To each his own, concerning one pedal driving, I say. My first EV was a Chevy Bolt EV with very strong regeneration if you were driving in L mode. It was a little difficult to get the Bolt to drive smoothly and I would constantly switch between D and L, depending on the driving conditions.

I love the B mode in the ID.4 because it doesn't feel like I need to modulate the accelerator. It feels very "natural" once you get used to the way VW has programmed the B mode setting.

I commend the engineers for taking the time to work out the little details, unlike the GM engineers who seem to miss the point.

 

I came from the Chevy Bolt EV and I LOVED one pedal driving. The VW's form (Drive in B) saddens me, and the creep function is exactly that - Creepy. I love the car other than the lack of a good OPD, but that is one thing I hope to some day get some satisfaction thru a software update.

Ideal situation would be a software setting to let me have what I want and let you have what you want.

 

My whole family loved the one pedal driving of our dearly departed Chevy Bolt. I can get quite carsick as a passenger, but neither I nor my partner or daughter ever had that problem from one pedal driving. Either it is very different car to car, or it is a style that matches some of our driving styles. I at first refused to consider the ID.4 because of its lack of complete one pedal, but now I'm in the order line. We'll see if I can wait as long as it takes to get that car.

 

I initially used the B mode of my id4. But soon moved on to D mode. I personally like the extra control dimension it provides me. Also D mode is much more efficient than B mode due to thermodynamics 🤷‍♂️ if you can slowly apply the regen by the brake pedal.

 

I initially used the B mode of my id4. But soon moved on to D mode. I personally like the extra control dimension it provides me. Also D mode is much more efficient than B mode due to thermodynamics

Yeah, the 321 miles I got last time I recharged to 100% is the picture of inefficiency, I guess - I drive in B 99% of the time and I live where it's pretty much flat as a board, so no downhill 'trickery' to get that 321

I'm pretty confident that VW will eventually give those of us like me what we really want - True One Pedal Driving

 

Just keep it configurable by user, let them decide how strong regeneration they prefer, it will end the debate as people can configure the way they like instead of forcing them to use only one available setting.

One thing which puzzles me with One Pedal Driving is, is it really that beneficial? I can understand when you are going at very high speed and apply break, that kinetic energy is wasted and can be recovered via regenerative breaking. But when going in strong traffic, every time you leave your foot off the accelerator, it breaks and I think it uses a lot more energy to move the car from standstill to roll. So it uses more energy than saving it. At the end, I feel it may help a bit, may be 2-3% more than Non regenerative breaking but it is not a lot.

 

It regens even while using brakes in D mode.

 

Absolutely does…. I’ve been able to use regen in D and coasting to obtain a lot higher mi/kWh than I did using exclusively B. In my real driving test (for me), D works a heck of a lot better. I didn’t believe it and was driving B exclusively on my 1st Edition until I saw my wife, who exclusively drove in D, do better consistently. I switched and realized the same increase in efficiency. So, it’s not D for me. Between the coasting and regen in D, it’s been better.

To each his own, of course. Just my experience after doing both on two ID4s over 25K and 13K (1st / Pro/S, respectively).

 

Over-discussed at this point and no need to rehash. It is "easy" to make this configurable and VW should strive to satisfy all driver preferences.

 

Well said in April, and said again 4 1/2 months later...

 

I can't stand that it defaults to "D" every time. How hard is it to remember the last setting or allow it to be configurable. Not driving the ID.4 daily, I keep forgetting I need to double tap the shifter to get to "B". I have lost count how many times I have overshot the first stop sign by my house expecting the car to slow down but it doesn't.

 

I am constantly switching between an i3 as my daily, and the ID.4, and wish the ID.4 had stronger regen.

My "extra wheel" is a Ford Flex with paddle shifters and I regularly downshift for speed control on descents on that car, a compromise I made and happily embraced when I have up my last stick shift.

But user selectable is the way to go – butt only D & B, but B+ as well.

I'd much rather modulate the throttle diving my car down a hill than work the brake pedal. Yeah, I know they're both right there next to each other, but there's nothing any more jerky about using one versus the other. In fact, in the ID.4 they're pretty much both doing the same thing, just in different directions.

 

...

I'd much rather modulate the throttle diving my car down a hill than work the brake pedal. Yeah, I know they're both right there next to each other, but there's nothing any more jerky about using one versus the other. In fact, in the ID.4 they're pretty much both doing the same thing, just in different directions.

