regenerative braking

[ ri-jen-er-uh-tiv brey-king ]

noun

1. a braking system that captures the kinetic energy used to stop a vehicle and converts it into electricity to recharge the vehicle's batteries:

   If a car is expected to usually be used in stop-go driving, the regenerative braking can be very beneficial.

Word History and Origins

Origin of regenerative braking¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

The cars have fully recyclable aluminum shells and a regenerative braking system, according to LAWA.

From Los Angeles Times

Like many electric vehicles, the Jaguar I-Pace offers regenerative braking, in which the energy created as the car brakes is re-captured and sent back to the battery.

From BBC

From regenerative braking to the quiet hum of battery-powered cruising, electric vehicles are upending many a fundamental when it comes to the traditional driving experience.

From Seattle Times

Regenerative braking takes energy that would be lost from stopping a vehicle and uses it to help recharge the battery in electric and gas-electric hybrid vehicles.

From Seattle Times

The issue involves the vehicles’ regenerative braking system, which generates electricity from the car’s motion when the driver takes a foot off the accelerator.

From New York Times