard "single pedal" as a selling point.

The single pedal mode is not that Tesla has only one pedal at his feet. On the contrary, Tesla’s driver’s seat is exactly the same as all other automatic cars. It’s all a deceleration pedal(Brake), an accelerator pedal(throttle), this makes no difference.

　

The problem is that Tesla quietly changed the usage of the accelerator pedal.

　

On Tesla, stepping on the accelerator is accelerating, and releasing the accelerator is equivalent to stepping on the brakes. This is a mandatory setting of Tesla and cannot be changed. Don’t tell me about other cars. Tesla is the only one who can’t change the single pedal.
　

Although Tesla gave three stop modes,(Slow down, rotate, hold)Optional, but these three modes are only different at very low speed.(The "Slow" mode is similar to the idle speed of ordinary cars, while the "Hold" mode can completely stop as long as the accelerator is released.). As long as Tesla releases the accelerator when driving, the car will decelerate sharply. Deceleration force(g value)In other cars, it can only be achieved by stepping on the brakes. Of course, when Tesla releases the throttle while driving, the brake light does light up, which also shows that "releasing the throttle" on Tesla can achieve the braking effect of "stepping on the brakes" of other cars.

　

This is why many Tesla owners say that they haven’t stepped on the brakes for a long time: when driving Tesla, they step on the accelerator when they want to accelerate, and when they want to brake, they loosen the accelerator. The brake pedal is really not available.
　

Friends who haven’t driven Tesla have to ask again: according to you, since the accelerator can achieve the braking effect, why do you need to brake the pedal? Just give one accelerator pedal, won’t it? I can’t either. In layman’s terms, the looser Tesla’s throttle is, the stronger the braking force is, but even if the throttle is completely released, it is only a "strong braking" rather than a "full braking". If a child suddenly crosses the road in front of you and you find that the braking force provided by loosening the throttle is not enough, you need to step on the brake pedal to brake.
　

Is the above paragraph a little confused? Just be confused. Because it is indeed a more complicated operational logic.
　

Now let’s look back at the pedal logic of a normal car:

　

Pedal of normal car

Tesla’s pedal logic is like this:

　

Tesla’s pedal

So Tesla’s pedal is more complicated.It seems to be a "single pedal", but in fact it cannot be separated from the brake pedal. It still needs two pedals like those traditional cars that Tesla fans think are old-fashioned. Tesla only integrates most operations on the accelerator pedal, and the brake pedal has become an irreplaceable but almost neglected scheme in an emergency.
　

Second, "defensive driving" and "preparing for braking"

　

If you didn’t know what "defensive driving" was, please read this paragraph very, very carefully. These few minutes may benefit you and your family for decades to come.
　

The so-called defensive driving, in fact, is not too profound. In a word, it can be made clear: don’t wait to see the danger before taking measures, predict the possible danger and prepare for it in advance.

　

It’s that simple.

　

Someone said again, I’m not a prophet. How do I know if there will be danger?
　

When you are not sure whether danger will happen, prepare as if it will happen. Your vigilance is by no means superfluous.

　

If the most important safety concept of driving is defensive driving, the core and basic operation of defensive driving is "preparing for braking".

A normal car must be braking in this scene. Tesla is not.

A typical and common scene: you drive past the gate of a primary school that has just finished school. There is a lot of traffic at the gate of the school. A group of children are standing on the side of the road, and several children are shouting excitedly at the children across the road. What are you going to do at this time? Any high-level assisted driving will not recognize that the children on the roadside are ready to move. It’s good that those sensors can find people on the roadside, let alone tell their age and predict their behavior. As a homo sapiens, the absolute overlord of primates, you can easily know that these children are likely to suddenly cross the road. Therefore, experienced drivers will "prepare the brakes": put their feet on the brakes in advance. Don’t step on it, but be ready to step on it.

　

Children, at the first sign of wanting to cross the road foolishly, step on it at once! Slow down at any time and stop completely at any time!
　

