Need to descend a steep hill? Don't worry - your Tesla has hidden capabilities. Let me show you...

[@Joeb4iley]

One peddle driving is great, it’s like going from a manual to a good auto box all over again. It just makes sense, it’s so easy to drive.

[@PhilSmith71]

Or one pedal even….

[@theodorehaskins3756]

@@Joeb4iley So it just happens to be the most efficient way to drive your Tesla car, and the safest way to drive an electric car with the added benefit of not using the brakes, which extends the longevity of your brake pads, which help reduces your overall maintenance expense. Cheers 🥂

[@FiDelZarlar]

pedal?

[@tedoptional-p8l]

@@PhilSmith71 One peddle equals two pedals.

[@DouglasJMark]

💯 Did you see Kyle Conner of Out of Spec Reviews recently test of the BYD Seal? He found it does NOT have anything quit like Tesla one pedal driving (hold mode). Quite surprising for a car that is supposed to be Tesla’s main rival.

[@Lestat481]

One pedal drive was the first thing I got used to in my Tesla.

[@LaFisicaCheNonTiAspetti]

@@Lestat481 me, too. Like in the first 15 minutes. It was so natural

[@DouglasJMark]

Me too. At first, it seems weird. But, it’s awesome and gives you continued precise control that is likely why driving Teslas manually is far safer than ICE cars that are projectiles between lifting off the accelerator until pressing the brake. One pedal driving alone for most driving is my goal with rare braking to keep the rotors clean from dust (they don’t even rust in winter salt FYI).

[@folwr3653]

I just discovered it three weeks ago. Driving in the jura in France I needed to stop on a steep descend (about 15%) and I wondered if it would come to a halt just by taking the foot off the gaspeddle. And to my supprise it did!😊

[@HansMilling]

Why would anyone with an EV use roll. Having a car that does not move unless you give it input, is the best thing ever. Using just one pedal unless you need to do an emergency break.

[@EllenRNPHN]

Great demonstration of the different modes. I drive my car in hold mode so don’t need to use the brakes so much since I drive in the city. I wish I had had a Tesla when I used to drive the hills of Los Angeles while working as a Home Health nurse. So many hills there!

[@civwar64bob77]

Great test. I had always assumed ROLL mode was like putting a car in neutral, and that it would keep speeding up on the downhill. That it didn't was a total surprise to me. I only drive in HOLD mode and never tried the others.

[@justgetatesla]

I would like Roll to actually roll…

[@stephenmiller6690]

Great idea for a test! Had never thought to see the difference. I use Hold all the time.

[@Jaw0lf]

I must say I pretty much use hold mode constantly. Great examples.

[@pixie706]

The first mode sounds similar to my deisel 4x4 hill descent. How would you compare it to any of your previous cars ? Very interesting options and a necessity for us rural people.

[@justgetatesla]

In a mechanical car you’re always slowed by the gearing and engine braking. How much depends on the gear - and how much noise you can cope with…

[@Jaw0lf]

@@justgetatesla Yep that is how we have done it in the past. Now is the time to embrace the new. This is the way!

[@nthused]

Well done!!! That Roll mode…going backwards…that freaked me a little! I keep mine in Hold

[@tedoptional-p8l]

You almost scared me to death! You passed on the wrong side!😁

[@paulverschuren5457]

Try again, but with 100% charge, it doesn't break at all. That's a reason not to charge 100% here in Puy-de-Dôme / France. But what a great experience not to break anymore.

[@Lestat481]

🤣🤣🤣 You are having way too much fun 🤣🤣🤣

[@DouglasJMark]

Yup, you have come down with “Teslaitis” like so many of us. When I drive of 2nd old ICE car or any other ICE cars and scare myself remembering to step on the brake when the car doesn’t slow and stop automatically, I’m delighted getting back in our Y and wish I can only drive Teslas in the future.

