USA WABCO Holdings showcased its breakthrough hydraulic antilock braking system (ABS) with integrated ESCsmart electronic stability control (ESC) at the 2013 Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Kentucky.
It is the first time within the CV industry ABS and ESC have been integrated for hydraulic brake applications on mediumduty trucks and buses. ABS with integrated ESC improves vehicles’ directional stability and helps protect against roll-over, skidding and spin-out during critical driving situations. In North America, government mandates for ESC are anticipated to come into force from the beginning of 2016.
WABCO can now uniquely deliver hydraulic as well as pneumatic ABS with ESC systems for manufacturers of commercial vehicles of sizes from Class 5 to 8.
“WABCO is the first supplier to bring the advancement of hydraulic anti-lock braking systems integrated with electronic stability control to the CV market,” said Nikhil Varty, WABCO President, Americas. “Having adapted these systems to meet North American market requirements, ahead of the anticipated ESC legislation coming into effect in 2016, WABCO can offer OEMs the broadest range of options in safety technology.”
From 2014, WABCO will roll out its hydraulic ABS in combination with ESCsmart, WABCO’s newest generation of electronic stability control which uses computational simulation to achieve ESC technical validation on trucks and buses. WABCO’s ESCsmart is designed to be programmed on the assembly line, enabling new vehicles to be driven away immediately. The hydraulic ABS with ESC also requires 30% less mounting space and weighs 20% less than its current hydraulic braking systems.
ESCsmart significantly reduces time and labour currently required by the traditional approach to ESC technical release. ESCsmart’s enhanced functionality also offers a continuous “self-learning” capability for operators as the system continuously monitors vehicle characteristics and automatically self-adjusts.
