Brake lights on heavy regen?

Aptera Community Aptera Discussions Brake lights on heavy regen?

Aptera Community Aptera Discussions Brake lights on heavy regen?

  • Brake lights on heavy regen?

    Posted by paul-carlucci on October 13, 2022 at 5:59 pm

    Do we know if they’re engineering in that the brake lights illuminate under heavy regen? If I’m not mistaken European rules state that any deceleration above a certain threshold G-force must cause the brake lights to illuminate.

    While I’m at it, does the unusual tail profile of the Aptera pose a challenge to lidar or automatic emergency braking systems? Might it be an idea to have the rear facing edge of the rudder be retroreflective or as an additional vertical brake light?

    Russell replied 5 months, 1 week ago 8 Members · 10 Replies
  • 10 Replies
  • Brake lights on heavy regen?

    Russell updated 5 months, 1 week ago 8 Members · 10 Replies
  • Riley

    Member
    October 13, 2022 at 11:38 pm

    Yes the brake lights will light up when car is decelerating.

    The much smaller rear facing flat surface will have a smaller profile for another car’s automatic braking system (radar) to detect. If you want to add an additional vertical brake lights under the license plate to add to safety that sounds like a good idea and could look really futuristic but potentially illegal.

    • Russell

      Member
      October 14, 2022 at 4:22 pm

      Rules on low center brake lights probably vary by state/province. Where I live a good number of pickups have a brake light mounted in their receiver hitch.

  • llewellyn-evans

    Member
    October 14, 2022 at 12:51 am

    Good idea Paul. Heavy regen without brake lights in my van worries me and scares people driving behind me.

    Hi Riley, I had not heard auto lighting of the brakes on regen was implemented.

    How do did you find out it is implemented?

    • Riley

      Member
      October 14, 2022 at 1:18 am

      Hmmm I didn’t know that any car company with regenerative braking didn’t have the brake lights turn on while the car is effectively braking. What electric van do you drive?

      haven’t heard anything from aptera but after reading your comment I will sent them an email to see what they say.

  • dave-hoder

    Member
    October 14, 2022 at 6:01 am

    I was thinking the same thing about adding a third brake light down there

  • david-marlow

    Member
    October 14, 2022 at 9:58 am

    The legal requirement for activation of brake lights is when the braking action is greater than .1 G. The gen 1 Chevy Volt’s regen doesn’t exceed that and it doesn’t activate the brake lights unless using the actual brakes.

  • Pistonboy

    Member
    October 14, 2022 at 12:56 pm

    This is a good subject and should be considered, at least by our government. It does not matter what the slowing down comes from, whether from traditional braking or regenerative braking.

    If there is a collision, neither you nor the person behind you care what caused the slowing.

    The important thing is preventing it in the first place.

    • kevin-bradbury

      Member
      October 14, 2022 at 2:38 pm

      There is an aftermarket module you can buy for motorcycles that activate brake lights when engine braking/deceration. Wonder if it can be adapted to an Aptera if it doesn’t come already equiped with regen brake lights?

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