Electric cars prove we need to rethink brake lights

TL;DR

The brake lights in the Hyundai Ioniq 5, specifically in its one-pedal driving mode, do not illuminate until the driver completely releases the accelerator, posing a safety risk for rear-end collisions.

Transcript

If you’ve been following the channel for a little while, you may know that I think an awful lot about automotive lighting. Brake lights and turn signals take up far more of my brainspace than they arguably should - but, of course, when needlessly ambiguous combined stop and turn signals keep finding their way onto new car models in a world where t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🙂 Modern automotive technologies, such as radar adaptive cruise control and one-pedal driving, have challenged the traditional approach to brake light activation.
• 🙂 The Hyundai Ioniq 5's one-pedal driving mode has a critical flaw, with brake lights only illuminating when the driver completely releases the accelerator.
• 🙂 Existing regulations on brake light activation during regenerative braking are outdated and fail to address the safety concerns posed by advancing automotive technologies.
• 🙂 Proposed updates to regulations in UN regulation 13-H aim to rectify the issue by setting a minimum deceleration threshold for brake light activation.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is one-pedal driving in electric cars?

One-pedal driving is a mode in electric cars that allows the driver to accelerate and decelerate using only the accelerator pedal. When the driver releases the pedal, regenerative braking kicks in, slowing down the vehicle.

Q: Why is it important for brake lights to illuminate during deceleration?

Brake lights serve as a crucial warning signal for drivers behind a vehicle to indicate that it is slowing down. Without proper brake light activation, drivers may not have sufficient time to react and could end up colliding with the decelerating vehicle.

Q: Are there any regulations addressing brake light activation during regenerative braking?

Existing regulations in both the United States and Europe do not adequately address brake light activation during regenerative braking in electric vehicles. European regulations even forbid brake light activation during regenerative braking, creating a safety concern.

Q: What can automakers do to address the issue of brake light activation?

Automakers should consider updating software to ensure that brake lights activate during deceleration events, regardless of the driving mode. Additionally, regulations should be revised to provide clearer guidelines for brake light activation in various driving modes.

Key Insights:

• Modern automotive technologies, such as radar adaptive cruise control and one-pedal driving, have challenged the traditional approach to brake light activation.
• The Hyundai Ioniq 5's one-pedal driving mode has a critical flaw, with brake lights only illuminating when the driver completely releases the accelerator.
• Existing regulations on brake light activation during regenerative braking are outdated and fail to address the safety concerns posed by advancing automotive technologies.
• Proposed updates to regulations in UN regulation 13-H aim to rectify the issue by setting a minimum deceleration threshold for brake light activation.
• Automakers should prioritize the safety of their vehicles by ensuring proper brake light activation during all deceleration events, regardless of driving mode.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The rise of new automotive technologies, such as radar adaptive cruise control and one-pedal driving, has led to the need for software-controlled brake lights.

• The Hyundai Ioniq 5's one-pedal driving mode has a flaw where the brake lights only activate when the driver completely releases the accelerator, potentially leading to accidents due to lack of warning for sudden deceleration.

• Existing regulations do not adequately address this issue, leaving it up to automakers to determine how brake lights should function in different driving modes.

• European regulations even forbid brake lights from activating during regenerative braking, further complicating the matter.