[@Jonathantuba]

I am used to Roll and Hold as my 2018 model X only has Roll (Hold only came to the X and S in 2019), while my 2023 model Y I have in hold. Hold mode is much preferred and I do miss that when driving the X.

[@genelane2243]

Another interesting test would be to repeat the 3 mode test, except do the testing at stop sign intersections. on the level, going uphill and going downhill. I might have tried the other modes when I got my Tesla in 2021, but use only hold now for at least 3 years.

[@casperhansen826]

I use hold mode all the time in my Model Y, I would most likely prefer hold mode in those conditions since I would like to have full control of the speed especially when going around the corners. In this situation the 8-11 mph seems to be perfect but if the road was wider and the stretches between the hairpin corners was longer then th 8-11 mph would be too slow anyway

[@DouglasJMark]

Great video Ian. Thanks. Hope you can try this road using FSD one day. It’s scary at first, but I think it’ll do it perfectly. Lotsa love to all from Toronto ❤❤❤

[@erhantimur]

Brilliant video, I've wanted to make a video covering the same topics, one pedal driving with HOLD and regen is game changing. it feels so natural to drive like this opposed to the conventional way. If you don't drive a tesla you need to go have a test drive and understand why this is a brilliant car.

[@oldchev2850]

I think driving up to the edge of a drop off, I'd feel better, controlling the roll with the pedal that actually will stop the car. A good demonstration. Thanks for making the video.

[@BluueFSD]

Hold mode even got improved at slow speed control (I am talking about below 5mph) in the last year or so, and it is much more percise/agressive at getting you to 0 on hills (it will even use energy, compared to just regen, to get you to 0mph), whereas before it used to just end up rolling if the gradiant was strong enough, I remeber having to actually help it with the friction brakes on my 2020 model 3

[@theodorehaskins3756]

So thank you for the video, I myself always drive my Tesla in hold mode, because it’s the most efficient way to drive the car, and the safest way to use the car, as it extends the life of your brake pads, which has the benefit of lowering your overall maintenance costs. So the question you asked about whether or not if you had let off the brake, and you were backing into a parking spot, with the car in roll mode, would the car have stopped before it hit the fence? The answer is it would not have stopped before hitting the fence, and no matter what mode you’re driving in, you have to use the brakes to stop to avoid an obstacle, and that is also true in hold mode, depending on how fast you’re going, because if you’re going too fast, it will not stop you from hitting an object. So we need to be clear that neither mode has automatic collision avoidance, as that feature only works at certain speeds, and when you are either in cruise control, auto steer or full self driving. So when you’re driving the car manually without these features activated, you will get the warning of an impending collision, but collision avoidance is not automatically applied when you’re driving your vehicle manually. Cheers 🥂

[@ralphietito]

Great demonstration. I wonder what mode we should use in the event that we need to be pulled by another vehicle in case of emergency.

[@wbijsterbosch]

@@ralphietito Neutral. These mode have nothing to do with that situation. The car is still on Drive now.

[@MrAdopado]

Tesla has a specific Towing Mode for when the Tesla needs to be towed (not to be confused with Trailer mode when the Tesla is towing a trailer).

[@railman7454]

Great interesting video, and glad you had fun making it

[@sumyunguy7942]

FSD is coming your way soon! I absolutely love it and use it on every drive! It’s amazing

[@greghudson9717]

When I first got my Model Y, my wife said she was not keen on HOLD mode, she preferred CREEP, which operates just like an auto gearbox. However, after 2 weeks, I noticed she was not using the brakes very much at all, she had subconsciously converted to mostly one pedal driving. So, without telling her, I switched her to HOLD mode, and after 2 more weeks told her what I had done. She now uses HOLD mode 100% of the time, as do I.

[@justgetatesla]

It took me about 18 months to convert to hold mode.

[@greghudson9717]

@@justgetatesla It's good to hear you've made the switch. I had HOLD from the time I left the Tesla delivery centre.

