Setting the left shortcut button

[KafueRob]

I'd like to set a shortcut button to change the Regen setting (because it sticks to 3!).
I've seen people report that they can program the left shortcut button to do this - but I don't get that option.
Is there another way?

 

[Tig170]

... it might be that you have a firmware glitch, mine doesn't work at all (although it did when I first got it, before any updates )

 

[tsedge]

This is certainly a function that should work - and does for me on my Trophy-spec with infotainment software R59.

It is likely that you need a software update to do this (it may not actually be the infotainment software that has the bug, but another car module).

If you want it, I would complain to your dealer that it doesn't work and ask for it to be fixed under warranty.

 

[Jamesrr]

I'd like to set a shortcut button to change the Regen setting (because it sticks to 3!).

Just wondering. Why is sticking to 3 a bad thing?

Don't get me wrong, being able to change it via one of the "star" buttons should work, but I'm intrigued why you would want to.

 

[MG Clive]

I'd like to set a shortcut button to change the Regen setting (because it sticks to 3!).
I've seen people report that they can program the left shortcut button to do this - but I don't get that option.
Is there another way?

Is it that it doesn't work, or you can't find the option @KafueRob, if it's the latter, select 'Vehicle' from the menu on the main screen, then select 'Convenience', and you'll find the available options for each Star Button.

 

[siteguru]

In my SE SR I have the Right star set to Regen and the Left one set to Drive Mode. Both work fine. Very occasionally (like once or twice) the left star has lost its config, but I was able to easily reset it. It certainly hasn't done that in the past year though.

 

[gary333]

Just wondering. Why is sticking to 3 a bad thing?

Don't get me wrong, being able to change it via one of the "star" buttons should work, but I'm intrigued why you would want to.

So you can maximise efficiency by “coasting” more.

 

[siteguru]

So you can maximise efficiency by “coasting” more.

Agreed. About town I stick to level 3, but if I'm going to be doing a motorway trip I set it to 1 (or sometimes A).

It takes more energy to get back up to a speed than is recovered by slowing down (via regen) to a speed lower than intended. Regen 1 makes it easier to maintain momentum without having to continually "feather" the throttle.

 

[tsedge]

I find Adaptive mode is the best of all worlds, with coasting at high speed and good regen in traffic.

 

[gary333]

I find Adaptive mode is the best of all worlds, with coasting at high speed and good regen in traffic.

Adaptive would make much more sense if it used the front of sensors/canera to measure distance and adapt regen to said distance (like Hyundai’s do)

 

[tsedge]

Adaptive would make much more sense if it used the front of sensors/canera to measure distance and adapt regen to said distance (like Hyundai’s do)

That would be better, however it is still pretty good I think. That said, never driven a Hyundai.

 

[KafueRob]

Just wondering. Why is sticking to 3 a bad thing?

Don't get me wrong, being able to change it via one of the "star" buttons should work, but I'm intrigued why you would want to.

Ah - I am hoping to pass my IAM test (advanced motoring). And my observer is concerned that the high regen gives a somewhat jerky (abrupt?) deceleration. Switching to 2 is definitely smoother!

Is it that it doesn't work, or you can't find the option @KafueRob, if it's the latter, select 'Vehicle' from the menu on the main screen, then select 'Convenience', and you'll find the available options for each Star Button.

It's the options that don't come up for the * buttons. It has Drive mode and something else (which I can't remember now).

 

[Jamesrr]

So you can maximise efficiency by “coasting” more.

I think we must drive differently.

I don't understand how the regen level has anything to do with being able to "coast" more.

When I'm doing long trips (and I do quite a few) I always have ACC enabled and set my speed to whatever is appropriate for the road conditions, typically 100 or 110 kph here in Australia.

The car sits at 100 or 110 and (or "following" the car in front if we're in a convoy situation) with my foot off the accelerator. I can observe the power consumed on the dash and watch it change as the road goes up/down or stays flat. Going down hills it will typically go to zero and often -ive and up hill, obviously increase.

If we're in a convoy the 'flat road' steady state power consumption will be less than if not following another vehicle due to the 'tow' provided by the car(s) in front. Following in a good convoy can significantly increase range. Conversely, being the 'wind breaker' will lower the range.

Regen has nothing to do with travelling at a steady speed AFAIK.

Indeed, people who don't keep a steady speed annoy the heck out of me and I pass them at my earliest convenience, often with a single digit raised

 

[Jamesrr]

It takes more energy to get back up to a speed than is recovered by slowing down (via regen) to a speed lower than intended.

