To offer a counterpoint, is the electronic parking brake a solution in search of a genuine problem, and an unnecessary complication and potential failure point?
Intelligent parking brake
· By: Jack Nerad for Driving Today
· Date: 2004-04-03
Comments (5) Join conversation
Are you tired of engaging your parking brake when you're on a hill and then trying to figure out just when to disengage it as you push down on the accelerator and ease off the clutch? Pretty soon this age-old ritual will be a thing of the past, as could the current parking brake itself.
The intelligent parking brake is here. It's powered, not by mechanics, but by electronics, and it can be activated with a push of the button. In fact, sometimes it will even activate itself.
By simply pushing a button, the electronic parking brake can act as an improved emergency brake by tapping into the car's computerized antilock brake (ABS) system. With this new technology, the brakes can be fully engaged immediately, allowing for faster stops without skidding that can cause loss of steering control. It might take some training to persuade ourselves to just push the button, but over time it will change the way we drive.
Besides the safety factor, another advantage of the electronic parking brake is that when you are at a red light or in a traffic jam, you don't have to engage a mechanically activated parking brake anymore or even hold down on the brake pedal. When programmed to engage when the car comes to a standstill, the electronic parking brake will hold the car in place automatically. Imagine the convenience when parking on a hill, sitting in stop-and-go traffic, and even stopping at a stop sign. Imagine the potential sales of this device for driving in San Francisco alone!
Right now, the electronic parking brake is available in a relative few luxury automobiles but by the year 2005, some four million vehicles will feature this technology.
Comments
John E, on Friday, 27. October 2006 at 06:55 PM
Mike A, on Thursday, 05. July 2007 at 10:21 AM
To answer your question, no. The adoption of electric parking brakes frees up real estate in the foot area and centre console where the hand / foot operated mechanisms are usually placed. By removing these heavy meatal constructs from the cabin area, they are less likely to injur someone in the event of an accident. The extra functionality mentioned in this article is merely a sales item.
phillip, on Wednesday, 08. August 2007 at 07:56 PM
is there any ajustment on the electric parking brake?
Adam, on Tuesday, 18. December 2007 at 08:10 AM
Best thing ever invented. Yes there is a fast or a slow engagment facility. Never need to use the hand brake again at traffic lights or in crawling stop start traffic to hold vehicle from rolling.
James, on Thursday, 10. July 2008 at 02:39 PM
Where would I find out more about this. Is it available, can the parts be sold seperatly. This could be used on other applications
