San Jose Teen Fails Driving Check Due To Tesla Regenerative Braking System – CBS San Francisco

GILROY (KPIX) – After an examiner failed a teenager who was driving a Tesla because of its unique braking system, the California Department of Motor Vehicles instructed its employees to treat electric vehicles the same way as traditional gasoline vehicles while they are behind the car driving -cycling tests.

Notice to agency staff will follow a driving test on November 23 at the Gilroy office, 6984 Automall Parkway.

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Bryce Rosenblum, 16, began his driving test with the DMV instructor in a Tesla Model 3 with regenerative braking activated in standard mode.

“She warns me immediately that the car will slow down by itself, like a stop sign. And she told me that happened twice before we even left the parking lot. And then the test continues. We did everything a test should have. And then she pulled me in and told me I had failed, ”said Bryce Rosenblum.

The Model 3’s regenerative braking system, like most electric vehicles, is activated when the driver releases the accelerator. The system then recovers the vehicle’s kinetic energy, charges the battery and slows the vehicle down without using the brakes.

According to the teenager, the DMV instructor did not order him to disable the regenerative braking system.

In the comments section of the driving test results sheet, the driving instructor wrote: “The applicant did not slow down the car. Do not put your foot on the brake until the car has slowed down and stopped. “

“And so I asked her what I could do next time to pass the exam. And she told me not to take a Tesla and just borrow someone else’s car. Bring that from someone else who has an engine instead of a real electric car, ”said Bryce Rosenblum.

Bryce’s father, Neal Rosenblum, filed a complaint with the local office and escalated matters to the supervisor and regional manager.

Neal remembered talking to the teacher immediately after the failed test.

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“This is a broken process,” said Neal Rosenblum. “In essence, what she said was that the car brakes on its own. And I said, ‘Okay, but that’s how the car works.’ And she said, ‘But he has to show me that he can actually move his foot from the accelerator to the brake.’ And I said, ‘Ma’am, the car wasn’t set up like that. If he takes his foot off the accelerator and starts to hit the brakes, the car will stop in the middle of the road. ‘”

Apparently, during driving tests, the agency was aware of problems with regenerative braking in electric vehicles for several months.

In August 2021, Teslarati released a report of a similar failed test.

According to the report, “the DMV inspector informed the Tesla owner that the ‘automatic activation’ of the Model 3 had failed. The examiner further explained that she could feel the brakes even if the physical brake pedal was not pressed. ”

The Teslarati report states that at this point the agency is “working to ensure that inspectors have an understanding of the function and its implications for driving”.

KPIX made a query to the agency’s Public Affairs Office regarding Bryce Rosenblum’s complaint and received a response a few hours later:

Thank you for your inquiry about the behind the wheel driving test from Bryce Rosenblum. DMV’s Field Operations Division has reviewed the driving test score sheet and determined that the driving test score will be revised as passed. The customer’s attention is drawn to the fact that his license should arrive soon by post.

The DMV has issued guidelines for staff on the use of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) or electric vehicles (EV) equipped with a regenerative braking system and / or a single-pedal braking function for each driving test. If a customer is using a PHEV or EV with regenerative braking for their driving test, staff were advised not to postpone the test as the vehicle is equipped with a regenerative braking system and / or a single-pedal braking function. Follow the existing drive test criteria when evaluating the test and the application of the regenerative braking system must not be used as the sole reason for evaluating a driving error or a critical driving error.

The Rosenblum family praised the DMV for the prompt response.

“I mean, I have to take my hat off to make them move so fast because that was just amazing,” said Neal Rosenblum. “I think in the end I felt a little confirmed. So, yes, it felt good. “

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“It’s kind of cool how fast they move because they’re known to be slow,” said Neal Rosenblum. “I think it’s important to stand by something you believe in. So if you believe in something strongly enough, you should fight for it. “