An alternator is a simple generator which uses rotating copper windings and stationary magnets to generate AC power.

What is regenerative braking? Regenerative braking is a way of slowing a vehicle down where some or all of the vehicle's kinetic energy is saved rather than being wasted as heat. Electrically this is achieved through the use of a generator (often the traction motor with the terminals reversed) and energy storage devices such as batteries or capacitors. This generator is usually an AC or permanent magnet DC motor.

What sort of range can be gained from this feature? The typical stated range gain for regenerative braking is about 10%. AC Propulsion states as high as 30%, US Electricar measured as high as 20+%, Toyota RAV4 owners report as high as 25%. This would obviously be more effective in city driving rather than highway where little braking occurs.

What are AC motors like at providing Regen? Unlike brushed motors, AC motors (ie induction or perm mag) can provide regen very efficiently. AC motors can usually regen at almost the same efficiency as when motoring. Regen for AC motors also comes at no extra cost to the existing controller, although bare in mind that AC motors and controllers cost more than brushed controllers. Before purchasing an AC drive system it's worth investigating its regen capabilities.

We don't outright dismiss a KERS (kinetic energy recovery system, aka regen, or Regenerative Braking) on DC systems because of the 3rd law of thermodynamics. (you can't get out more than you put in) We dismiss it because in most highway-capable EVs that run DC, they are using series wound motors that are difficult to regulate when operated as generators. Among other things, when being operated as a generator the brush timing needs to be reversed on these motors to avoid commutator arcing. In the case of AC systems, along with shunt wound and permanent magnet DC systems, Regenerative Braking is much easier and doesn't need to require any additional major components in the system.

Regenerative braking is a system in which the electric motor that normally drives a hybrid or pure electric vehicle is essentially operated in reverse (electrically) during braking or coasting. Instead of consuming energy to propel a vehicle, the motor acts as a generator that charges the onboard batteries with electrical energy that would normally be lost as heat through traditional mechanical friction brakes. As the motor acts in reverse, it generates electricity. The accompanying friction (electrical resistance) assists the normal brake pads in overcoming inertia and helps slow the vehicle.

Supercapacitors charge much faster then traditional batteries and absorb the charge current more readily since their internal resistance is very small compared to a regular chemical battery. This is only a proof of concept video. If this was to be truly implemented, you would size the supercapacitors significantly and most likely add in a buck-boost converter to use more of the energy stored in the supercapacitors.