2011 NISSAN LEAF Owners Manual

speed driving you may feel that regenerative
brake provides less deceleration than the engine
braking in an ordinary vehicle. This is normal.
Less deceleration is provided by the regenera-
tive brake system when the Li-ion battery is fully
charged. Regenerative brake is automatically
reduced when the Li-ion battery is fully charged
to prevent the Li-ion battery from becoming
overcharged. Regenerative brake is also auto-
matically reduced when the battery temperature
is high/low (indicated by the red/blue zones on
the battery temperature gauge) to prevent Li-ion
battery damage.
The brake pedal should be used to slow or stop
the vehicle depending on traffic or road condi-
tions. The vehicle brakes are not affected by
regenerative brake system operation.
NOTE:
.When applying the regenerative
brakes, you may hear a sound coming
from the regenerative brake system.
This is a normal operating character-
istic of an EV (Electric vehicle) .
. If the power switch position is in a
position other than ON or READY to
drive, you can stop the vehicle by
depressing the brake pedal. However,
greater foot pressure on the brake pedal will be required to stop the
vehicle, and the stopping distance will
be longer.
. When depressing the brake pedal, the
braking pedal feel will not be smooth
or may change when the cooperative
regenerative brake system activates.
However, the electronically controlled
brake system is operating normally and
this does not indicate a malfunction.
Using brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will cause overheating of the
brakes, wearing out the brake pads and shoes
faster and will reduce driving range.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed and
select ECO position before going down a slope
or long grade. Overheated brakes may reduce
braking performance and could result in loss of
vehicle control.