We need a snow driving mode

[Nolander]

Though not critical, I agree with the OP that this would be a nice convenience feature. My EV6 has snow mode as well. It also had paddle shifters you could dynamically adjust regen levels with. I actually used them a lot, it was akin to downshifting a manual.

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[TonyCO]

First winter with an EV and I love one pedal. I thought I would have to switch to two pedal for the snow, but I’ve been impressed with how well one pedal works. To me it’s more about the operator being “smooth” than the actual vehicle having a special mode. I’ve never liked snow, mud, economy, etc. in any vehicle. I just adjust how hard I stomp the pedal!

 

[Mmiketa]

I do exactly the same and never use one pedal.

Well, not exactly the same. I heavily preferred 1pd on even in the snow.

This, and turn off one pedal mode!

Why though? It works so well...

 

[mr.Magoo]

I just wish we had snow, period.

 

[Mmiketa]

Task management, or in recognized pilots terms, task saturation or cogitative overload.

Very often in slippery conditions you just need to coast down, either from an upcoming situation, or because traction for steering is more important than accelerating or braking. With 1pd drive enabled, NOT braking requires cognitive load. In essence part of your focus is now forced to manage the accelerator when that focus could be better utilized elsewhere. And I know its easy to claim that this isn't an issue, and for most on an empty road it isn't. The issue is that in a developing situation, such as an accident ahead on the highway, a LOT is happening all at once. And unlike simply sliding a bit, instead now the driver is trying to process a LOT of things happening at once.

While I understand your premise, feathering the throttle stops being a noticeable cognitive load after practice. Just like in a manual vehicle after driving it repeatedly you find yourself shifting gears without realizing that you’re even doing it. I don’t have to think about not braking, by this point my body knows the amounts and I adjust.
I drove in 8ish inches in WV a couple weeks ago and had to deal with coming down a mountain as well as multiple spin outs occurring around me during the trip. I would still use 1pd every time.

I am not saying that it’s the right choice for everyone, but there’s too many people saying that turning it off is definitely what everyone should be doing.

 

[daveross1212]

Reducing power output in the snow is easy - just drive around with a cold-soaked, mostly depleted battery!

In all seriousness I like a bit of regen in slippery conditions as it "feels" like downshifting in a manual transmission vehicle - scrubbing speed without disrupting weight/balance like friction brakes can do.

 

[Henry Ford]

Task management, or in recognized pilots terms, task saturation or cogitative overload.

Very often in slippery conditions you just need to coast down, either from an upcoming situation, or because traction for steering is more important than accelerating or braking. With 1pd drive enabled, NOT braking requires cognitive load. In essence part of your focus is now forced to manage the accelerator when that focus could be better utilized elsewhere. And I know its easy to claim that this isn't an issue, and for most on an empty road it isn't. The issue is that in a developing situation, such as an accident ahead on the highway, a LOT is happening all at once. And unlike simply sliding a bit, instead now the driver is trying to process all of those things AND also trying to NOT brake and NOT accelerate.

Not saying its impossible but having delt with a lot of snow driving quite frequently it is a lot more than simply "don't slide".

Another pilot adage is don't change how you fly for your check ride. If you normally use 1PD and switch to 2PD during hazardous conditions your muscle memory may revert to "normal" or you may conflate the two modes in the heat of the moment.

All that is to say, use what you are comfortable with and drive slow enough to avoid loss of control situations or give your brain enough time to process if you do find yourself out of control.

 

[tls]

I don’t think that’s correct. I’ve had advanced driver training due to being in the fire service.

I can drive the Lightning in the snow. I’m just saying the Rivian snow mode makes it levels above the Lightning in the snow.

I was pretty happy with my Lightning in the snow, in upstate NY, in 1-pedal mode, this weekend. I do have snow tires, though.

 

[Deleted member 15277]

"Snow Mode" could also disable all the alerts that my cameras and sensors are frozen over, and maybe even change the color of the screen to remind me that my sensors are useless instead of beeping at me every few seconds. Point is, having a single button toggle to do these things would be a nice to have.

 

[iam-s-Hon]

Task management, or in recognized pilots terms, task saturation or cogitative overload.

