Mercedes In-Drive considers transferring brakes into an EV’s electrical motor

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 energetic testing with no timeline for manufacturing introduced

Future Mercedes-Benz EVs won’t 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 long run.”

Engineers instructed MA the In-Drive system is already in energetic testing, however stopped in need of confirming manufacturing or a timeline for manufacturing.

In-Drive continues to be a friction-based brake system with pads and metallic rotors that gradual the car utilizing strain. However your entire system is sealed, enclosed inside the EV drive unit’s housing. A rotor and pad bookend the electrical motor inside the metallic housing. To maintain issues cool since there isn’t any airflow, the system is water cooled, although engineers are nonetheless taking part in with completely different fluids and viscosities because the unit must discharge loads of warmth with out a radiator.

Solely about 2% of braking is mechanical for an EV, whereas 98% may be dealt with by regenerative braking, in line with Mercedes’ engineering crew.

As we speak’s EQS is able to as much as 290 kw of recuperation by way of the regenerative braking system, whereas tomorrow’s 2026 CLA-Class EV will likely 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, one of these system may decrease working prices. The system’s pads last more than right this moment’s brake pads as they embody your entire disc and thus have extra floor space.

Mercedes designed the system be capable of 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 right this moment the system is costlier than conventional brakes, however the objective is to convey the price all the way down to be equal to conventional brakes.

Mercedes-Benz paid for journey and lodging for Motor Authority to convey you this report