XC60 Recharge B or D mode

[tdw197]

I’ve been experimenting driving in auto B mode, where (I assume) it uses fairly harsh engine braking to charge the batteries.

Does anyone else use this mode and do you see and improvement in range and/or efficiency?

[Director76]

This is often debated and discussed on this forum, worth a search.

B recovers more energy but you lose a lot of momentum compared to D where the car will happily coast. Most find a compromise and regularly shifting between B and D depending on the conditions works best rather than sticking in one or the other permanently. I flick to B and back constantly, B on downhill stretches, rolling to lights and junctions, bleeding off some speed before a corner etc, otherwise I use D

Happy experimenting
D76

[Polestar Pete]

I tend to use D for main roads/motorways and B for in-town use.

When I remember to change mode that is.

[Cull06]

Originally Posted by Polestar Pete

I tend to use D for main roads/motorways and B for in-town use.

When I remember to change mode that is.

I used to do this. I’ve since found that driving in b mode all the time to be more convenient.

All electric cars I’ve driven are in permanent b mode. You just get to choose how much regenerative braking is happening.

I don’t see a reason why it would be ‘harsh on the engine’ as you say. It is designed for that purpose after all.

[Polestar Pete]

I just use D on main roads and motorways because it's a smoother coasting experience. Lifting off in B mode means I don't easily know when the engine braking will engage. That's the theory anyway - I often forget to change from one mode to another.

[Automatic Only]

I default to D in all conditions but flick between the two as needed when slowing down - i.e. I use it instead of the brake pedal as much as possible and try and anticipate when I will need to slow down and use B instead.

[tdw197]

Must admit, after only 2 days, I’m getting used to it more. I’m already a heavy cruise control user so never really coasted that much anyway.

Would be nice if you could adjust the ‘harshness’ of the engine braking though.

[griffin447]

B mode around town and D on motorways and dual carriageways 😊

Interestingly, with cruise control on and going downhill on a motorway, it adds quite a few miles of range to the electric battery!