ZF debuts Brake-by-Wire suite for cleaner EV braking
ZF's Brake-by-Wire: electromechanical braking for EVs and beyond
ZF debuts Brake-by-Wire suite for cleaner EV braking
ZF unveils Brake-by-Wire, replacing hydraulics with electromechanical braking. Faster response, less drag and dust, better EV range, plus IBC and hybrid options.
2025-09-02T12:06:42+03:00
2025-09-02T12:06:42+03:00
2025-09-02T12:06:42+03:00
ZF has unveiled a full suite of Brake-by-Wire systems, replacing traditional hydraulics with electromechanical components. The new approach cuts wear, saves energy, and clears the way for future electric-vehicle platforms.After more than half a century of developing braking technology, ZF is moving decisively into the next chapter with Brake-by-Wire. The system lets manufacturers dispense with hydraulic lines and vacuum boosters, swapping them for electromechanical hardware. With the pedal signal sent directly to wheel-mounted actuators, braking becomes quicker, more precise, and more predictable—a pragmatic pivot away from vacuum-era hardware.The standout gain is the sharp reduction of residual drag, the slight pad-to-disc contact that saps efficiency. In Brake-by-Wire this effect nearly disappears, trimming wear and lowering brake dust. For EVs, that matters: reduced drag improves energy recuperation and adds miles of range, and those small wins tend to accumulate over real-world use.ZF is offering multiple configurations: fully electric “dry” systems tailored to passenger EVs, hybrid setups aimed at pickups and heavier models in the U.S., and the integrated IBC package, which brings ESC, a brake booster, and a control unit together. The breadth of the lineup hints at a strategy tuned to regional preferences rather than a single one-size-fits-all architecture.For automakers, it’s not only a technological step forward but also a cost-conscious one: fewer parts, quicker assembly, and more freedom when designing new platforms. Market signals already reflect that split focus—demand for purely electric brakes is rising in Asia, while hybrid variants are gaining ground in the U.S.
ZF, Brake-by-Wire, electromechanical braking, electric vehicles, EV range, residual drag reduction, IBC, ESC, brake booster, electric brakes, hybrid brake systems, energy recuperation
2025
Michael Powers
news
ZF's Brake-by-Wire: electromechanical braking for EVs and beyond
ZF unveils Brake-by-Wire, replacing hydraulics with electromechanical braking. Faster response, less drag and dust, better EV range, plus IBC and hybrid options.
Michael Powers, Editor
ZF has unveiled a full suite of Brake-by-Wire systems, replacing traditional hydraulics with electromechanical components. The new approach cuts wear, saves energy, and clears the way for future electric-vehicle platforms.
After more than half a century of developing braking technology, ZF is moving decisively into the next chapter with Brake-by-Wire. The system lets manufacturers dispense with hydraulic lines and vacuum boosters, swapping them for electromechanical hardware. With the pedal signal sent directly to wheel-mounted actuators, braking becomes quicker, more precise, and more predictable—a pragmatic pivot away from vacuum-era hardware.
The standout gain is the sharp reduction of residual drag, the slight pad-to-disc contact that saps efficiency. In Brake-by-Wire this effect nearly disappears, trimming wear and lowering brake dust. For EVs, that matters: reduced drag improves energy recuperation and adds miles of range, and those small wins tend to accumulate over real-world use.
ZF is offering multiple configurations: fully electric “dry” systems tailored to passenger EVs, hybrid setups aimed at pickups and heavier models in the U.S., and the integrated IBC package, which brings ESC, a brake booster, and a control unit together. The breadth of the lineup hints at a strategy tuned to regional preferences rather than a single one-size-fits-all architecture.
For automakers, it’s not only a technological step forward but also a cost-conscious one: fewer parts, quicker assembly, and more freedom when designing new platforms. Market signals already reflect that split focus—demand for purely electric brakes is rising in Asia, while hybrid variants are gaining ground in the U.S.
