[insightfully]

Do you think VSA will prevent the skidding? I'm just use to double pulling on the deceleration paddle for max regenerative braking. No skidding so far even though I know the risk. I don't do it when it is raining or snow on the ground though(keep my distance on dry roads, too).

My 'engineering gut' says VSA won't prevent skidding. (PLUS... if Honda calls it out as a risk, it seems to me that they don't think their own systems can catch/correct it either.)

VSA/ESC is described as "regulating the engine and motor output and selectively applying the brakes" if the car turns less than intended or to maintain traction on slippery surfaces. The reason I don't think VSA will kick in to correct traction issues created by regen paddle adjustment is that the paddles ALSO regulate engine/motor output. In the moment where the paddles are adjusted, I think the car will favor driver input over automatic input (VSA), leaving the risk for traction skid.

But this is my unscientific opinion only...!

 

[Mr. Natural]

I use a single click on long windy downhill roads where engine breaking of various degrees helps with controlling your speed.

 

[dr_glenn]

I gather that when I am approaching a stop light, if I just use the brake, there is still some regen going on, but if I use the paddle, I can get even more regen. It's easy for me to think of using the paddle when descending a steep hill, but I don't think about it during town driving on a flat road. I'm going to try doing that and see if I can improve MPG a bit.

 

[insightfully]

I gather that when I am approaching a stop light, if I just use the brake, there is still some regen going on, but if I use the paddle, I can get even more regen. It's easy for me to think of using the paddle when descending a steep hill, but I don't think about it during town driving on a flat road. I'm going to try doing that and see if I can improve MPG a bit.

Yes, you're right about combining regen. You can visually see the extra amount of regen you net from "brake+paddle" versus "brake only" by the deeper charge value on the green indicator.

 

[FRR]

I love using the paddles and use them every time I drive. I use both clicks and never have had any issue with skidding. Of course I've never tried it on snow. Who would? Big hills where I live and they are not only useful to use but are fun

 

[gremal]

What I'm looking for is a hack to enable the highest level regen and keep it there even when in regular Drive or Econ mode. Its too bad the engineers didn't think that was a good idea....

The engineers did the best they could and they optimized it for general driving on typical roads. The paddles are just for going up or down steep hills, basically, to save your breaks going down or give yourself a boost going up. I like them, and as I've never had a car with paddle shifters it's a good introduction to the feature. I also tend to use it instead of braking, as I suspect this will save my brakes over time.

The one thing that bothers me about them is they're not attached to the stem of the steering wheel but to the wheel itself, so the position is different if you're turning. I've reached for the paddles a few times and couldn't immediately find where they were when the wheel wasn't at true 12:00.

 

[mgldan]

The one thing that bothers me about them is they're not attached to the stem of the steering wheel but to the wheel itself, so the position is different if you're turning. I've reached for the paddles a few times and couldn't immediately find where they were when the wheel wasn't at true 12:00.

I concur. I've been trying to use the paddles on the clover-like offramp by my exit, and I'm consciously trying not to use the brake pedal. I want to only gradually slow down so as to maintain momentum. Since I am turning the wheel relatively sharply, I have to really think in order to pull the right paddle to decelerate.

 

[gremal]

I gather that when I am approaching a stop light, if I just use the brake, there is still some regen going on, but if I use the paddle, I can get even more regen. It's easy for me to think of using the paddle when descending a steep hill, but I don't think about it during town driving on a flat road. I'm going to try doing that and see if I can improve MPG a bit.

Actually, I don't think that's accurate. The brake may generate the most resistance and re-gen, but using it causes repetitive stress over time to you and the car, so Honda cleverly offers this alternate approach to generate resistance similar to downshifting vs braking. While driving, you can see in the lower-left reading of your dash the effect both approaches have on regenerating the battery. When looking at the dial, it seems the paddle can push the needle down halfway in certain circumstances (e.g., when using the paddle to decelerate downhill), whereas braking in those same circumstances can push the needle all the way down, which is good for battery regen.

Of course it depends how hard you step on the brake pedal. But the paddle lets you avoid lifting your foot to lightly tap the brake. When you notice traffic slowing ahead, the paddle comes in very handy. I've fully integrated the left-hand paddle into my driving, as much as using the gas or brake pedal I'd say.

 

[andrew28]

When you notice traffic slowing ahead, the paddle comes in very handy. I've fully integrated the left-hand paddle into my driving, as much as using the gas or brake pedal I'd say.

I do this a lot for traffic slowing up ahead or preparing to make a right turn with no stop sign. It kind of annoys me now when I drive another car that doesn't have the left paddle.

 

[FRR]

I Love my paddle shifters!

 

[mgldan]

Totally agree! I really missed the left-hand paddle and brake hold while I was traveling last week and renting a Kia.

The paddle provides very gentle deceleration and gives me warm fuzzies since I’m recovering energy. In contrast, as @gremal indicated, pressing the brake pedal is repetitive stress. It takes concentration to hold that guy in place at stoplights. I felt so stressed, waiting for the light to turn green, holding my car back from barreling into the intersection.

It’s kind of why I like the decision to reset the regen level every time, in ECO mode and regular mode. A lot of reviewers criticized it. But over the long term I think it’s the right call. The graduated deceleration makes me more aware of my surroundings, and I don’t pull as much or as soon when I’m being tailgated.

 

[andrew28]

It’s kind of why I like the decision to reset the regen level every time, in ECO mode and regular mode. A lot of reviewers criticized it. But over the long term I think it’s the right call. The graduated deceleration makes me more aware of my surroundings, and I don’t pull as much or as soon when I’m being tailgated.

