First EV, 2026 bZ - unclear on regen levels
Hi all,
About three weeks ago, I got my first-ever EV, a 2026 Toyota bZ FWD (I would've gone for a higher trim, but the base trim put me under the $50k EVAP limit). An EV has been on our plan for several years, but this is the first time owning one.
Overall, I think I've gotten the hang of owning/driving an EV, coming from a few decades of ICE driving, but one thing I'm still a bit uncertain on is how to use the various levels of regenerative braking on this vehicle, since the paddles make it easy to change the level.
In addition, while attempting to educate myself, I've gotten conflicting information; some sources say to turn it off, and just let the blended braking do its job, while others say to turn it to the second or fourth (full) level for max regen.
To put some context on my situation: I live in rural New Brunswick, Canada, about halfway between Saint John and Fredericton, so a lot of up and down the mountain highways on my way to one city or the other (plus in-city driving where the elevation changes are practically nil).
In addition, next month, we'll be taking it on a road trip to Ottawa and back, so once we leave NB, I expect the amount of hill-climbing to ease.
Should I be setting a consistent level of regen, or would I be better off adjusting to a higher or lower setting when on the highways/in town?
ETA: Thanks for the helpful replies, I appreciate your input!