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[Curt]

The brake light on my Tesla will come one by slowing down, regardless of reason.

On my Bolt EV, I made sure that was the case when I started using the "single-pedal driving mode". Unfortunately, the brake light turns off once the car comes to a stop. That's unfortunate, because to be safe, the pedal must be still depressed after all.

Nobody wants to be rear-ended in a car, let alone on a motorcycle. On electric motorcycles, the computer should illuminate the brake light if measurements from the wheel speed sensor indicate the bike is slowing at or above a certain rate. The computer might drive a relay in parallel with the two mechanical brake switches.

I've been using 100% coasting regen on the FX, so I have to consider consciously the brake light status and control it manually. Personally, I always monitor for vehicles behind when slowing, and slow prematurely until it's abundantly clear the car behind me is slowing too. The time I forget to do that, or can't because I'm already stopped, I'm at high risk of getting smashed.

[Hans2183]

Sorry for digging up such an older thread but it has some valuable remarks in here already so I'm not starting a new one.

Just wanted to let you guys know there was an indiegogo campaign for a helmet mounted brake light that uses accelerometers to detect slowing down and activating brake light as such.

The campaign itself is over https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/brakefree-the-smart-brake-light-for-motorcyclists#/ but it was funded and you can find a link there to the website where they sell this product now. US only it looks like.

chaseontwowheels has a review video about it where you can clearly see it working

If you're not in the states and still want something like this you could look into bicycle brake lights. Cat-eye for example has some that have such an auto brake light function built in. These are a lot smaller but worst case you could even get a bigger rear light and only use the "brains" of the cat-eye product.

And Energica has it on their bikes by default. Including an emergency brake function with pulsating light on heavy braking. That is something available for years on BMW motorcycles. It does grab attention.

Also if you want to hook into CAN bus for this I've been looking at these topics https://www.electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=7383.0 and https://www.electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=6809.0 but it looks like the switch for example on the brake light is not part of can bus messages so it has to be seen if the brake light itself is even included. Also there is the risk of flooding the can bus (when writing) causing other (more important) controls to be dropped. The question is if you want to take that risk.

[Zelidar]

The Bosch’s Motorcycle Stability Control which we all have on our SR/F probably already has all the data input it needs to detect braking.

"...MSC accomplishes this by building the system around an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), a sensor that detects lean or roll angle, acceleration, deceleration,..."
https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/the-edge-of-control-adding-bosch-stability-control-to-the-zero-srf-electric-motorcycle

I suppose it shouldn't be too hard for Zero to use that with the firmware to activate the brake light accordingly, unless the MSC does not share that data with the Cypher III operating system.

[DonTom]

I use the Nolan B901L with the  BlueTooth and brake light.   I wish they would add a beep into the audio so I will know how well it is working on the different sensitivity settings. How do I adjust the senitivity when I cannot even see it light up?

-Don- Reno, NV

[karlh]

And Energica has it on their bikes by default. Including an emergency brake function with pulsating light on heavy braking. That is something available for years on BMW motorcycles. It does grab attention.

While those functions are legal in the EU, US vehicle standards require brake lights to be "steady burning" (see 49 CFR 571.108, Table 1c).  BMW imported a few bikes with the pulsating brake function still active and had to recall them all to make them US legal.

[Crissa]

Just to be clear, flashing brake lights are allowed in some states, and that rule only applies to the main tail light(s), not any accessory brake lights.  A couple companies get around this by pulsing then turning steady.

After looking at people's responses, I really want a pulsing regen light, but I bought a steady one.  Alas.

-Crissa

[karlh]

Just to be clear, flashing brake lights are allowed in some states, and that rule only applies to the main tail light(s), not any accessory brake lights.  A couple companies get around this by pulsing then turning steady.

While the motor vehicle codes in some states may allow brake lights that flash automatically, those codes are in violation of federal law (49 USC 30103, paragraph (b)(1)).  That law says, in part, "When a motor vehicle safety standard is in effect under this chapter, a State or a political subdivision of a State may prescribe or continue in effect a standard applicable to the same aspect of performance of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment only if the standard is identical to the standard prescribed under this chapter."  In other words, federal standards preempt state law.  Imagine the turmoil we would have if each state wrote their own motor vehicle standards.  A vehicle legal in one state would be illegal in another.  And the rule applies to accessory lights as well.  The penalties for manufacturers and vendors who make or sell these products can be fines up to $5,000 for each unit manufactured or sold.  I know of one company in California that went out of business after they were fined for selling HID conversion kits to replace incandescent headlamps.