If the children are just chattering on the side of the road without further action, then prepare the brakes and wait until they pass before accelerating.
　

Safe and efficient.

　

Therefore, the seemingly simple action of "preparing the brakes" is actually extremely necessary! It means that the driver actively chooses to enter the defensive state. In this state, the car put an end to all the possibility of wrong acceleration and can only slow down. This is the safest operation method in complex road sections.
　

Tesla’s forced single pedal mode destroyed the driving skill of "preparing for braking". It is impossible to prepare the brakes when driving Tesla, but you must step on the accelerator. Because if you don’t step on the accelerator, the car will almost stop or even stop completely. If you want to drive Tesla at a normal constant speed, you can’t leave the accelerator with your feet.
　

Tesla’s forced single pedal mode forces the driver to step on the accelerator on all sections that should be braked.
　

In addition to "preparing for braking" when driving a normal car, the muscle memory formed by quickly switching the pedal of the foot creates an extra double insurance: every driver who often "prepares for braking" has to quickly move his foot from the accelerator to the brake for countless times every day, and this action has formed an instinct after hundreds of thousands of repetitions. Braking has been able to handle most emergencies safely and calmly, and once there is no warning and even the brakes are not ready, this subconscious action of suddenly losing the accelerator and stepping on the brakes can also avoid accidents.
　

Tesla changed it, too. There is no punishment for suddenly releasing the throttle in a normal car, and the car will continue to maintain its previous state; On Tesla, you can’t suddenly loosen the throttle, because it is equivalent to stepping on the brakes. Therefore, every Tesla driver is forced or enjoyed to "precisely control the throttle" every day.
　

Tesla forcibly changed the driver’s car pedal operation habits. Disabled the safety backup skill of "preparing for braking" and the training of "quickly switching pedals", which actually disintegrated those beneficial muscle memories.

　

The throttle is a switch that releases huge energy, just like the trigger of a gun. Similarly, just as the finger can’t be put on the trigger when the gun is not in use, the foot should not be stuck on the accelerator for a long time when the car is not accelerating.
　

Third, "single pedal mode is too fragrant"

　

But unlike what I wrote, the single pedal mode is an advanced and easy-to-use setting among Tesla fans. The single pedal mode is an advanced, fashionable and even a good thing that you can’t go back after using it.

Common Tesla fan talk

Tesla fans will say that I have no problem driving for so long. If you think that the single pedal mode is not good, or you are not used to it, just get used to it; Either your driving skills are not good and you are not suitable for driving. In fact, if I have to ignore the fear of traffic accidents, I also feel that a single pedal is quite convenient to drive.
　

but I cannot do it. I can’t accept that my foot should step on the accelerator when there are pedestrians in front of me or there are blind spots.
　

Nowadays, the society is harmonious. People in shooting games are shot with golden light or cement, and many people have never seen blood. Many people think that driving is to be isolated from the world in a comfortable private space. Many people think that driving is to put a bunch of dolls in the car and hand-made plush toys, stick a few warm or funny stickers, and excitedly think that the boss of this car will board Mars and enjoy the elegance and leisure of middle-class life … …

　

I’m telling you, that’s not true. Driving is an activity that will kill yourself or others at any time if you don’t keep up your spirits. When I was in middle school, the school would hold a traffic accident warning exhibition, which was full of bloody photos of the accident scene. While you were afraid and curious, you would have a deeper understanding of the traffic incident than ever before.

　

It turns out that the living people and cars we usually see will turn into a pile of scrap iron and a mass of flesh and blood in the accident.
　

Just like me, you don’t want to step on the gas in front of pedestrians. I won’t feel that "single pedal is not a big problem" and "just get used to it".

　

Stripped of the fear of accidents, Tesla’s single pedal can skillfully make some drivers with high risk tolerance enjoy it. It captured groups of die-hard fans through an abusive transformation:
　

From the first time I heard about the novelty of single pedal mode, to the thrill of driving Tesla without stepping on the brakes, to the sense of accomplishment of getting used to skillfully controlling the vehicle only by the accelerator without stepping on the brakes after training, and finally to the psychological superiority of others. Drivers who skillfully use and enjoy the single pedal will think that it is a learned, unique and advanced skill that others do not have.(Actually, it’s not)There is a strong superiority in all the manners. Much like the way I bragged with other students after eating the terrible McDonald’s for the first time more than 20 years ago.
　