I don't have experience on the ID.4 but I don't think they should be the same. In traditional vehicles, people can let go of the gas pedal and then coast and then decide when to start applying the brakes. The experience is very smooth. When I am driving a Tesla, for example, it starts braking on its own if I let go of the pedal, so I am constantly fighting to get it to coast correctly. I have no clue why anyone would possibly like this feeling. Yes, you can get good at it I'm sure. But it is not the same.

 

The only thing that bothers me about B mode is the brake lights come on more frequently, possibly confusing someone behind me. I rarely use B mode.

 

In my exhaustive, double-blind, peer-reviewed research, I found the brake light behavior to be totally in keeping with what would be expected in "normal" driving – specifically that the brake lamps don't illuminate unless the rate of deceleration is strong, or my foot is completely removed from the pedal (regenning at a steady 15-20 MPH down a steep residential hill, for instance).

For normal speed adjustments at speed on the freeway, for instance gradually slowing to adjust for a merge or approaching a slower vehicle, the brake lights stay off.

 

I am just absolutely not understanding the folks that think B mode is either hard to modulate or jerky. For me, I can drive smoothly in B mode without even thinking about it. But again, VW, give us an option to have true OPD! And let others keep their D mode.

 

I have this recollection of somebody somewhere (maybe even on this forum?) describing a "fuel saving technique" ** cough ** similar to this: spool the engine up to a little above desired speed, let off to idle, coast down gradually to a little below desired speed, repeat. Sounded not only like nonsense, but nauseating.

To each their own, but VW please give us the choice.

 

To B or Not to B: A Play in 3.1415926535… Acts
Our story so far:

• "D!"
• "No, B!"
• "No, D!"
• "B! (but D too if you really want. Whatever.)"
• "No, D! (but OK, B too if you really want. No accounting for taste...)"
• "No, B (sorta sometimes)!"
• "No, D!"
• "More B!”
• “Sometimes D, sometimes B. It depends.”
• "D or B! (Just give us a damn choice, VW!)"
• "No.... wait a minute... Got distracted… Where's our OTA software update?!"

 

Insert anywhere "We've already discussed this to death!"

 

Thanks for contributing a unique viewpoint! Given your multitude of previous electric cars, I think yours is as valid a position as any other. Apart from the drive mode preference, I also really appreciated the drive quality assessment.

 

It may be anecdotal but I was sticking to D mode for a few months and I liked it but I found my front brake rotor(s) starting to warp (braking shake on high speed). I think the brake pedal always mix-in brake engagement in addition to regen, while in B mode when you release the accelerator pedal, only regen is applied. I tend to stop the car with looong, smooth and comfortable slow deceleration and I do this by riding the brake pedal in D mode, and this may have contributed to my warping rotors.

Anyways after that I do B mode exclusively and it is great as well. Whatever floats your boat. Better than driving the loaner Tiguan 😁

 

I think the brake pedal always mix-in brake engagement in addition to regen [in D-mode], --

According to multiple reputable sources, no. Pure regen and only if you 'ask' more, the friction-brakes are applied. Also ACC only uses regen, unless emergency braking is activated.

 

One pedal driving is not for me but I would like to have a selectable hold function.

 

12 weeks.

Auto Hold will be the first thing I look for whenever we get an update.

 

I love the true one pedal mode on my wife's Bolt. I'm hoping this is something that can be added to the ID.4 down the road in an update. Not holding my breath, but I would imagine it wouldn't be that difficult to "turn on".

 

Have to give deference to drivers who can ride a brake pedal for miles on end. It's not the norm, but I definitely see it here and there. If anybody has a brake wear or rotor warpage problem...

This type of braking behavior / abuse probably isn't repeatable in the IDs?

 

I don't really know why my brakes are shakin already, I thought it could be me riding the brakes on D mode. I drive like a grandma so I very rarely braking hard, if that could be another reason why they are already warped. Or it was just a lucky draw of bad rotors. Or I think someone mentioned after riding the brakes on a long stretch just before a traffic light, and holding the brakes on red light while rotors at high temperature could also cause that. But I know for sure that before I was driving my ID.4 in D mode exclusively, the brakes were not warped (smooth braking across all speeds), and only started shakin (on highway speeds) after a month or two of exclusive D mode.

The shakin is not too bad, I had much worse, but it is there nonetheless. I haven't actually examined the rotors yet, it could also be maybe contaminated pads or something.

 

I don't really know why my brakes are shakin already ... The shakin is not too bad, I had much worse, but it is there nonetheless. I haven't actually examined the rotors yet, it could also be maybe contaminated pads or something.