[Crissa]

Yeah, that is not how that law works.  https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/30103
Note there are other ways that 'exact' that other laws can be applied.  And no, these regulations do all not apply to aftermarket parts, and besides, S6.1.1 states these are only minimum numbers.  You can have others.

Regenerative braking is not defined, other than the suggestion that it's okay to use the braking lamp to this purpose as long as the braking over-rides it.

It also fails to denote how the light can be produced; the wave form is not defined as being square on-off as being 'steady', hence, some have put a pulse or flash ahead of the steady application.  There's always wriggle room.  Is Pulse width modification steady or not?  Well, it doesn't say.

-Crissa

The HID lights were explicitly not a controlled light to avoid glare - it's like some LED kits - they are not focused properly.  HID lights are supposed to have blinders in the housing which keep the brightest part of the beam from other drivers.  The only cases I could find were ones mislabeled as being DOT approved when they were not.

[karlh]

Actually, aftermarket parts ARE covered by the regulations.  49 USC 30112 states that the regulations apply to the manufacturer or sale of motor vehicles AND motor vehicle equipment (i.e., aftermarket parts).  And PWM is not steady.  For more information, go the the NHTSA Electronic Reading Room (https://www.nhtsa.gov/about-nhtsa/electronic-reading-room) and search on brake lights.  You'll find several NHTSA opinions on the subject of flashing lights.  The basic justification for the rule is that flashing red lights are reserved for emergency vehicles.

[Crissa]

...And you're not arguing with what I wrote but some straw man, so conversation over.

-Crissa

[ESokoloff]

And Energica has it on their bikes by default. Including an emergency brake function with pulsating light on heavy braking. That is something available for years on BMW motorcycles. It does grab attention.

While those functions are legal in the EU, US vehicle standards require brake lights to be "steady burning" (see 49 CFR 571.108, Table 1c).  BMW imported a few bikes with the pulsating brake function still active and had to recall them all to make them US legal.

To you & Crissa.....

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=25251.5

[Fran K]

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=25251.5

I tried to study such link.  The word brake seems missing. Motorcycle terminology in my world does not use the term accelerator.  Such de cellerator lights that can flash are to be in their own location, amber and not used for any other function.

Fran

[ESokoloff]

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=25251.5

I tried to study such link.  The word brake seems missing. Motorcycle terminology in my world does not use the term accelerator.  Such de cellerator lights that can flash are to be in their own location, amber and not used for any other function.

Fran

(c) Any stoplamp or supplemental stoplamp required or permitted by Section 24603 may be equipped so as to flash not more than four times within the first four seconds after actuation by application of the brakes.

The discussion between the two of them was centered on the legality of flashing brake light(s) but the rest is interesting as well. 

Likely the law(s) will be modified to cover EV regen.

[Just to be clear, this is California’s laws]

[PaulHMartinez]

I just got one of these.
https://safer-turn.com/product/smart-brake-module/
I drive a Volt and the brake light comes on when I use the re-gen paddle without actually using the brake pedal.
This seems to be of the same theory. It senses deceleration.
I think it's a great idea and on sale for $67 seems like a reasonable alternative. I got one for my 2018 DSR.
I ride in lots of traffic and use the brake as little as possible.
You'll find plenty of youtube videos about install and operation.
I won't be able to install or try it until April.

[troy.kski]

I have a 2020 SR/F and love 100% regen and no lights that come on.  I drive in such a manner that I have *ahem* never had a tailgater.  Someone speeding up and slowing down rapidly enough to turn on a brake light is an activity that seems to annoy many other drivers. And as I have learned, annoyed drivers say stuff to you at stop lights or worse, take your plate number and file a report to the police (speaking from several experiences).  All that said, I understand the safety increase that a brake light activated by any decel would offer to more "stay with traffic" riders.  So I would simply love to see it as an activatable option.