The braking system now introduced by ZF entails the braking drive generated at every wheel by an electrical motor, i.e. with no hydraulic system or brake fluid, as ZF explains in a press release. There may be nonetheless a disc brake or friction brake, wherein the brake pads are pressed towards the disc by hydraulic strain to generate the friction required for deceleration.
Which means that the “dry” brake-by-wire system may also be utilized in vehicles with combustion engines or numerous hybrids and isn’t restricted to electrical vehicles with batteries or gasoline cells. Nonetheless, ZF states that this braking system reveals its benefits “particularly in software-defined and electrically powered autos” and opens up “new freedoms in design and improvement”. ZF claims “considerably decrease meeting and logistics prices” in car manufacturing, because the system has fewer elements. Based on the press photograph, ZF examined the system in a BYD Han.
Based on ZF, the brand new brake-by-wire system, similar to the Built-in Brake Management (IBC) already launched, permits shorter braking distances, higher braking power restoration and decrease upkeep prices in comparison with typical braking techniques.
Defined in a concrete instance: in an computerized emergency cease at a velocity of 100 km/h, the braking distance will be as much as 9 meters shorter than with typical braking techniques. As well as, electrical vehicles can obtain as much as 17 per cent extra vary because of the improved restoration of braking power.
That is made attainable by one attribute: in typical brake techniques, the brake pads relaxation minimally on the brake disk whereas driving, which creates a so-called residual drag torque – i.e., a driving resistance that needs to be overcome with extra power (from the drive battery). As well as, the brake pads are barely abraded, leading to fantastic mud emissions. With dry brake-by-wire techniques, ZF says the residual grinding torque will be “decreased to nearly zero.”
This not solely reduces emissions but additionally put on – which ends up in decrease upkeep prices. When it comes to upkeep prices, ZF additionally factors out that the electromechanical system now not requires brake fluid to be modified over the service lifetime of the car – as a result of there isn’t any extra brake fluid.
By the way, the braking really feel ought to nonetheless correspond to a hydraulic brake – as ought to the security. Based on ZF, the security of knowledge transmission and processing and the ability provide of the electrical motors, is assured by the duplication of all connections and techniques, as can also be frequent in by-wire techniques in aviation.
“Our purely electrically managed braking system is a major addition to our portfolio of networked chassis techniques,” stated Dr. Holger Klein, CEO of ZF Group. “With such by-wire techniques, we’re opening the door to a brand new period of car management.” Klein added that that is very true in software-defined and electrically pushed autos, the place this sort of brake system has much more benefits and opens up new freedom in design and improvement.”
reporting by Sebastian Schaal
zf.com