It's possible you have a warped rotor (they happen, even on expensive cars), but you could also have a hanging break caliper, a ESC sensor that's acting up, etc. etc.

Honestly, I'd take it to the dealer and make them diagnose and fix it, hopefully under warranty. Getting these new cars aligned, etc. is a major expense, so make them fix it before it's too late!

 

Personally, living in a hilly area where you are always either going up or down, I love the Creep function and NO one pedal driving. Modulating the one pedal driving while going downhill is unnecessary stress for the driver and nauseating to the passengers....

After test driving both the ID4 and MY, I ordered the ID4 in part because I really did not like Tesla's OPD. As a friend who owns a Model S said - "we got used to it over time but I really do not like it". For me that could be said for the entire Tesla driving experience. Seems that they went out of their way to make it "different" regardless of whether the differences improved the overall experience or not. The MY Performance Edition does accelerate like a bat out of hell though.

 

I drive on a lot of windy roads with blind corners. To me one pedal driving isn’t just annoying but it’s less safe. I frequently have my foot over the brake as I go around a corner but you can’t do that in a car with strong regen unless you want to drive with two feet.

Now, if I did a lot of stop and go driving I would probably love it!

it’s just software at this point so I do not know why they can’t give the consumer the option and let them tailor their car to their preferences.

 

I drive on a lot of windy roads with blind corners. To me one pedal driving isn’t just annoying but it’s less safe. I frequently have my foot over the brake as I go around a corner but you can’t do that in a car with strong regen unless you want to drive with two feet.

Now, if I did a lot of stop and go driving I would probably love it!

it’s just software at this point so I do not know why they can’t give the consumer the option and let them tailor their car to their preferences.

You should always apply accelerator as you go around a curve, ESPECIALLY if it’s slippery. So, you should apply the brake BEFORE the curve (if you are going too fast) and then as you enter into the curve, you should be applying the accelerator). Coating into a curve is a bad idea.

In this respect, one-pedal driving does exactly what should be done when you are going into the curve. I don’t like one-pedal driving, but this is one of those few examples when it’s useful.

 

After test-driving a Model Y and an Ioniq 5, our family decided that one-pedal driving should be renamed "vomit mode" for every EV. My entire family ended up carsick before the end of the test drive in each of these two cars, even when we put the Tesla into the "chill" setting and carefully monitored the accelerator. In addition, the one-pedal driving is incredibly uncomfortable for the foot on the accelerator; you can never even relax your foot for a moment, or the nausea-inducing lurch of the regenerative braking immediately kicks in, much to my chagrin. This left me with a sore ankle afterwards. The id.4 and its ability to coast resulted in by far the smoothest ride of the bunch, and we immediately reserved one. Kudos to VW for this!

 

There are many people who think driving means either you have one foot on the accelerator or one foot on the brake pedal at all times. The concepts of "anticipation,""maneuvering" and "coasting" while driving seem lost on them so it's not hard to see why the idea of one pedal driving would completely freak them out. It's an acquired ability, one which forces you to actively engage in your driving. I guess this interferes with eating, texting and putting on make-up while driving.

 

Well, that is WHY I would like options. VW is just to stupid to integrate them. Nothing wrong with people liking one or the other - It is a software thing to give people an option. Others can do it, why not VW? Stupid, stubborn Germen thinking!!!

 

...Others can do it, why not VW? Stupid, stubborn Germen thinking!!!

It's VW that offers the either/or option (sort of). It's Tesla and BMW (specifically the i3, unsure about the i4) that box the driver in.

Unless you're saying full-to-a-stop OPD. B mode is close enough for me, and yeah, I'd appreciate more. However VW giving us a D and B choice was a pretty user-friendly move.

 

One pedal driving is one of the things I love most about my Model Y.. and one of my main gripes about my wife's ID.4. Just makes driving much more pleasant.. especially in stop & go traffic where you end up playing footsies with other vehicles.

Others have pointed out the perfect solution though, and let the customer decide. We are probably trading the ID.4 at some point for an EV6. And one of the things that is attractive about the EV6 is that it has several different regen modes. The strongest of which is supposedly stronger than what even Tesla uses. Considering regen is something is software-based, there is really no excuse for not making it adjustable. The only additional thing I ask.. is that the setting 'sticks' if it's adjustable. I've read on the Hyundai/Kia EVs that it gets reset after each drive.. which is just silly.