I found a study that looked in when to use which type of regenerative braking. On the EQS, we have 4 options: 1. Strong Regen., 2. Normal Regen. 3. No Regen. and 4. Intelligent Regen. The link below is an article on the introduction of Mercedes Regenerative Braking technology. Read this article if you are not familiar with the history and technology:
https://automotivetechinfo.com/wp-co...ds-and-EVs.pdf

The link below is even more revealing on which modes of regenerative braking you should use to get the most efficiency out of your system. The article is a little bit more technical, but if you can get pass the methodology and calculations, you can understanding the conclusion well. At least I hope I understood it with my interpretation below.
https://www.mdpi.com/2624-8921/5/2/22

It appears that if you drive in traffic, you should use strong regenerative braking to get the most efficiency. The study concluded that you they got up to ~60% efficiency. If you drive a lot of freeway where braking is minimal, you should use either normal or intelligent regen. "The efficiency of the kinetic energy recovery system from the conversion into kinetic energy of the potential energy reduction is higher than using a regenerative braking system." The study seems to suggest that the efficiency is ~86%. In other words, when you are traveling at high speed, it is better to have the car coast as much as possible (low drag coefficient is a huge factor) rather than turning on strong regenerative braking in highway driving where braking is minimal.

Based on my real world experience of using the EQS AMG (same for none AMG) regen system, driving freeway with strong regen (one pedal) makes your foot tiring because the accelerator pedal is stiffer than usual. However, you don't have to really switch side to side for braking. I typically drive with two feet (one on each pedal, so that's not much of an issue). But when set on Intelligent regen on freeway driving where there is minimal braking, the accelerator pedal is much lighter, and the car just seems to coast on forever (exaggerated) at the current speed without any input. I hit 103 mph, and after 5+ seconds of letting off the pedal, it was still going at 102 mph. That's a real testament to the drag coefficient of this car. I also have my display to show HP, torque, and Power/Recharge (+/-), and the computer does show the effects of the different modes of regenerative braking on the EQS. Hats off this these engineers.
As for normal regen. I think it is quite appropriate in freeway with slow traffic. And if you set to no regen., you're just being a hard head, old school motorhead.

 

That is informative, thank you.

 

I finally gave up on any of the modes working on Interstate hwys. I find NO difference in a 190 mile drive on interstates. I'm now a dedicated HARD HEAD.

Around town going from store to store etc, I use Strong regen and it does make a difference. Interstates.......heck no way.

NOTE to myself: Rid yourself of this car come Jan 2024.

 

I don't blame you. These different modes of regen. are still a mystery to me in regards to how much regen is applied vs. how much hydraulic braking is used. I'm still researching on this matter.

So far from a end user's experience, the intel. regen brake is not smooth because of when it detects the car in front especially when it has not been following it for some time. The strong regen is nice "one pedal driving," but it makes the accelerator pedal much heavier than the other modes. So long range, your foot actually feels fatigue. The normal regen. is similar to the intel. regen except it will not stop to a stand still for you.

What is really interesting is that in no regen. when I brake, the computer shows recharging numbers very similar to the other regen modes. I spoke to a master tech from the blue side (BMW), and he said the regen is similar to light braking. Other research I found was that the motor is able to modulate the amount of reverse polarity (act like a generator) and can increase the force to slow down or stop the vehicle. But in the EQS, due to safety, the hydraulic brakes are still applied so that the brake lights can come on. My guess is that the motor itself is programmed to have one level of regen, but we are given the other modes with varying degree of hydraulic braking is applied. Just my guess at this point.

 

It appears that the modes only make a minor difference to the balance between regeneration and physical braking. The impact on charging does not really make a difference to range. So use the mode most appropriate to your style of driving, traffic conditions, and speed. My current usage for comfort, pleasure, and safety:
- Intel Regen for stop and go traffic or highway when not using DISTRONIC
- Strong Regen for low speed with little or no traffic
- DISTRONIC for most highway and side roads with moderate lane marking

My significant other just drives normally without aids and in whatever the default mode is.

Is anyhing more really expected from the system?

 

Two years and 21K miles.....I use normal regen the majority of the time. Whenever I encounter traffic (SA is the 7th largest US city, but I feel we rank 1st in construction areas) I switch to strong regen and enjoy OPD, which works very well in the EQS. Cannot say whether there is significant energy savings, but I do enjoy the simplicity of OPD, and totally trust the braking ability. It has just become really comfortable for me in traffic. I love this car!

