Neil Cheeseman on The EV Report Podcast
What happens when advanced software, precision hardware, and decades of engineering expertise converge? You get next-generation regenerative braking systems – tailored for both high-performance and everyday electric mobility.
Following up on our recent Coffee BRAKE podcast with The BRAKE Report, CES is once again joining forces with host Brian Hagman – this time on The EV Report Podcast. In this latest episode, Neil Cheeseman, Head of Business Development for Driveline & Electrification and Motorsport at CES, takes the mic to discuss the evolution, impact, and future of regenerative braking in electric vehicles.
Regenerative Braking, Explained
The conversation opens with Neil’s introduction and a look at CES’s heritage in engineering innovation, spanning from its origins in the 1990s to its current role supporting OEMs and niche vehicle developers worldwide.
Neil then guides listeners through the fundamentals of regenerative braking – what it is, how it works, and why it’s becoming a non-negotiable feature in electric mobility. In clear and practical terms, he outlines how regenerative braking recovers energy during deceleration and feeds it back into the battery, boosting both range and efficiency.
CES’s Integrated Approach
What makes CES’s regenerative braking systems stand out? Neil highlights the company’s unique ability to merge Continental’s Mk Cx braking technologies with CES’s high-voltage (HV) powertrain solutions, delivering highly integrated, scalable systems. He also explores the critical role of software, especially the Vehicle Control Unit (VCU), which ensures all system elements – from braking to energy recovery – operate in perfect harmony.
Bridging Road and Track
Just as CES showcased its motorsports ABS expertise in our previous podcast with Volker van Lier on The BRAKE Report, Neil now expands the conversation to include how CES adapts its regenerative systems for both motorsport and road-going electric vehicles.
From electric race cars to commercial EVs, CES designs its solutions with performance, reliability, and efficiency at the core. Neil shares a compelling example of a project where CES significantly improved regenerative braking performance, underscoring the company’s ability to tailor solutions to customer-specific needs and drive measurable results.
What's Next?
Looking to the future, Neil points to smarter, more adaptive regenerative braking systems – ones that respond dynamically to vehicle conditions, driver inputs, and environmental factors. As vehicle electrification accelerates, CES continues to invest in innovations that enhance energy recovery, control precision, and overall system integration.
And if you haven’t yet, be sure to check out our earlier conversation with The BRAKE Report on CES’s Motorsports ABS Kit, available here.
