Illustrated glossary · Regenerative braking
How does regenerative braking work?
Regenerative braking uses an electric motor as a generator while the car slows. It converts some of the car’s motion into electricity stored in the battery, instead of losing all that energy as heat in the brakes.
See how it works
Switch from accelerating to slowing down and follow the energy.
Vehicle example
2026 Honda Accord · Sport Hybrid
Situation
Recharging
The drive motor turns the car's motion back into electricity for the battery. The regular brakes add what's needed, and the engine can shut off.
How this works
Honda’s two-motor hybrid technical release: “…During braking or when coasting, the propulsion motor converts the kinetic energy of the decelerating vehicle into electrical energy…”
EX-L pairs 17-inch wheels with 48 ; the 19-inch are rated 44. These are whole-trim , not a wheel-only test. All four hybrids make the same 204 ; don't add the 146-hp engine and 181-hp motor ratings.
Source: Honda’s 2026 Accord specification sheet, Two-Motor Hybrid System guide and hybrid technical release. The hybrid picks its mode by itself from throttle position, battery charge and other factors, so each situation shows a typical case, not a threshold.
The arrows show energy direction. They do not predict recovered energy, stopping distance or the amount of braking at either axle.
The same motor can push or recover energy
When driving electrically, the battery supplies a motor that turns the wheels. During regeneration, the wheels drive that motor as a generator. Some energy returns to the battery. Conversion losses mean the car cannot recover everything it used to accelerate.
The regular brakes still matter
Battery temperature, charge level and other limits can reduce recovery. Friction brakes provide the rest of the braking as needed. The amount of slowing when you lift the accelerator, and how it blends with the brake pedal, depends on the vehicle.
A regenerative hybrid is still a hybrid
Regeneration is a function, rather than a separate type of . Conventional hybrids, and battery EVs can use it. describes a way to control slowing with the accelerator; it is not another name for all .
Explore it on a vehicle
Pick an equipped build to explore. Prices before .
2026 Honda Accord
2027 Honda Civic
2026 Hyundai Elantra
2026 Tesla Model Y
About these examples
Year-specific examples from our catalogs, not a complete market list. A missing vehicle or trim does not establish that the feature is unavailable. Each illustration and link uses the shown build. Unknown prices stay unknown.
2026 Honda Accord
2027 Honda Civic
Our Civic data has all five announced US 2027 regular sedan trims, their standard equipment, starting prices and published EPA ratings. It doesn't have the Hatchback, Si, Type R, 2026 inventory, paint and dealer accessories yet, so something missing from this page may still be offered.
2026 Hyundai Elantra
Our Elantra data has all nine US 2026 gas, N Line and hybrid trims, standard equipment, published starting MSRPs and whole-trim EPA estimates. It doesn't have the separate Elantra N and N TCR Edition, 2027 or earlier-year cars, paint, accessories and unverified paid-option combinations yet, so something missing from this page may still be offered.
2026 Tesla Model Y
Our Model Y data has five refreshed 2026 US short-body variants, matched EPA records, equipment and reported prices. It doesn't have live US configurator price or combination verification, every wheel and seating EPA rating, Model Y L or pre-refresh cars yet, so something missing from this page may still be offered.