alamcculloch:
We will have to wait and see how electric trucks perform in the real world. As far as regenerative braking goes ,the energy (momentum) has to be put there in the first place. Sir Issac Newton discovered the laws of motion many years ago. Basically you cant get something for nothing.
Quite so.
You can`t “make” energy. But neither can you “loose” it.
(In a closed system)
If x energy is used to accelerate a vehicle from rest to a certain speed, then x energy will be regenerated in slowing that vehicle to rest again.
So long as friction brakes aren`t used there is no energy loss at all.
Clearly in the real world there are losses due to air resistance, friction from running gear, heat wasted in motors, and tyres etc.
But in electric re-gen systems the heat wasted in conventional friction or other heat generating systems (retarders etc) isn`t being “lost”. (or more accurately given to the environment). It is kept inside the vehicle system rather than being placed outside it.