Regen question

[Tony THFC]

Hi all
now 6 weeks into ownership of 2026 HS PHEV. I drive 99% on EV and Regen 2 setting. I have yet to see the ev range increase at all whilst driving. Admittedly I have not done any really long journeys but zero increase? Is this normal, as I thought i would see marginal advantages to the regen setting?

Many thanks

 

[BPM06]

Hi all
now 6 weeks into ownership of 2026 HS PHEV. I drive 99% on EV and Regen 2 setting. I have yet to see the ev range increase at all whilst driving. Admittedly I have not done any really long journeys but zero increase? Is this normal, as I thought i would see marginal advantages to the regen setting?

Many thanks

I don't think you will see this at all, because providing the energy to drive the car, especially the torque required to move a heavy car from stand still, I think would far out-way any charge input via the regen. system.
The only ways I have seen an increase in battery charge is plugging it in, or via the petrol engine!
However without regen., I guess you would have a much reduced EV range.

 

[AndySCFC]

I have driven several but not many long trips 200 miles plus in my 2025 HSPHEV and have seen a few miles added but only ever when in HEV mode and almost certainly only when Engine running I don’t think the battery does Regen it comes from engine some more knowledgeable person will undoubtedly correct me if I am wrong

 

[BPM06]

I have driven several but not many long trips 200 miles plus in my 2025 HSPHEV and have seen a few miles added but only ever when in HEV mode and almost certainly only when Engine running I don’t think the battery does Regen it comes from engine some more knowledgeable person will undoubtedly correct me if I am wrong

There is some regeneration to the battery. I am no expert but magnetic induction during breaking and slowing down sends an electric charge to the battery; only a relatively small charge however ie transferring kinetic energy to electrical energy. Without this in place the potential energy would be wasted as heat.
The electrical energy generated would make little difference to the EV. Range displayed on the dashboard. Unless you had a very very long downhill journey using braking and “freewheeling” all the way down .
(Ref. TonyTHFC)

 

[decrep]

I'm an MG4 owner, so don't know about the PHEV.
But as a general rule, the amount of regen is controlled by how much power can be put back into the battery. If the battery is close to full you won't get a lot. With a BEV it's easy to see because the battery isn't being recharged by the motor as you drive along.
If you can deplete the battery driving up a hill, you should see it charge back up on the way down, as long as the motor hasn't started.

 

[Corindikev]

Unless the engine is charging the battery you will never see any increase in battery capacity from regen unless you are going downhill for some time & then you will need to have it set at the highest level. During normal driving you will always consume more energy than you recover from deceleration.

I got asked once why didn't the battery recharge while I was driving my fully electric MG4. My response was that would be perpetual motion which is not possible. The bloke just looked confused & I walked away. There is no point trying to educate stupid people.