What is particularly ridiculous is that since the emergence of Tesla’s forced single pedal mode, many Tesla fans touted the single pedal mode as labor-saving, saying, "I don’t have to step on the brakes frequently anymore, and I used to be exhausted by stepping on the brakes." I heard that someone’s waist is tired because of uncomfortable seats. I heard that some people are tired of their arms and shoulders because of the unreasonable ergonomic design of the vehicle, and the steering wheel is too forward. I also heard that some people are sleepy and tired when driving because they don’t sleep well at night. But the first time I heard that someone was "tired" because of "stepping on the brakes", I was still shocked and speechless-Are the brakes there to save you effort?
　　

In order to defend their views or positions, many Tesla fans sometimes have a strong desire to fight and can’t listen to any criticism of Tesla. Today, I’m going to say it again in an ugly way. I hope you can calm down and think about it: if your children leave school and a group of children cross the zebra crossing. Some children even chase and fight on the road. At this time, several cars with hundreds of horsepower can break through the school gate in three to five seconds. Do you prefer the drivers’ feet on the accelerator or the brakes?

　

4. Didn’t other cars step on the wrong accelerator?

　

Did you deliberately hack Tesla? Don’t other cars that don’t have a single pedal step on the wrong one?

　

Of course there is.
　

Before Tesla’s forced single pedal mode appeared, there were all kinds of news around the world that the accelerator was used as a brake.

　

But one thing we can be absolutely sure of:Some people make mistakes in simple logic, and complex logic will only make mistakes more easily..

　

Tesla’s pedal logic is more complex logic, which I have described in detail earlier. Or it can be said that Tesla’s brakes are two-stage. When the braking force provided by the accelerator is not enough, it is necessary to switch the pedal from the original "lifting the brake to slow down" to the brake pedal and then "step down" to achieve further braking. So this logic is more complicated than traditional cars: "lifting" is also slowing down, and "stepping" is also slowing down. To achieve a braking force from the establishment to the maximum action on Tesla, sometimes it is necessary to switch the pedal once in the middle!

　

In case of emergency, other drivers: step on.

Tesla Driver: Lift the throttle-lift the throttle again-find that it can’t stop-choose the right pedal.(Brake)-step on it.

　

When Tesla drivers get used to the long pedal on the right, which used to be called "accelerator", and when Tesla owners’ first reaction is "lift" in case of emergency, it is also powerless for Tesla fans to emphasize that "I won’t make mistakes at critical moments". Every time Tesla drives, he intensifies the throttle deceleration and downplays the existence of the brake pedal. What makes you think that you can remember the pedal that has not been used for a long time quickly and accurately at the critical moment?

This is the wrong operation of the trainer.

　

If Tesla dares to make the accelerator pedal: full acceleration when stepping on it, and full braking when lifting it, then this is the real single pedal-so there is no need for braking at all, and stepping on it can be fully responsible for acceleration and lifting it is fully responsible for deceleration, which is fine-at least logically concise. But at this time, you will find that there is no difference between this and the double pedals of a normal car. The only change is that you are a little more tired.

Every seemingly boring safety regulation is followed by a bloody accident lesson.

　

Five, "single pedal mode to save electricity"

　

Speaking of this, Tesla still has one rhetoric left, that is, "saving electricity."
　

Many netizens also have misunderstandings that Tesla’s forced single pedal mode is designed to save electricity and increase battery life.
　

Wrong.
　

"Kinetic energy recovery" is a very common basic function in electric vehicles. Not only do you have Tesla, but all the imported joint ventures, domestic expensive and cheap electric cars, including hybrid cars, that we can name. Part of the wasted energy is recovered for reuse, so it is "energy-saving" and "low energy consumption", that is, "running far away".