 

With some more research (in case you want to fall asleep fast at night), this dissertation is a good read:
https://scholarworks.unr.edu/bitstre...=1&isAllowed=y

If you're done with the above and is still awake: read this study:
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/20/6835

My understanding is that the permanent magnets in the EQS (and likely most other EVs) is only strong enough to regenerate about a 20% charge per motor (or recuperate 20% of the kinetic energy from the deceleration of the car) if there is no other form of energy such as heat (from friction braking) to energize the magnet thereby further slowing down the vehicle and creating a greater charge; this is basic dynamic braking. The other factors that slow down the car could be friction or hydraulic braking (traditional braking). But from the power/charge % indicator, I have seen it go up as high as 95% charge and quickly decreasing down to ~40% or less. I think there is also dynamic braking, or rheostatic braking at work here. We really need a Mercedes engineer to speak up. Here is what I observed:

In normal regeneration mode, releasing the accelerator pedal will allow the car to coast, but you can feel the regen braking force slowing it down. From the energy flow display (AMG Performance menu), I can see the front motor charging (regenerative braking). On my dashboard, I can see the %charge hover around 19-20%. This can be from 20 mph or 55 mph. However, when I applied friction brakes, the %charge increases depending on how much braking pressure I apply; This leads me to believe that dynamic braking is at play which is reflected in an short burst increased %charging correlating to the amount of friction braking I applied. Look up dynamic braking if you are unsure of this technology.

In no regeneration mode, your car will coast and only slowed down by drag coefficient and other environmental factors. The %charge remains 0 while coasting, but as soon as I apply friction braking, %charge percentage increases correlating to the amount of pressure I apply. Under the AMG performance energy flow display, it shows only the front motors charging.

In strong regenerative braking mode, the AMG displays BOTH front and back motors charging upon the release of the accelerator pedal. The %charge quickly increase to ~40% charge or more.

In Intelligent regenerative braking, it appears that the computer determines what needs to be done. Applying a light friction braking will show the front motor charging while heavier friction braking show both motors charge (rengen braking).

So what does all this mean? Without further explanation from a Mercedes engineer on the EQS, I am only speculating based on my knowledge of the different types of braking and what is at play in the EQS based on the given display indicators. Here are a few take aways:

1. Strong regen will cause both motors to regen braking giving you at least 40% charging.
2. Normal regen will cause only the front motor to regen braking
3. Regen braking per motor is about 20% charge
4. Applying friction braking in any mode is perhaps two things at work: Dynamic braking kicks in thereby giving a burst of % charge depending on the amount of braking applied. And friction braking as in disc and brake pads applies.
5. We could further discuss why braking feel in an EQS is different from a traditional friction braking. Sometimes it feels easy, sometimes it feels hard to stop the EQS. It is likely that multiple braking systems are at play, namely regen of one motor or both motors, dynamic braking, and friction braking all working based on your speed of travel and the amount of friction braking applied and how quickly it is applied.

 

It seems as though you are under the impression that when you press the brake pedal in your car you are applying physical brakes.
When you press the brake pedal in your car you are increasing the regen, after the car achieves maximum regen, then the physical brakes are applied to aid in stopping.
So your 5th take away is not “likely” it’s a well known fact since the launch of the EQS.

 

Quite the opposite. It is more about learning how and what technologies are implemented in the EQS braking system, and discussing what the best use case based on personal preference and situations.

If you can shed more light on the techs rather than generalizing a knowledge that has been posted by numerous YouTube videos already, that would be appreciated. Some people want to know more than just "eat your oranges because it is citrus and good for you."

 

Only 3 weeks into my first EV (EQE SUV 500), I find driving mode & regen to be the most complex "pair" of subjects to learn about.

I have been driving and experimenting, but the permutation of possible setting combinations is mind-numbing.
This thread has been a real eye-opener for me and I am grateful that MB37 started it. It could be that "optimal" settings for these items is akin to discussing religion. There is no easy answer. It's very individual.

So far, I'm liking Individual Mode (with all sub-components set to "Sport" except driving= Eco) and Intelligent(Auto) Regen. [I have Airmatic] Yes, it provides some surprises, but I understand and like what it's trying to do. I think I will come to accept it.
The academic paper references were useful (no emolj for glazed eyes, however) even though I skimmed a lot of them. They really added to my understanding.
Before this thread, I did not have a clue that there was a difference between Regen and Regen-Braking. Now I have a better understanding of both.
End of ramble...