Yep, I don't bother with the right paddle. Always use the left paddle to slow down and push the gas pedal if I need a little more speed again. Honda did it right by having the deceleration reset instead of being saved like in sport mode. If I use the left paddle while in sport mode, I usually forget that I left it on max regen previously, and would only find out once I have my foot off the gas. It could be dangerous on the highway where I would sometimes use sport mode, have cars following behind closely, only to have my foot off the gas to slow down a little, then realize the sudden deceleration from the previous saved max regen. So I don't use the paddles anymore if I use sport mode now.

 

[BabyBleu]

I love the paddle shifters. My last two hondas were stick shifts, so it's natural for me to use the paddle shifters to decelerate when coming to a stop or in traffic or when descending a hill. I use the right paddle when I no longer need to hold back the car as much. Also, sometimes you don't come to a complete stop after descending a hill so you need to use the right paddle to return to normal prior to using the gas peddle to accelerate. Also, if you're using the ACC, the paddle will disable it. I don't remember now if both paddles disable it. I think I used the right paddle but I'm not positive. Must experiment again next time I'm on a highway.

 

[gremal]

I love the paddle shifters. My last two hondas were stick shifts, so it's natural for me to use the paddle shifters to decelerate when coming to a stop or in traffic or when descending a hill. I use the right paddle when I no longer need to hold back the car as much. Also, sometimes you don't come to a complete stop after descending a hill so you need to use the right paddle to return to normal prior to using the gas peddle to accelerate. Also, if you're using the ACC, the paddle will disable it. I don't remember now if both paddles disable it. I think I used the right paddle but I'm not positive. Must experiment again next time I'm on a highway.

Yes, the left paddle will turn off CC (as will braking), but no you don't need to use the right paddle to return to normal prior to using the gas peddle. Similar to how the paddle will turn off CC, stepping on the gas will turn off the paddle.

 

[dr_glenn]

The paddle controls seem wrong. The first pull on the left paddle shows TWO downarrows on the display. The second pull adds one more. And that's as high as it goes.
When I pull on the right paddle it decreases by one each time, but is not able to cancel: it only decreases to one down arrow.

 

[hasarad]

The paddle controls seem wrong. The first pull on the left paddle shows TWO downarrows on the display. The second pull adds one more. And that's as high as it goes.
When I pull on the right paddle it decreases by one each time, but is not able to cancel: it only decreases to one down arrow.

Level one of regen is the default when you lift off the throttle. Levels two and three are done using the left paddle. Cancelling is done by holding the right paddle for a couple seconds (all arrows disappear). Although the arrows will disappear, you're still at regen level 1 (the dash just won't show it).

 

[dr_glenn]

Level one of regen is the default when you lift off the throttle. Levels two and three are done using the left paddle. Cancelling is done by holding the right paddle for a couple seconds (all arrows disappear). Although the arrows will disappear, you're still at regen level 1 (the dash just won't show it).

That's a weird UI implementation, but what you say makes sense. Thank you for clearing that up.

 

[insightfully]

Do you have any tips for using the paddles?

Here are some top-of-mind thoughts/tips. I'm sure others will have more to share!

• 'Easy' places to use the left regen paddle are when approaching stops and/or going downhill. You'll gain battery charge while slowing the car down (stop) or maintaining speed (downhill).
• At the bottom of a hill, if you don't need to stop you can use the right paddle to return to Eco or Normal mode, OR you can just press the gas pedal to accelerate.
• In Sport mode, you can set and keep the regen level. In Eco or Normal mode, the regen level is temporary and resets after you stop or after you accelerate. In Sport mode, regen only occurs when your foot is off the gas pedal.
• The regen paddles don't trigger the physical (friction) brakes, so be aware that your rear brake lights don't come on as you apply the paddles. The friction brakes (brake pads) are only used when the brake pedal is depressed while the car is slowing to <5 mph.
• Honda warns through the manual that "rapidly increasing the deceleration rate by quickly shifting the paddle can cause the tires to skid." especially in rain or snow conditions. To offset this risk, I pause a bit before the first and second clicks when using regen.
• Initial travel of the brake pedal is regenerative, so using both the brake pedal and regen paddle gives more total regen (i.e. "brake + paddle" regen > "brake" regen > "paddle" regen)
• I find the regen paddles helpful for temporary slowing the car (minor deceleration) in moving traffic, more for convenience rather than needing to tap the brakes.

Initial travel of the brake pedal is regenerative, so personally, I mostly use the brake pedal more than I do the regen paddles. I tend to use the paddles for extra help stopping the car quickly over short distances. This prior thread/video convinced me that "dragging the brakes" is an effective "one pedal" technique for maximizing regen/mpg, without undue wear on the actual brake pads. I like being able to drive and brake the Insight like a 'traditional' car, and still get great mpg without extra effort.

https://www.gen3insight.com/forum/1...s/750-2019-honda-insight-touring-hybrid-mpg-drive-0-60-mph-review.html#post5378

 

[Susan]

@insightfully - Thanks for the great explanation of the paddles. I've been trying to understand them.
@Angie - check out this Honda video about the paddles, too -

I've had my Insight for about two months now, and I love it! I mostly drive in econ mode and am obsessed with keeping the EV indicator on, and getting better and better gas mileage.

 

[insightfully]

I've had my Insight for about two months now, and I love it! I mostly drive in econ mode and am obsessed with keeping the EV indicator on, and getting better and better gas mileage.

Nice! Warm weather helps battery charge and brings more instances of EV. Online car articles quote +25% mpg help in warm weather versus cold weather, which is an always welcome gain!