[@MrAdopado]

@@greghudson9717 Interestingly the earlier Model 3 only had Creep or Roll until a software update in November 2019 when Hold was added. I immediately switched! I never routinely drove automatic transmission cars before that so Creep was not an attractive choice at all. I think the only people who would ever choose Creep would be those who where previously familiar with how traditional auto boxes tend to operate.

[@Bfranklyn731]

Beautiful country you live in! ❤️ greetings from michigan! Thanks for the tips.

[@gavlarrrrr]

Great video for lazy people like me. Never would have known otherwise. I discovered some buttons the other day in the boot, left hand side. Thought they were bag holders like in my old range rover but they put the seats down 😃. Craziest road with my Tesla was Porlock hill 1:3 😳. Easy peasy unlike when I was 10 and we went up it in my dads 100e and me mum and sister had to get out and walk as it wouldn’t make it up with the trailer on. Happy days 🤔

[@sunindragupta9236]

try it in netral to get an idea of the speed when going down hill

[@davekirk100]

My early M3 has adjusable regen, two modes, standard or low. I use creep and low regen so I have to use the brakes occasionally, stops them seizing up. There aren't many hills that steep in the Midlands, but I would consider changing modes in a mad location like that

[@M3NTALMAGIC]

Wonder what difference in battery percentage between hold and rolling is as regen not used in rolling

[@garden-Railway]

I’m really interested in buying a Model Y, the interest free PCP option really appeals and could save £5-7k interest I’d love blue and white interior long range

[@DucanSeven]

Thanks! That was useful information.

[@BruceMallett]

A neat idea turned into a great and fun video. I must confess that some sadistic part of my brain was hoping for an oncoming car so that I could see how you’d handle that on such a narrow and steep road! 😂

[@justgetatesla]

As you saw there is literally no way to pass.

[@purrdey]

Only one mode on a Model 3 Highland. Tesla reasoned that Creep and Roll were so little used they might as well get rid of them. Plus when you slow to 0MPH it puts on the EV equivalent of a handbrake. So IMHO Creep and Roll are not worth bothering with.

[@martinekstrom6303]

@@purrdey Unless it’s ice. You don’t want the car to brake hard when You let go of the gas on icy roads. Can’t belive they got rid of that.

[@nick81185]

@@martinekstrom6303 you don't suddenly take your foot off the accelerator in ice, you drive with care and finesse, like you would in any car under those conditions.

[@martinekstrom6303]

@@nick81185 Creep and roll still is there but you need a mode with 0 regen. Beeing able to free roll is important on black ice. To neither accelerate or decelerate. Things happen fast and you can’t search for that millimeter on the gas to find that. You should just be able to let go of the gas fast and free roll. When you let go of the gas you should free roll until you apply brake or power in the right moment. 35 years of 50000 km ice winter driving on Scandinavian roads. Just google what to do on black ice.

[@koma-k]

We have an old S (2016) and a '22 Y, and hold mode is one of the things I wish the S had. That and a newer MCU. Still prefer the S for long distance driving, while the Y is easier to get in and out of and so tends to get picked for a quick run to the shops. BTW the regen in the Y is also "harder" than in the S, so if I've driven the Y for a bit I occasionally misjudge the distance needed for the S to slow down on regen alone.

[@SWR112]

Reminds me of pennan I visited a few weeks back. But it’s steeper 😂

[@terrymackenzie6784]

When I test drove the Y the feature I didn't like was the one pedal driving mode it didn't accrue to me that you can turn it off. I'll have to organise another test drive now 😃

[@MrAdopado]

It's unfamiliar but really is the best way of driving and only takes a short while to adapt to.

[@rvboondocker2559]

It’s not “hill mode” in that regard. It’s for a stop on a hill. Creep, is like an ice vehicle as it idles and rolls forward.

[@ronaldgarrison8478]

As the battery gets more charged during regen, there will be less regen available. I would expect the onset of that to be very gradual, during even the longest single descent. Even so, the car needs to manage all that gracefully, without the driver needing to think about the details. And that includes applying some reverse motor torque, in situations where more regen braking is called for than you can get by feeding power back into the battery.

