- Mercedes In-Drive relocates the brakes to inside an EV’s motor housing
- In-Drive stays a friction-based brake system
- In-Drive is in lively testing with no timeline for manufacturing introduced
Future Mercedes-Benz EVs may not have brakes sitting behind their wheels.
Mercedes-Benz engineers in Germany confirmed Motor Authority its newest EV drivetrain innovation referred to as In-Drive. It is a newly developed system that strikes the brakes from behind the wheels to inside an EV’s motor casing. Mercedes is internally calling the system “the brake of the longer term.”
Engineers informed MA the In-Drive system is already in lively testing, however stopped wanting confirming manufacturing or a timeline for manufacturing.
In-Drive remains to be a friction-based brake system with pads and steel rotors that gradual the car utilizing stress. However the complete system is sealed, enclosed throughout the EV drive unit’s housing. A rotor and pad bookend the electrical motor throughout the steel housing. To maintain issues cool since there is not any airflow, the system is water cooled, although engineers are nonetheless enjoying with totally different fluids and viscosities because the unit must discharge a number of warmth and not using a radiator.
Solely about 2% of braking is mechanical for an EV, whereas 98% might be dealt with by regenerative braking, in accordance with Mercedes’ engineering workforce.
Immediately’s EQS is able to as much as 290 kw of recuperation by the regenerative braking system, whereas tomorrow’s 2026 CLA-Class EV shall be able to 200 kw of recuperation.
Stated to be designed for the lifetime of the car, which Mercedes defines as 15 years or 186,400 miles, any such system might decrease working prices. The system’s pads last more than at this time’s brake pads as they embody the complete disc and thus have extra floor space.
Mercedes designed the system have the ability to mount to the middle of a entrance axle sans electrical motor for single-motor rear-wheel-drive purposes. Shifting the braking system to the middle of the car will displace and take away unsprung mass, which in flip will enhance dealing with.
Mercedes mentioned at this time the system is dearer than conventional brakes, however the aim is to deliver the price all the way down to be equal to conventional brakes.
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