Endurance Testing provide the development team with essential insights. For example, Mercedes-Benz tested the latest generation of brake control systems on drives in Arjeplog, Sweden, near the Arctic Circle. For more than 20 years, an official branch of the Sindelfingen plant has existed here: its very own test centre for testing in the most extreme conditions. In addition to the EQE, EQS, EQS SUV and EQE SUV, models of future vehicle generations based on future platforms were also used in the drives across a frozen lake and up the region’s highest mountain.
“During the test drives, our team is primarily concerned with safety, efficiency and driving comfort. The development team tunes the brake control systems individually for each model series – and pushes them to their physical limits.”
Christoph Böhm, Head of Brake Control Systems, Mercedes-Benz AG
On the way to an all-electric future, the team is working on a new generation of stability control systems. These use the electric drive's properties to control the torque at the wheels precisely. Most drivers will probably never notice how hard their Mercedes-Benz vehicles work to keep them out of dangerous situations – for Böhm and his team, and this is the definition of a job well done.
Since Mercedes-Benz established the test facility near Arjeplog, the vehicles have changed significantly. However, the reasons for coming here are still the same: compared to dry asphalt, the grip level on ice and snow is up to 90 per cent lower. These great differences profoundly affect a vehicle's stability and controllability, especially when accelerating, stopping and changing direction. Another advantage is that the weather conditions and surfaces remain relatively constant throughout the winter in the Arctic Circle. The test vehicles are equipped with standard all-season or winter tyres to reflect customers' everyday usage behaviour best.
Comments