Introducing green brakes. Great success for Brembo driving research

3/25/2019

 EU Lowbrasys Project concluded. Ceramic-based system created with a mixture of technologies capable of reducing particulate emissions by 50%.

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Technically, it's called “Lowbrasys”, acronym for LOW environmental impact BRAking SYStem, and it is the challenge that Brembo had announced winning as leader of the 10 international organizations, 5 companies and 5 scientific institutions, that participated in this advanced research product, 80% of which was financed by the European Union with about €7.5 million.​

The result was the design of an extremely innovative braking system that included ceramics in the construction materials. It is managed by software to optimize braking distribution and uses filters that "capture" the particulates with an app that can be downloaded to a smartphone that assesses driving style and encourages the driver to drive in a more sustainable way. It is thanks to this blend of technologies that braking will become more ecofriendly and reduce particulate emissions.

Basically, braking will be controlled by software that optimizes pad and disc wear with an app that assesses driving performance in real time, reporting whether it implies excessive brake wear, and with the recovery of the dust produced, sending it to a filtering point.​​​


 

 

 
 

​​“This result is a virtuous example”, explained Roberto Vavassori, Brembo Business Development & Marketing, “of collaboration between different organizations. It is important to understand that each European country is too small to act alone and that cooperation, on the other hand, leads to great results. Two important repercussions will come from this project. Know-how and new solutions for the market, with the value of the knowledge that will increasingly make the difference between a normal company and a successful company.”​

The Lowbrasys project was financed through the European Commission “Horizon2020” program with the goal of accelerating research development and validation of technologies and methods that allow efficient use of clean technologies on the road. The challenge was to develop a new generation of technologies, materials and tips to improve the impact of traffic on health and the environment through a structured, shared and global product for an environmentally friendly, innovative braking system, capable of reducing micro and nano particulate by at least 50%.

Partnering with Brembo in this research were Ford, Continental Teves, Federal Mogul and Flame Spray, as well as research institutions Technical University of Ostrava, KTH Royal Institute of Technology of Stockholm, The Trento University Department of Industrial Engineering, the Joint Research Center of the European Commission and the Mario Negri Institute of Bergamo.

The new brakes will be ready for the market within three to four years.​​


 

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