Electrification of automotive mechanisms, downsizing of engines, greater focus on better connectivity, and emission regulations have called for major structural changes in the automotive industry. Economic conditions as well as environmental concerns have a substantial effect on the automotive industry. It is in this context that regenerative braking systems (RBS) have gained popularity across the globe. Due to their immense amount of benefits over the traditional automotive braking systems, the RBS market has been growing immensely throughout the past decade. And according to analysts at Technavio, the global automotive RBS market will grow at a CAGR of more than 33% by 2020.
How does a traditional automotive braking system work?
Typically, a traditional automotive brake system makes use of friction to reduce the forward momentum of a moving vehicle. The brake pads in these vehicles rub against the wheels generating excessive heat, which is usually released into the air and wastes up to 30% of the power generated by the vehicle. Not only does the conventional braking system release emissions, but it also hurts the productivity of the car through wear and tear of the engines.
A typical regenerative braking system works on the ‘law of conservation of energy’, through which the kinetic energy generated during the braking process is converted into electrical energy. This electrical energy is either stored chemically in the battery or is routed back to the supply system of the vehicle. Thus the energy that dissipates from traditional braking systems is used by a regenerative braking system to improve the performance of the vehicle.
Major RBS vendors and their products
Source: Technavio
Conservation of energy is just one of the many reasons why traditional braking system have become increasingly obsolete in the current automotive environment. Regenerative braking systems are also gaining popularity because there has been a growing trend among OEMs to build battery powered vehicles. This is to address the volatility of global fuel prices, as well as growing environmental concerns. Electrically produced emissions is one area that has called for a great deal of research and investment. And as RBS works off the first principle of thermodynamics, it is perhaps the most appropriate solution to reduce the levels of electrically produced emissions in the environment.
Other major reasons for why RBS is preferred by OEMs of electric and hybrid vehicles include:
- Reduction in the wear and tear of the engine
- Improvement of the overall efficiency of the vehicle
- Enhancement of the lifespan of braking systems
- Reduction in the level of electrically generated pollution
Due to these qualities, the demand for automotive RBS has been growing immensely, which is why traditional automotive braking systems will soon be a thing of the past.
Want to find out who the key vendors are in the RBS market?
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