Dive Brief:
- Nexteer Automotive launched a new electro-mechanical brake-by-wire system for OEMs that replaces the hydraulic components of traditional vehicle braking systems, the company announced in a press release April 15.
- The electronically-controlled EMB system eliminates the need for hydraulic fluid and other mechanical components, including the master cylinder, vacuum booster, brake hoses and hydraulic brake calipers for each wheel.
- Nexteer says its EMB system offers improved safety, comfort and serviceability. It can be integrated into the advanced driver assist systems of electric software-defined vehicles that utilize more sophisticated “motion-by-wire” electronics, sensors and software for steering and braking systems.
Dive Insight:
Nexteer’s EMB system is the first product launched as part of the company's broader, chassis motion control strategy, which also includes steer-by-wire technology, according to the release. The software-powered EMB system uses real-time data from vehicle sensors and actuators on the brake calipers of each wheel to apply an optimal amount of braking force under varied driving situations.
Since EMB systems do not rely on a driver’s physical input via a brake pedal, they allow for more precise control of vehicle braking. Nexteer says its brake-by-wire technology can significantly improve the performance of a vehicle's ADAS features, including anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control, automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.
Nexteer’s EMB system can also be optimized for EVs and hybrid vehicles that utilize regenerative braking to maximize energy recovery without compromising the traditional pedal feel of a hydraulic brake setup, according to the release. The sensitivity of the brake pedal, including the amount of travel, can also be tuned via software.
Adding EMB systems to vehicles can also help overcome design challenges for automakers, such as the need to add brake system components on or near the vehicle’s firewall, including the linkage connecting the pedal to a vehicle’s brake booster. It can also help vehicle engineers optimize the location of hardware components to reduce noise vibration and harshness and improve manufacturing efficiency.
“By leveraging our existing building blocks in steer-by-wire, steer-by-brake, software and R&D, we were uniquely positioned to innovate modular approaches to high-precision braking and integrated, smart chassis control that solves many customers’ system challenges,” said Robin Milavec, Nexteer executive board director and CTO, in the release.
Nexteer’s global automotive customers include Ford Motor Co., General Motors, Toyota, Stellantis and Volkswagen, as well as China-based automakers BYD, Xiaomi, Geely and Xpeng.
The company also says its EMB system is more environmentally friendly, as it does not use petroleum-based hydraulic fluid that requires proper disposal after servicing. It also helps to reduce harmful airborne dust from a vehicle’s brake pads, which often contains heavy metals, such as copper, iron and steel.
Nexteer will offer a preview of its new EMB system from April 23 through May 2 at Auto Shanghai 2025.
