- Mercedes In-Drive system mounts the brakes to the electrical motor
- In-Drive is a friction-based braking system
- Mercedes has In-Drive in lively testing, hasn’t given a timeline for manufacturing
Mercedes-Benz is rethinking how the braking system works, and the place it is positioned, in upcoming EVs.
In Germany final week, Mercedes-Benz engineers confirmed Inexperienced Automobile Studies one in every of its newest improvements dubbed In-Drive. It is a system that relocates the whole braking system from contained in the wheels to inside an EV’s electrical motor housing.
The automaker did not decide to when, or which car, the system would possibly debut on and go into manufacturing, but it surely stated the function is already in lively testing.
Mercedes-Benz In-Drive brake system
Referred to internally as “the brake of the longer term,” the In-Drive system continues to be a friction-based brake system that consists of a water-cooled brake disk that is not uncovered to air. Mercedes engineers stated they’re nonetheless experimenting with completely different fluids. They need a whole lot of water within the unit to dissipate the warmth, however they do not need a large radiator to help. Fully enclosed, the brake discs reside on each side of the electrical motor.
Mechanical braking in EVs is barely wanted about 2% of the time whereas 98% of braking conditions might be dealt with by regenerative braking, based on Mercedes engineers.
The brand new regenerative braking system within the 2026 CLA-Class, which would be the first EV on the automaker’s next-gen MMA platform, is able to as much as 200 kw of recuperation, based on Mercedes. The present EQS—a heavier automotive—is able to as much as 290 kw of recuperation, a Mercedes engineer stated.
Mercedes-Benz In-Drive brake system
The Mercedes group stated In-Drive is designed to be a lifetime system good for about 15 years and 186,400 miles (300,000 km), given it might theoretically solely be engaged 2% of the time. Right this moment’s brake pads solely cowl a small share of the brake disc, however the In-Drive system’s pads cowl the whole floor space of the disc, which ends up in much less drive getting used.
The In-Drive braking system may very well be mounted on a entrance axle that is devoid of an electrical motor, however the system would nonetheless sit within the middle of the automotive and axle slightly than by the wheels like right this moment’s brakes.
Shifting the brakes inboard shifts the burden to the middle of the automotive and creates much less unsprung mass, which can end in higher dealing with.
By enclosing the brakes absolutely there isn’t any brake mud particulates and the wheels might be closed off to be extra aerodynamic.
Mercedes-Benz paid for journey and lodging together with some German pretzels for Inexperienced Automobile Studies to convey you this firsthand report