 

Many EV's have One Pedal Driving (OPD). Previous to my ESQ SUV 580 I have owned a 2017 Tesla Model S and my wife's Volvo XC40 Pure Electric. The Tesla did not have OPD and had kind of a medium regen. The Volvo has OPD. Once I traded the Tesla for the EQS I tried all the regen modes and found that the Strong Regen was essentially OPD (which I liked on the Volvo). So now I always use Strong Regen on every drive.

 

Here is it, the speculation is over. Skip down to the Performance section:
https://www.mercedes-benzsouthwest.c...s%20themselves.

Electromechanical braking, (technologies of dynamic or rheostatic braking) is used on the EQS. That explains the surge in charge % depending on how much pressure apply in all regen modes even in no regen mode. Here's a none technical article on electromechanical or electromagnetic braking. https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-...explains/39203
You can google a few more get a better understanding of the advantages of it over traditional hydraulic braking and why it is more desirable in EVs such as the EQS.

In summary, the different modes of regenerative braking (MB calls it recuperation braking) on the EQS includes regeneration from one or both motors acting as generators, and electromechanical braking. The friction braking (rotors and pads) is programmed to function when the regen braking techs is not enough to slow or stop the vehicle based on the level of pressure the user applies to the brake pedal. The "art" of making the brake pedal feel similar to the traditional hydraulic braking is challenging; many of you may already feel that braking in the EQS is sometimes [fill in your experience] because the system actually does it for you sometimes and sometimes it does not. That largely depends on which mode of regeneration you are in and how well the engineers at MB has programmed the system to account for speed, rate of approach to an object, environment factors, and the hardest of all, the drivers mental (degree of reaction and alertness) when braking.

Having learned all this, I can make a more educated decision on which modes I used and when based on MBs intentions.

 

I just had my 20,000 mile service on my EQS450 and now my 'strong regen' stops regenerating at 10mph when coming to a stop and also creeps. I must keep my foot on the brake when stopped at all times-I HATE IT! Suggestions?

 

Whoa what... you're saying strong regen will no longer bring your car to a complete halt? I gotta opt out of this service/update.

The only way to keep a driver from having to use the terrible brakes on the EQS 450 is to use strong regen lol.

 

It's true, almost ran over my wife - accidentally, not used to it.

 

Can you press the brake pedal further after you stop to put it in "Hold"? If that still works, then at least you don't have to keep your foot on the brake all the time while stopped at a light.

 

I'm used to Teslas and their one-pedal driving. The EQS 450 "strong regen" does a pretty good job mirroring this experience.

In my EQS 450, I don't have to touch the brake and it'll "hold" at a red light. What's interesting is the moment I let off the accelerator, the vehicle applies "20% brake" as denoted in the vehicle status screen. This means it'll basically hold itself stationary once the vehicle comes to a complete stop. And it's a very smooth stop; way smoother than Tesla.

IMO, if I can drive around and never touch the brake I'm a happy camper. The EQS' brakes feel so terrible...

 

Something in strong gen. is not putting a hold on the brakes. I would take that back to the dealer. Under strong, normal, and intelligent regen. my EQS will put the car in a complete stop (hold) regardless of how it gets there. Strong regen, without manual braking, will slow and stop the car. Normal regen will slow and stop the car. And Intelligent will slow and stop the car if the car is approaching a stationary object. All 3 modes without manual braking applied.

Personally, I don't trust strong regen. mode in fast speed (little or no braking situation) driving because I've discovered that the brake lights are delayed (by up to 1.5 seconds) after the strong regen. is applied (foot off the accelerator pedal). However, strong or normal regen is suitable in city driving (<45mph). I found that intelligent regen puts an abrupt stop when I apply the brakes and let it go to a stop around ~<2mph mark; not a smooth stop.

 

That was a funny remark about 'Number one in road construction'. Drving b/t San Antonio and Austin on the I-35 was taking your life into your hands back in ??? the 2000 - 2015 years Concrete barriers toooo close to the car imho.

 

It sounds like Creep mode was turned on, which is why it’s no longer stopping in Strong Regen mode.

 

​​Home>> setting>> driving>> vehicle >> creep function.