VESC: Adjusting the throttle and brake settings, including curves and regenerative braking

On electric scooters, the throttle and the electric brake lever are typically Hall-effect sensor triggers that send a voltage proportional to their position to the controller. Properly configuring how the VESC reads this voltage completely changes the riding experience: smoother acceleration, more controllable braking, and no unexpected reactions. This guide follows the settings in order, with their names as they appear in VESC Tool.

1. Choose the application

In the VESC Tool application settings, the "APP to Use" setting indicates how the controller receives its commands. For analog throttles, you should select "ADC". VESC Tool also offers a configuration assistant for the inputs, which guides the calibration process. For connection instructions, please refer to our guide for installing VESC Tool.

2. The type of control

The `Control Type` setting in the ADC application determines what the trigger controls. On an electric scooter, a current-based control is almost always used: the trigger sets a torque, which provides a natural riding feel. With two triggers, one for acceleration and one for braking, the `Current No Reverse Brake ADC2` mode reads the accelerator from the first input and the brake from the second, without reverse functionality.

Duty cycle and PID speed control modes also exist, but they are rarely suitable for a vehicle ridden while standing.

3. Calibrate the travel distance

Each trigger sends a minimum voltage when at rest and a maximum voltage when fully engaged. The ADC1 Start Voltage and ADC1 End Voltage settings map these two voltages to the beginning and end of the throttle command; ADC2 Start Voltage and its counterpart do the same for the brake. The assistant measures these values by prompting you to actuate the trigger. Leave a small margin at rest, so that a released trigger never commands even a slight amount of torque.

The "Safe Start" setting prevents the motor from starting if the throttle is already engaged when the power is turned on: keep it enabled.

4. The Curves

A linear throttle provides a lot of torque from the very first millimeter, which can result in abrupt acceleration on a powerful machine. The Throttle Expo and Throttle Expo Brake settings curve the response of the throttle and brake, according to the mode selected in Throttle Expo Mode (Exponential, Natural, or Polynomial). A gentle curve at the beginning and a steeper curve at the end provides finesse at low speeds and full power at maximum throttle.

5. Ramps

`Positive Ramping Time` and `Negative Ramping Time` define the minimum time required to transition from zero to maximum throttle, and vice versa. A slightly longer ramp time smooths out jerks and protects the drivetrain; however, a ramp that is too long can create a feeling of lag in the throttle response.

6. The electric brake

The strength of the electric brake is not adjusted within the ADC application, but rather within the motor's current limits: `Motor Current Max Brake` sets the braking force, and `Battery Current Max Regen` controls the current returned to the battery. When the battery is full, charging is limited, and the electric brake weakens: the mechanical brakes must always be able to stop the vehicle on their own. See our guides on current limits and regenerative braking.

The case of dual-motor scooters

On a machine with two controllers connected via a CAN bus, only the triggers of the primary controller are read, and the "Multiple VESCs Over CAN" option transmits the command to the secondary controller. See our guide on dual motor setup.

A worn-out trigger can cause erratic control: our 370X trigger serves as either an accelerator or an electric brake.