Fleet Maintenance - 55

B R A K I N G & CO L L I S I O N AV O I D A N C E
In the case of some EBS valves, additional
flashing - or reprogramming - may be needed to properly position the valve on the vehicle. Technicians will also need to be aware
of the EBS system's stroke sensing sensors
in the footbrake.
Electric vehicles, no longer relying on a diesel
engine and traditional drivetrain, will increasingly use electric motors mounted on
each axle. Some braking and deceleration will be handled by these motors.
However, the electrified powertrain will
not replace the traditional air brake
system, which will remain on electric
vehicles. Today, an electric drivetrain
is unable to meet the legal requirement
of stopping the vehicle if power is lost,
nor is it able to absorb enough energy
adequately in an emergency stop.

Conclusion

Some electric vehicle manufacturers are
also looking to use electrified vehicles as
autonomous vehicles. This has implications
for maintenance as well, because - like all
commercial vehicles that require some
level of redundancy - autonomous vehicles
also require redundancy or complementary

systems to ensure that multiple functions,
including braking, will continue to work if
the primary system has an issue.
While the commercial vehicle landscape
continues its evolutionary path, the central
importance of maintenance will remain integral for the trucks of tomorrow.

Electric vehicles
will also impact a
heavy duty truck's
braking components.
The traditional system will not go
away, and brakes will not get smaller.
On an electric vehicle, the backup pneumatic system may not be used often,
but when needed it must be there. All
of which explains why a properly maintained air brake system remains critically important.
Electric vehicles will not "brake by
wire," or through electronic signals.
When applied, brakes will use air, with
the electronics in place to better control
the valves. If something goes wrong
with the electronics, brake control must
be ready to operate like an air system
today - an important consideration for
maintenance operations.

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Wheel-ends

A key change at the wheel-ends is likely
to be in the friction couple. With electric vehicles, the brakes are expected
to be used less, as the electric motors
take on more of the typical brake work.
Accordingly, a different type of friction
will be needed - a formulation that will
clean itself more and, in the terminology, resist "going to sleep" from reduced
usage, yet be able to maintain stopping
distance during hard deceleration braking events.
As noted earlier, the brakes must
always be in top working condition.
It will be the obligation of the maintenance team to ensure the wheel-end
components are always ready.
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October 2019 | VehicleServicePros.com

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Fleet Maintenance

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Fleet Maintenance