What is regenerative braking and how does it work in EVs?

Regenerative braking converts the vehicle's kinetic energy back into electrical energy during deceleration. When the driver lifts off the accelerator or applies brakes, the electric motor operates as a generator, creating resistance that slows the vehicle while charging the battery. This can recover 10-30% of energy depending on driving conditions and significantly extends EV range, especially in city driving with frequent stops.