Yes, but why are you regularly slowing down more than intended?

Regen 1 makes it easier to maintain momentum without having to continually "feather" the throttle.

I guess that could be the case for some but I don't find myself needing to feather the throttle much at all. Each to their own!

*Indeed, I'd prefer if the OPD regen setting 'stuck'. The closest I can get is regen 3, which is decent enough combined with autohold enabled, but full OPD would be better still IMHO.

 

[gary333]

I think we must drive differently.

I don't understand how the regen level has anything to do with being able to "coast" more.

When I'm doing long trips (and I do quite a few) I always have ACC enabled and set my speed to whatever is appropriate for the road conditions, typically 100 or 110 kph here in Australia.

The car sits at 100 or 110 and (or "following" the car in front if we're in a convoy situation) with my foot off the accelerator. I can observe the power consumed on the dash and watch it change as the road goes up/down or stays flat. Going down hills it will typically go to zero and often -ive and up hill, obviously increase.

If we're in a convoy the 'flat road' steady state power consumption will be less than if not following another vehicle due to the 'tow' provided by the car(s) in front. Following in a good convoy can significantly increase range. Conversely, being the 'wind breaker' will lower the range.

Regen has nothing to do with travelling at a steady speed AFAIK.

Indeed, people who don't keep a steady speed annoy the heck out of me and I pass them at my earliest convenience, often with a single digit raised

I don’t live in Australia, and of course travelling at a steady speed makes no difference because you aren’t slowing down when travelling at a fixed speed. Using zero regenerative braking and slowing down by coasting and anticipation is more efficient than driving up to traffic lights and then using highest regen to slow car down, simples.

 

[Jamesrr]

..Using zero regenerative braking and slowing down by coasting and anticipation is more efficient than driving up to traffic lights and then using highest regen to slow car down, simples.

Rather than "simples" I'd say "simplistic".

When in traffic you don't just zoom up to traffic lights and then take your foot off the pedal to hope that the regen will slow you down in time for a sudden red light.

Using regen you do get a feel for how much you'd slow by completely taking your foot off the pedal, but you typically don't actually do that as you're driving considerately and maintaining a consistent distance to the car in front.

So you decrease the throttle and the car slows slightly with a small level of regen or decrease the throttle more if that is what's required, or even take it off completely and push on the brake pedal if you need an even higher level of regen braking and in some circumstances push really hard and actuate the physical brakes!

Experience and anticipation is critical but hardly a reason to not enable regen.

 

[gary333]

Rather than "simples" I'd say "simplistic".

When in traffic you don't just zoom up to traffic lights and then take your foot off the pedal to hope that the regen will slow you down in time for a sudden red light.

Using regen you do get a feel for how much you'd slow by completely taking your foot off the pedal, but you typically don't actually do that as you're driving considerately and maintaining a consistent distance to the car in front.

So you decrease the throttle and the car slows slightly with a small level of regen or decrease the throttle more if that is what's required, or even take it off completely and push on the brake pedal if you need an even higher level of regen braking and in some circumstances push really hard and actuate the physical brakes!

Experience and anticipation is critical but hardly a reason to not enable regen.

You asked why people want less regen, then bloody argue with a valid answer!

 

[Jamesrr]

You asked why people want less regen, then bloody argue with a valid answer!

It's a discussion not an argument!

Arguments are in office 4C across the hall

 

[PeteC]

My first ev was a BMW i3 which had stronger regen than level 3 in the MG and also permanent OPD. There were regen settings to alter the level, it was always the maximum it had. To begin with I slowed down far too much before corners and junctions which soon taught me to moderate how much I lifted off the accelerator to adjust the amount of regen. Lift off a little, get little, lift off a lot, get a lot. When I got the MG I had to readjust to the lower regen it gave (in level 3) but retained the same notion of adjusting it with my right foot. It's always felt the smoothest way of driving to me as you always have its full range of regen levels (weakest to strongest) under the control of your one foot. That's just me, others obviously differ!
Oh, and I sometimes use ACC when cruising at steadyish speeds partly to give my foot a rest but mainly to keep my speed within check as I find without it speed can creep up into the 80s if I'm not careful.

 

[tsedge]

I switched to Adaptive because using strong regeneration on the motorways hurt my foot. I do use ACC but selectively because of its limitations. With Adaptive, it is basically like an ICE car on the motorway.