regenerative braking

regenerative braking (uncountable)

1. (rail transport, automotive, electrical engineering) A form of braking used on some electric vehicles in conjunction with the main braking system, where kinetic energy from braking is converted into electricity and fed back into the power supply by using the traction motors as generators.
   • 1947 March and April, “Swiss High-Speed Electric Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 94:

     Dead-man's handle, automatic train stop, quick-acting compressed-air brake specially suited for high-speed working, and regenerative braking are among the features of the new locomotives.

   • 1962 December, “Constant-speed electric multiple-units in Japan”, in Modern Railways, page 404:

     Regenerative braking, whereby the car's kinetic energy is fed back to the supply line, has recently been introduced on the Kei-Han-Shin Kyuko Railway's commuter services feeding Osaka, instead of resistor braking, and on 52 lightweight cars built in 1960 and 1961 advantage has been taken of this feature to install constant speed controls.

   • 2023 July 26, David Clough, “Technology progression defines Class 93”, in RAIL, number 988, page 54:

     Regenerative braking is retained. Like rheostatic braking, this uses the traction motors to provide a braking effort, but the current developed is fed back into the overhead catenary rather than dissipated through resistance banks.

• regen