What is regenerative braking intended to do?

Regenerative braking is a technology primarily used in electric and hybrid vehicles that captures the kinetic energy typically lost as heat during braking and converts it into stored energy. This is achieved by using the vehicle's electric motor as a generator during the braking process; instead of the motor using energy from the battery to propel the vehicle, the motion of the vehicle itself generates electricity as the vehicle slows down.

This converted energy is then stored back in the vehicle's battery for future use, effectively enhancing the overall energy efficiency of the vehicle. By harnessing this kinetic energy, regenerative braking not only helps in reducing wear and tear on traditional brake components but also adds to the vehicle's range by reusing energy that would otherwise be wasted.

While increasing speed, reducing fuel consumption, and providing additional thrust may be goals of some automotive technologies, they do not accurately describe the primary purpose of regenerative braking, which is focused on energy recovery rather than propulsion or consumption directly.