Automotive supplier TRW Automotive is planning to introduce heavy-duty Electric Park Brake (EPB) technology to the light truck market by 2017.
According to TRW Automotive vice president Ed Carpenter, the introduction of EPB to SUVs and light trucks will facilitate savings of 20 pounds per vehicle for larger light trucks, when compared to the regular drum-in-hat park brakes.
The reduction in weight will also facilitate decrease in CO2 emissions and improvement in fuel economy.
With EPB vehicles levers or foot pedals used for engage mechanical park brakes will be replaced by button and electronic wiring, which will result in increase of interior cabin space.
The elimination of levers and foot pedals will also facilitate the creation of more flexible interior design, save weight and simplify the vehicle assembly process.
Carpenter added: "In addition shifting from a mechanically controlled to an electronically controlled solution enables many new functions that can work with other vehicle systems to add value for consumers.
"For example EPB can work in conjunction with electronic stability control to help allow for safer emergency stops by preventing wheel lock, or help relieve fatigue in traffic jam situations by holding the vehicle stationary when needed and allowing the vehicle to move forward when safe to proceed."
The company's heavy duty EPB solution features higher clamp loads - from 18.5 kilonewtons (kN) for larger passenger cars.
Image: TRW Electric Park Brake (EPB) technology. Photo: Courtesy of PR Newswire.