　

It’s all the same principle.

　

The only difference is that other cars integrate "kinetic energy recovery" into the brakes. Tesla, you put "kinetic energy recovery" on the accelerator.
　

You also recycle, he also recycles, and everyone is recycling. The single pedal mode will not save half a degree more electricity than others’ "double pedal mode".

　

When other cars hit the brakes, they were recycled for you unnoticed. How do you drive? You don’t have to change your habits, you don’t have to relearn, and you don’t even realize it! The car accurately combines electric braking and mechanical braking, and the work of "kinetic energy recovery" is finished.

　

If you have to say anything about high technology, it’s called high technology.
　

Tesla put kinetic energy recovery on the accelerator, so he slowed down as soon as he released the accelerator. You’re not an advanced thing. It’s just that people recycle it when they step on the brakes, and you recycle it when you loosen the throttle, that’s all.

　

Other cars have CRBS system, so they can complete the work of "kinetic energy recovery" under the condition that the brake foot feels very smooth. Tesla has no CRBS, so it is difficult to achieve efficient and smooth cooperation between mechanical braking and electric braking. Perhaps for this reason, Tesla simply put "kinetic energy recovery" on the accelerator.
　

Tens of thousands of domestic electric vehicles have CRBS, but Tesla doesn’t.

　

So please, don’t say that Tesla’s single pedal mode is high-tech. In my opinion, it is because of the lack of more advanced software and hardware.（CRBS）, can only be forced to forcibly change the driver’s operating habits. That’s what happened.

　

Everybody repeat after me, single pedal, no power saving!
　

Six, "brake failure"

　

You can see that I don’t like Tesla very much. But I want to say a word for Tesla today:The probability of Tesla’s brake failure is too small.

You must have stepped on the wrong foot.

When Tesla adopted the forced single pedal mode, I would like to attribute all its "brake failure" news to "stepping on the wrong foot". Because forcing the single pedal mode is simply the wrong operation of the trainer. At the same time, the safety redundancy of modern automobile brake system is great, even for brands like Tesla. Even if the ESP system fails, the ibooster system rarely fails at the same time, and it also needs the mechanical braking system to fail. It cannot be said that the probability is completely zero, but the probability is infinitely close to zero.

　

I include many experienced drivers with excellent driving skills. I have read countless cars, and the track is also very colorful. The response speed of driving experience is better than that of ordinary people. But when we drove Tesla, we were very uncomfortable and panicked. Yes, but we can clearly feel the discomfort of forcibly changing safe driving habits. On the contrary, many novice drivers swear that they will never get confused.

　

Tesla removed the dashboard, made the door handle hidden, and made the skylight unobtrusive. I think these are minor problems, but they are just not easy to use. But the use of the throttle is a matter of life and death. Why do you change it?
　

Tesla, why did you change the usage of the throttle?

Nowadays, many young people and fashionable men and women love to buy Tesla. Dress beautifully, take a photo of the car, and be beaming. In their eyes, they just bought a beautiful and fashionable new car, which is a happy thing. But in my opinion, I am very uneasy because they are forced to drive in the forced single pedal mode. They will be constantly trained to use the throttle to slow down, and there are very few real emergencies-I dare not think about the probability that they will step on the wrong foot when an emergency occurs. Hundreds of thousands of high-powered electric vehicles with forced single pedal mode are driving on our highway, and they are stepping on the accelerator when others are stepping on the brakes.
　

Today is November 16th, 2022. I put it here, Tesla’s single pedal mode will definitely be changed later, and CRBS will definitely be added. Because although many Tesla fans say that a single pedal is an advantage, I believe that even companies like Tesla who are keen on forced innovation must clearly know that a single pedal is not easy to use. When the time is right, they will certainly get rid of this neglected mistake.
　

Only then, those casualties caused by stepping on the wrong pedal will probably be forgotten by people.

This article comes from:Sina Weibo @ Wang Tonggen, Author: Wang Tonggen