[@timoliver8940]

My 2024 Mini Countryman S E Sport has a Trail Mode that engages a very similar set up to the “real” (registered trade mark/ patented) Land Rover System I’ve had in all the Land and Ranges Rovers that I’ve owned since 2001. The biggest difference between the Mini’s set up and the system in my 2020 and 2023 Defenders is that in the Defenders I can very the speed of Descent from 15mph (which feels really fast offroad) down to 1mph using the cruise control +/- key on the steering wheel. The LR system is also brilliant on wet grass and icy roads ……………. I’m not sure that the Tesla or BMW systems would handle ice as well. One thing with the real HDC is never ever press the brake pedal as it disengages the system and you WILL loose control of the car but press the HDC button again and it engages very smoothly and gently - it works up hill and down hill, in forward or reverse.

[@kimedwards3937]

On my Model 3 Highland it doesn't have creep or roll mode. Only has one pedal drive.

[@realulli]

When I got mine in 2019, hold mode didn't exist. When it was added, I switched to it and never looked back. Now I learned Tesla recommends to use roll mode in winter to keep the brakes in shape...

[@justgetatesla]

I use the brakes, don’t worry

[@bearcubdaycare]

Wouldn't you want the control to slow down, depending on the road ahead, such as for tight bends, without changing modes?

[@justgetatesla]

Sure! But outside of North America (known as the entire world) there is no FSD. It’s illegal

[@dang3254]

I’ve never had mine out of hold since day 1

[@richardmolby9189]

Here in Seattle there are hills so steep that my Model Y will not stop, even in HOLD mode.

[@justgetatesla]

Wow!!!

[@guy7622]

HOLD mode is the only mode with regen, right?

[@TheGreatestJuJu]

Interesting, first person I’ve seen do this. I’m now curious if roll slows you down on flat ground as well, while traveling at high speed? Is it detecting the hill steep and keeping roll from truly being neutral. Roll should roll…

[@john_hind]

Ian, do you have a clinometer app on your phone? It would be interesting to see a quantification of 'bloomin steep' for that hill! My driveway has an inclination of about 20 degrees and my Model Y's hold mode gives up and just lets go on this hill. I've never gotten to the bottom of whether this is a fault (it has done this since new) or it is just so rare to encounter a hill this steep that nobody else is reporting it. I have gotten used to this now, but when I was new to it this behaviour was actually quite dangerous. If you let the car run close to a downhill obstacle there can be no way out in ANY mode. It is exactly the same in reverse, but say the obstacle is ahead of you and you are trying to reverse up hill away from it. It will not let you 'ride the brake' so as soon as you take your foot off, before you can press the accelerator, the car rolls even closer to the obstacle! When the car was brand new, I very nearly got trapped that way - there was JUST room, with about a centimetre to spare, to roll out downhill with the steering at full lock! Given the woeful turning circle of the Model Y and the fact that previous attempts had rolled me ever closer to the obstacle, this was a VERY lucky escape! I strongly agree with you that under no circumstances should the car roll opposite to the selected drive direction and it should automatically actuate the brake to avoid this if it cannot do it with motor torque alone.

[@justgetatesla]

Sounds like a scary incident!

[@Lawrence7of9]

I drive regularly-ish down a steep hill on Long Mynd, Shropshire. I only use hold mode too, but usually 20-30mph, the car doesn’t stop or brake though it’s nicely controlled. But I have to brake to slow it or prevent speeding up on parts. Only time I really use the brake, but my sense is it feathers in stronger regen because of my faster speeds?

[@Sp_75-76]

I remember when you first tried one pedal driving!!

[@justgetatesla]

It took me a long time to convert!

[@TalK0]

On the 2024 MY, there is no option to choose a mode, it does hold exclusively.

