Xiaomi electric vehicle owners, whether they are modern Pro 2 series electric scooters, Ultra or the latest HIMO electric bikes, often face incomprehensible settings in the control menu. One of the most puzzling parameters for beginners is the so-called degree of recovery. Many ignore this item, leaving factory values, and thereby miss the opportunity to significantly increase the mileage on a single charge or, conversely, deprive themselves of a comfortable coast.
In essence, this parameter determines how actively the engine will resist the rotation of the wheels when the trigger is released. Depending on the mode chosen, your gadget can turn into an inertial car that floats by inertia or into an aggressive car with rigid braking of the engine. Understanding the physical processes behind this term will allow you to adapt the behavior of the equipment to specific road conditions and driving style.
In this article, we will analyze in detail the mechanics of the KINetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) system in Xiaomi devices, consider the impact of the setting on lithium-ion batteries and give practical recommendations for choosing the optimal mode for urban driving and off-road.
Physics of the process: how recovery works in electric vehicles
To understand why you need to adjust the braking force, you need to go to the basic principles of the electric motor. When you release the accelerator handle, the power controller stops supplying current to the windings of the engine. However, the inertia of motion continues to rotate the rotor, at which point the electric motor goes into generator mode, converting the kinetic energy of the motion back into electrical energy.
The degree of recovery is the software limit of current that the controller allows to return to the battery at that moment. The higher the set parameter, the stronger the magnetic field in the engine resists rotation, creating a braking effect. This resistance and charges the battery, while slowing down the vehicle without the use of mechanical brake pads.
It's important to note that this is not linear, it depends on the current speed of the wheels. At high speeds, the recovery efficiency is maximum, whereas at slow motion it is almost invisible, which is why setting this parameter is critical for those who plan to use transport in hilly terrain, where frequent descents allow you to significantly replenish the charge.
Why does the battery not charge 100%?
Levels of settings: from "Nakat" to "Sport"
In the Xiaomi ecosystem, especially in apps like Mi Home or Xiaomi Home, users typically have access to three or four levels of recovery customization, and the differences between them are not just in numbers, but also in the tangible behavior of vehicles on the road. Let's take each mode in more detail.
The first level is often called the "Nakat" or "Free Running" mode, in which the engine resistance when releasing gas is minimal, the vehicle behaves like a regular bicycle or scooter without a motor, slowly resetting speed, which is ideal for flat roads, where you need to maintain inertia and not waste energy on constant acceleration after each release of the trigger.
Levels two and three (Standard and Strong) gradually increase the braking current, you start to feel the scooter or the bicycle pulling the leash, preventing you from overclocking on the slopes. Maximum mode makes the ride very dynamic: just release the gas to significantly slow down, which in the city allows you to use less mechanical brakes.
- 🚀 Low degree: maximum inertia, suitable for smooth runs and saving mechanical brakes.
- ⚖️ Medium degree: Balance between coast down and recharging, optimal for a mixed urban cycle.
- 🛑 High degree: aggressive engine braking, effective on steep descents and in traffic jams.
Impact on range and battery life
The main question that owners are concerned about is: does maximum recovery help to drive further? The answer is ambiguous. On the one hand, returning energy to the battery theoretically increases the mileage; on the other hand, aggressive braking by the engine requires more frequent and strong pressing on the accelerator to maintain speed, which can negate all the savings.
Studies show that in a city with constant traffic and frequent stops at traffic lights, a high degree of recovery can actually save up to 10-15% of charge. However, on a long straight road where stops are rare, the Nakat mode will be more effective, since you will lessen the energy to re-accelerate heavy weight after each micro-braking.
Moderation is important for Li-Ion cells: the constant charging of high currents (which occurs when regenerating at high speed) puts additional strain on the chemical structure of the battery and the battery management system (BMS). Excessive heating of cells during intensive recovery can accelerate the degradation of the capacity.
⚠️ Warning: Long-term use of maximum recovery on long descents can cause the controller to overheat and temporarily shut down the charging system to protect electronics.
Comparative table of working arrangements
To make it easier to choose the best driving strategy, we have prepared a summary table that will help you quickly navigate which mode is best suited to your current road conditions and travel goals.
| Parameter | Low (Eco) | Medium (Standard) | High (Sport) |
|---|---|---|---|
| The coast-off effect | Maximum | Moderate. | Minimum |
| Engine braking | Barely noticeable | Tangible. | Aggressive. |
| Recovery of energy | Minimum | Medium. | Maximum |
| Comfort of driving | Smooth. | Balanced | Sharp. |
| Wearing of the pads | High-pitched | Medium. | Low. |
💡
If you're driving down a slide and the battery is already 100 percent charged, the recovery system will automatically shut down so that the battery doesn't recharge.
How to change your settings through the Mi Home app
Energy saving is controlled exclusively by software via a smartphone. Physical switches on the vehicle itself are not usually provided to fine-tune recovery. First, make sure your device is paired with your phone and has an up-to-date firmware version.
It takes less than a minute to change the settings. Open the Mi Home app on your smartphone. Find your scooter or bike in the list of devices and go to the main control page. You need to find the menu item responsible for general settings or settings of the pedal / accelerator.
The interface may vary slightly depending on the model, but the logic remains the same. Look for Settings, then General settings or Driving Settings, and there you will see a slider or drop-down list called "Recovery" or "Breaking Force."
☑️ Algorithm for setting up recovery
Once you have selected the desired value, remember to confirm the change. Often the device will emit a characteristic beep to confirm the successful application of a new driving profile. Now the behavior of the vehicle has changed, and you can immediately check the difference in traffic.
Features of operation in winter
Winter makes its own adjustments to the work of any electronics, and Xiaomi is no exception. At low temperatures, the chemical processes inside the lithium battery slow down, and the internal resistance of the battery increases, making the process of charging (recovery) less efficient and even potentially dangerous to the health of the cells.
Many modern Xiaomi controllers have built-in protection that automatically limits or completely disables recovery if the battery temperature drops below a certain threshold (usually around 0°C or -5°C).
In the cold season, it is recommended to switch the degree of recovery to a minimum, this will avoid sudden jerks during braking, which on a slippery road can lead to a wheel lock and fall, and a gentle charging mode will help to save the battery life in difficult temperature conditions.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to heat up the battery by driving and braking in the cold, which can cause permanent damage to the internal structure of the battery (plating lithium).
Diagnosis and typical problems
Sometimes users notice that the recovery has stopped working or is acting strangely, regardless of the settings set. One common reason is wear on the mechanical part. If the brake pads are hooked or the disc is curved, the system can compensate by changing the behavior of the motor, which confuses the owner.
It is also worth checking the status of the contacts and connectors going from the engine to the controller. Oxidation of the contacts can lead to signal loss or increased resistance, which does not return energy to the battery, but dissipates as heat in places of poor contact.
If you notice that recovery efficiency has dropped dramatically, it makes sense to reset the settings to factory settings through an app, and sometimes a software glitch of a controller can block the proper operation of energy saving algorithms.
💡
A sharp decline in recovery efficiency often signals a battery BMS or controller overheating rather than a software error.
In conclusion, adjusting the recovery rate correctly is a powerful tool in the hands of an experienced rider, which not only extends the life of mechanical brakes, but also optimizes power consumption, making every trip on your Xiaomi device more predictable and safe.