2018
Future of braking systems
The infl uence of current and future technologies on braking systems.
Are you using a regenerative
braking system?
5%
No
10 Fleet Maintenance | March 2018
Are you using collision-avoidance systems?
Which type of collision-avoidance systems
do you have on your vehicles?
Forward collision warning
Forward collision mitigation
(automatic braking or emergency brake assist)
Blind-spot monitoring
Lane departure warning
Lane departure prevention
Adaptive headlights
Other (None)
By David Brierley, Managing Editor
Manufacturers continue to add systems to vehicles that
make them safer and more efficient as the technology
allowing them to do so becomes more readily available. As
this technology advances, so too must the braking systems
that allow vehicles to safely slow down and stop.
While most vehicles still use traditional braking systems,
the 2018 Fleet Maintenance Brake Study found that nearly
10 percent use regenerative braking in some capacity.
Regenerative braking allows the recovery of energy during
the braking event that would otherwise be lost as friction
heat. The recovered energy can be stored for later use,
increasing the vehicle’s efficiency.
Regenerative braking is most commonly found in
fuel-electric hybrids or fully electric vehicles where the
recovered energy is stored as electricity in a battery. The
stored electricity can then be used to power the vehicle’s
electric motors, providing additional range of operation.
Traditional braking systems are also changing. Basic safety
systems that have been around since the early 2000s,
such as electronic stability control, rollover stability control
and anti-lock braking, can control a vehicle’s brakes with
little or no driver input in order to help the driver maintain
traction and control.
In recent years, more advanced safety systems have started
to gain popularity, with 19 percent of respondents using
some form of collision-avoidance and 14 percent using forward
collision mitigation technology. Forward collision mitigation
uses cameras and radar to determine if and when a
collision is likely to occur. If the system detects an impending
collision, it can actively apply the brakes with no driver input
in order to lessen the impact or avoid the collision altogether.
As time goes on, these systems are becoming more popular
on vehicles, and fleets are no exception. This is made clear
by the fact that while only 9 percent of respondents currently
use regenerative braking, another 5 percent are considering it.
Likewise, 19 percent are already using some form of collision
avoidance system, and another 9 percent are considering
implementing this technology. These trends in brake technology
are encouraging in that they may lead to continually
cleaner and safer vehicle performance and operation.
9%
14%
14%
18%
18%
5%
10%
67%
86%
Respondents selected all that apply.
Yes
Considering it 19%
Yes
9% 72%
Considering it No