[@justgetatesla]

I’ve just read that! They need to add the choice back in

[@HLF31528376]

17:20 use hold mode in combination with cruise control to hold the speed…🫡

[@grantrandall1674]

You should try it on Porlock Hill Somerset. 25% mostly 1 bend is 33% I believe.

[@justgetatesla]

Been down it! Not in the Tesla though. Would be much easier than it was in my car with the engine racing in 1st gear on the descent

[@Rabs73]

I just drove 700km today in a heavy combustion 4wd. Gee, I missed the Tesla, especially on hills.

[@garden-Railway]

Could you do a video investigating range with 4 passengers and luggage impact on range

[@justgetatesla]

Make sure to watch this week’s video…

[@Bercik87]

highly recommend using cruise control going downhill, experience is great.

[@justgetatesla]

I don’t want use use cruise control going down a hill with a steep blind hairpin and then a drop off the sea wall at the bottom 😏

[@RobertKeenanComp-U-Right]

Wonder if that causes unndo stress on Motors?

[@justgetatesla]

Which bit? The roll back? Possibly…

[@mickyd3]

Curious to know if the assisted brake option "Apply Brakes When Regenerative Braking is Limited" does anything during hill descents. May also want to turn this feature off/on during a test.

[@justgetatesla]

Good point - though it wasn’t limited in that test

[@bobuk5722]

Hi ian, long time no watch. But, i'm back. A shot gun mic with a, wait for it, dead cat wind cover might stand some chance. Try 'Pro Av' or 'CVP' if interested. Both provide 'free' consultation - Ok, its covered in their pricing. a' o

[@td389]

Is there a difference in the regeneration bar, the green bar, with the different modes? I too drive in “hold” however I have noticed when going downhill hill, even though I press the throttle, Tesla uses regeneration while going downhill.

[@justgetatesla]

I didn't notice a difference in the bar - it doesn't dash out any of the regen range. It just applies it differently.

[@franciscoshi1968]

It seems to take a long time to stop on one pedal mode. Does it take longer to stop the steeper the hill is?

[@justgetatesla]

Yes!

[@gerritlombard7472]

Is it more economical to drive in roll mode on the open road on a more flat elevation?

[@justgetatesla]

Tesla say that constant regen is best. I like to roll, which is why I sometimes knock it into neutral..:

[@MrAdopado]

The way to tell if you are driving more/less economically in respect of "roll" is straight forward ... if you have to use the brakes, even a tiny bit, you've just thrown away some energy which is then used in friction/heat. In Creep or Roll mode that final requirement to use brakes is evidence of a loss of efficiency. In Hold mode that final stop is done with regen and the brakes are only applied to hold your position. There are certainly circumstances where rolling is the most efficient way of using your car's energy but if it ultimately results in you having to touch the brakes then you will have lost what you gained. Rolling and then switching in the regen by going into neutral and then back into drive when needing to slow can be achieved but it's a delicate skill in a Tesla and is unlikely to to save anything measurable!

[@lucdelouw9226]

Great test, I also noticed that your screen is now in white

[@justgetatesla]

Day mode / night mode. Choices choices!

[@JianYZhong]

When the car stops at a steep incline, does it regenerate energy? Or does regeneration occur only when the car is moving?

[@justgetatesla]

When it’s moving

[@JianYZhong]

@@justgetatesla Thanks, yes that seems to be what other people tell me. But from the point of view of physics, there must be some regeneration going on. Assuming the brakes are not applied while the car is at a steep incline, gravity is pulling the car down, and so if the wheels are not turning, the kinetic energy of the downward pull must be transformed into potential energy in the vehicle's battery. It's true the car is not moving, so there is no kinetic energy at all; but I'm focussing on the margins - i.e., gravity is pulling the car, causing the car to "want to" move, but this movement is not happening, which suggests the kinetic energy what would have been created is being transformed into potential energy in the car battery. So that's why the car is not moving even though the brakes are not applied.

