German carmaker Mercedes Benz has proposed a more efficient braking system for electric vehicles (EVs).
The concept, called ‘In-Drive Brakes’, relocates the braking system from the wheels to the electric drive motor. Positioned where the half-shafts connect, the innovative design integrates the brakes directly into the motor assembly.
The Mercedes system replaces calipers with a circular brake pad mounted on the electric motor’s output shaft. The pad presses against a stationary, water-cooled ring within a sealed enclosure.
While the prototype demonstrates this approach on the rear axle, it has the potential to function on both the front and rear axles.
According to Mercedes, the innovation offers better ride quality, cleaner streets by containing brake dust, and streamlined wheel designs for improved aerodynamics.
Integrated brake innovation
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