In a TV advertising campaign, Nissan launches its new Leaf. One of the new features is that you can drive with one pedal. As the advertising voice says: “- One pedal … for gas … and braking. ” At the same time, a small logo pops up at the bottom of the screen. “e-Pedal.” Like a kind of trademark. “e-Pedal by Nissan,” – like? But this is nothing new. BMW introduced this in 2009 – first for the Mini E, later on its own BMW i3.

Works better than you'd think

I only know driving with one pedal from the BMW i3. All rechargeable cars have some form of artificial engine braking that returns more or less energy to the batteries, but it is not the same as driving with one pedal. The special thing about the BMW i3 is that you don't need to move your foot onto the brake during normal driving. If you lift your foot slowly, the car brakes slowly. If you let off the gas suddenly, the car slows down just as you would with the brake pedal. During heavy braking, you may hear a faint screeching sound. It's like music to my ears. That means I get extra kilometers - completely free.

Optimal energy absorption

The biggest advantage of driving electric cars with one pedal is that the car is able to capture deceleration energy perfectly optimally. Of course, you get recovered power by using the ordinary brakes as well. But I imagine they steal more energy. The BMW i3 has also been named the most energy-efficient electric car in several forums. The reason for that is the efficient one-pedal solution.

It is promising that Nissan has also jumped on the one-pedal solution. I predict that in time we will see further improvements. Today, a lot of research has been done into creating intelligent gearboxes that continuously monitor driving patterns and surroundings. The same intelligence can also be used when braking – by reading the movements of the same accelerator pedal. The more intelligent, the more kilometers we get.

How the brake lights come on

I have previously expressed skepticism about how the brake lights are affected when you brake with the gas. The BMW i3 is a popular car. Many of them are driven by drivers who dictate how the brake lights come on. After studying i3s on the road for several years, my conclusion is that the BMW i3 turns on the brake lights automatically when the car is actually decelerating – apparently via some kind of deceleration meter.

Use the brake pedal occasionally!

Another skepticism is that, as is well known, the brakes must be used regularly. This applies to all cars, but it can be easy to forget when the brake pedal is only used for sudden braking. And should an emergency braking occur, it is reassuring to know that the braking will start even before you have lifted your foot from the accelerator.

Gives extra km - not driving pleasure

I like the BMW i3. It's fun to drive without being able to put my finger on exactly what it is that I like. In terms of driving pleasure, I am indifferent to driving with one pedal. Behind the wheel, I think a normal, artificial engine brake works perfectly alright. I still give one-pedal a thumbs up because it gives me extra mileage. The BMW i3 has proven that.

Hope the new Nissan Leaf is just as fun to drive.

See