[@vsshs]

Hey, Thanks for the very nice explanation! I am curious about how it behaves if the battery is fully charged? Does it use break pads to slow down? If so, how can one avoid getting breaks too hot in this case when going down a cery steep hill?

[@casperhansen826]

Whatever you do, do not charge it on the top

[@greghudson9717]

G'Day. Yes, if the battery is nearly 100% full, or, the battery temperature is cold, my Model Y rwd, displays the green 'regen limited' icon on the screen, and offers little to no regen at all. Instead it will use the brakes to slow the car instead. As the battery drops in percent, or the the temperature increases, it will use blending of the regen and the brakes to slow me down. Once the regen light goes off, full regen is available, and the car no longer uses the brakes. It is possible to alleviate the temperature issue problem if you preconditioning the battery before you begin your drive, by 'navigating' to a nearby Tesla SuperCharger (ideally you do this while the car is still plugged in, so you don't use up your battery).

[@justgetatesla]

I only charge about 80% on a trip, and never above 95%. Any higher and regen basically disappears.

[@greghudson9717]

@@justgetatesla When you need 100% you need it, and have to modify your driving to compensate for no regen.

[@markoconnell804]

Is not 1 lane for both traffic directions a very very very bad thing?

[@justgetatesla]

That all depends if anyone is coming the other way 🫣😂

[@AndyUkLeic]

Just a shame we can't change the regen level on the fly.. Stopping to change mode sometimes just isn't practical.. I have a performance Model Y... I do use the breaks lol

[@martinekstrom6303]

Buy the S3XY buttons.

[@mowcowbell]

What happens if you meet an oncoming car on that stretch of road? Yank used to wide roads asking.

[@ianrmallett]

Both cars stop and play chicken! The one that gives in first then reverses to the nearest wide bit

[@justgetatesla]

There is literally no room to pass. If you meet on the bend it’s not too far to reverse back to the car park entrance. Beyond that? The car ascending the hill would need to reverse. Slowly…

[@andrewbrown5402]

Am I correct in thinking that if you’re in roll mode, the car will not roll?

[@justgetatesla]

Sadly not very fast.

[@MrAdopado]

To roll freely you would have to tap it into neutral.

[@jordanpack5571]

My 2024 MY AWD does not have these options. It’s all hold. Full regen.

[@justgetatesla]

They took the options off?

[@jordanpack5571]

@@justgetatesla yessir. Wish I could snap a photo here, but yeah. I’m on 2024.20.10, but I’ve had three updates and it wasn’t there from the beginning. There are videos that talk about this, as well… NA things, it seems 🥲

[@davidpearn5925]

An old Model 3 with those unnecessary stalks ?.

[@gallienus172]

Man, Scottish roads can be scary. lol

[@SteveLomas-k6k]

In a normal car you can just ride the brake and go any speed you want... I can't imagine finding fun little twisty roads like that and NOT wanting to enjoy driving them, but that's me.

[@anthonydyer3939]

Try doing that in Norway when they have 1000 meter switchback drops. You’ll lose your brakes to brake fade. You have to manage your braking with low gear. Just remember: engines have radiators to reject heat efficiently. Brakes do not. Electric cars just don’t have these issues.

[@SteveLomas-k6k]

@@anthonydyer3939 I've driven quite a few long steep roads in the Rockies, and I do take your point, I did get brake fade once that nearly caused me to hit the car in front- but that was a fairly extreme case- in a heavy Jeep Cherokee, on a very hot day, which I don't think happens too often in Norway! I rented a car with regenerative braking and it was horrible, you had to push the car down hill like the emergency brake was dragging. Again personal taste perhaps. But aside from the practical limitations of EVs, I don't really like the driving experience either.

[@greghudson9717]

I LOVE twisty mountain roads in my Tesla, (in HOLD mode). It's like a video game trying to judge JUST the right point before a downhill corner to slow you down just the right amount to hit the apex at just the right speed. If I'm still going too fast, I use my LEFT foot to press the actual brakes (but rarely).