Very often in slippery conditions you just need to coast down, either from an upcoming situation, or because traction for steering is more important than accelerating or braking. With 1pd drive enabled, NOT braking requires cognitive load. In essence part of your focus is now forced to manage the accelerator when that focus could be better utilized elsewhere. And I know its easy to claim that this isn't an issue, and for most on an empty road it isn't. The issue is that in a developing situation, such as an accident ahead on the highway, a LOT is happening all at once. And unlike simply sliding a bit, instead now the driver is trying to process all of those things AND also trying to NOT brake and NOT accelerate.

Not saying its impossible but having delt with a lot of snow driving quite frequently it is a lot more than simply "don't slide".

I get your train of thought. However, I‘ve been driving 1 PD since 2 weeks after getting my MME 3.5 years ago. except for borrowing a 6 speed manual a few weeks while some repairs were being made and a week with a loaner while getting recall action completed.

so, 2 PD is cognitive load for me. I know my brakes are there and can use them if needed though I frequently I do not.

 

[Grease Lightning]

I live in upstate NY and we are just digging out from the storm yesterday.

During the storm I took my wife’s Rivian out for a spin. I found it had a snow mode where it lowers the aggressiveness of the regen breaking and lowers the pickup to avoid the torque spinning wheels and sliding the truck. The weight of the truck, all terrain tires and the snow mode made the Rivian snow driving a dream.

We really need a snow drive mode for the Lightning. I’ve definitely found myself sliding because of blipping the throttle too hard or stepping off the gas to quick and the regen kicking in. It feels like it could be done as a software update.

While I don’t mind the concept of a snow mode, I would much rather them provide us an eco mode before a snow mode. That setting I can use year round and see some potential energy improvements too.

I enjoy the greater efficiency I see in my M3 in Chill mode and my daughter’s og Ioniq’s Eco drive mode.

 

[Henry Ford]

While I don’t mind the concept of a snow mode, I would much rather them provide us an eco mode before a snow mode. That setting I can use year round and see some potential energy improvements too.

I enjoy the greater efficiency I see in my M3 in Chill mode and my daughter’s og Ioniq’s Eco drive mode.

Serious question, what does eco-mode do? It's my understanding there isn't significant efficiency loss from accelerating quickly in EVs.

 

[Peddyr]

Lived in New England all my life, and in my opinion, driving in the snow is more dependant on the driver's skill level than the vehicle itself. The Lightning with AWD and weight is easily the best vehicle I've ever driven in the snow or slippery conditions. That said, giving those who need additional assistance, the snow option if they want to pay for it isn't the worst idea I've ever heard. It's just not for me.

 

[Grease Lightning]

Serious question, what does eco-mode do? It's my understanding there isn't significant efficiency loss from accelerating quickly in EVs.

In my previous Escape, the Ioniq, my 2017 “e-assist” Silverado, and multiple Prii the eco mode went beyond throttle response, but also adjusted how responsive climate controls reacted. So like on a freeway drive once warm/cool and up to speed, if you entered eco mode it would slow down elements such as the a/c to make it say “a/c lite” and reduce the amount of energy used.

Then as you as mentioned the throttle response was different so you conserve energy. Such at rapid acceleration, yes does cost you energy. “Significant” is subjective but the extra energy is quantifiable and easy to view through Carscanner. My M3 and its consumption graphs do a great job of showing you the impacts of a heavier foot. So if you are more of a hypermiler type driver, it is of great benefit.

 

[daveross1212]

The big thing here though is that and EV drivetrain doesn't really change efficiency when pressed hard, and ICE drivetrain does greatly.

Although when accelerating hard you use more current, you do so for a shorter period of time, and hence the energy consumed isn't really much different that having lower current for a longer period of time.

In an ICE engine it is different, high load but low RPM (accelerating slowly) is much more efficient than high load but high RPM.

Point being, accelerating hard in an EV doesn't really cost you much "extra energy", you just consume at a higher rate for a shorter period. That is different than an ice engine since it changes efficiency.

also worth adding that some recent research is showing that hard acceleration is actually good for battery longevity (also the opposite of ICE)!

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