I know that GEMS supposedly have regenerative braking, but can find NO real information about it..

I know, from prior experience, that series-wound DC motors are a REAL pain to set up for regen, but understand that it's a lot easier with the shunt-wound motors in GEMs.

Wondering though, just HOW it works: Does the motor generate power at any time the car is going downhill "on compression", or must the brake be applied?

Assuming that this is a function of the controller, is it programmable? How much power is produced? Does anything change if the governor is set to a higher speed, or with other re-programming of the controller?

ANY info would be appreciated.

Hi solarmon, REGEN is a function of the controller, but generally it is programmable as to when it engages and how aggressive. In other words, I could reprogram my vehicle so that when I lift my foot off the accelerator, the brakes lock up and the vehicle leaves black marks and makes me spill my coffee. Or, I could set it to almost nothing to where I just coast and coast until inertia is gone and the last sip of coffee is too.

I guess your descriptive word of "compression" is the easist way to relate the occurence to an automobile. I still find myself at times going down a hill in town with my regular auto and waiting for regen to kick in. Doesn't happen and the fuel guage doesn't go up a darn bit.