regenerative braking

American

[ri-jen-er-uh-tiv brey-king] / rɪˈdʒɛn ər ə tɪv ˈbreɪ kɪŋ /

noun

a braking system that captures the kinetic energy used to stop a vehicle and converts it into electricity to recharge the vehicle's batteries.

If a car is expected to usually be used in stop-go driving, the regenerative braking can be very beneficial.

Etymology

Origin of regenerative braking

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On account of regenerative braking, I might not have to change the brake pads until my vehicle hits 70,000 miles or more.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

The cars have fully recyclable aluminum shells and a regenerative braking system, according to LAWA.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2024

Like many electric vehicles, the Jaguar I-Pace offers regenerative braking, in which the energy created as the car brakes is re-captured and sent back to the battery.

From BBC • Mar. 8, 2024

The issue involves the vehicles’ regenerative braking system, which generates electricity from the car’s motion when the driver takes a foot off the accelerator.

From New York Times • May 12, 2023

My range was boosted, in part, by regenerative braking that charges the battery.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 11, 2021

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023