For six days and over 3,300 kilometers, a Bosch development team embarked on an extraordinary test drive, journeying through diverse climate zones to the Arctic Circle. This ambitious endeavor marked the first successful public road test of Bosch's innovative hydraulic brake-by-wire system.
A Revolutionary Approach to Braking
What makes the brake-by-wire system unique is its complete elimination of the mechanical connection between the brake pedal and the brake system. Instead, the driver's braking request is transmitted purely as an electrical signal via redundant signal lines. Bosch's solution features two independent hydraulic brake actuators—a by-wire brake actuator and an ESP®—ensuring robust and efficient performance. Unlike traditional brake systems, which rely on a mechanical connection for redundancy, Bosch's new system removes this coupling, offering a fundamentally new approach to braking.
Leading the Way in By-Wire Solutions
As a pioneer in braking and steering systems, Bosch is at the forefront of developing by-wire solutions for vehicles. The hydraulic brake-by-wire system is set to launch in fall 2025, with a purely electromechanical system also in the works. Bosch has already secured orders from various vehicle manufacturers and anticipates that by 2030, over 5.5 million vehicles worldwide will be equipped with brake-by-wire technology.
The Journey and Development
The brake-by-wire system is being developed at Bosch's center in Abstatt, near Heilbronn. The test drive took the team from southwestern Germany through Hamburg, Copenhagen, and Stockholm, with a detour to the Arctic Circle, culminating at Bosch's winter test center in Vaitoudden, Arjeplog, northern Sweden. Bosch obtained special approvals for public roadway use in several countries, based on a comprehensive safety concept.
A Milestone Achievement
"The entire team has worked with incredible motivation towards this event and is immensely proud of this achievement. Our hydraulic brake-by-wire system performed flawlessly throughout the journey," said Hagen Kuckert, project manager for the by-wire brake actuator at Bosch in Abstatt. "We conducted thousands of braking operations, gaining valuable insights and data on the brake system's behavior in various traffic situations, which we will use to further optimize our system."
This successful test drive not only demonstrated the reliability and safety of Bosch's brake-by-wire system but also marked a significant milestone in the journey from test track to public road.
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