Benefits of an electronic parking brake

The location of the parking brake is also easily visible through the "P" symbol located near the gear shift area or on the dashboard of the vehicle.

Electronic parking brakes are researched and designed by car manufacturers to ensure driver safety when stopping or parking, especially in cases where the driver forgets to release or engage the parking brake, assisting in a more stable and safer braking process.

Electronic parking brakes are systems designed to help drivers avoid dangerous situations thanks to their perfect automatic control function. This system is also becoming increasingly popular and is gradually replacing conventional mechanical parking brakes.

Electronic parking brake structure

Thanks to the Electronic Brake Control (ECB) system, the electronic parking brake actuator performs very well in tasks including parking on the road, assisting with hill-starts, and activating the Start-Stop system. The electronic parking brake system includes the following components:

Electronic parking brake system controller

Brake actuator

Parking brake switch

Indicator lights on the dashboard

In addition, for this system to function, there are other supporting control components such as: ABS brake controller, brake pedal sensor, clutch pedal position sensor, and AUTO HOLD switch.

The operating principle of the electronic parking brake.

The electronic parking brake is automatically controlled by the ECU or directly by the driver via a toggle or push-button (P) switch located on the vehicle's dashboard. The electronic parking brake system controls an electric motor to engage and disengage the brake via control signals from the ECU or signals from the driver through the parking brake switch (P).

This means that when parking with AUTO HOLD activated, the driver simply needs to shift the gear lever to P or press the brake pedal all the way down, and the electronic parking brake system will automatically activate the parking brake to ensure safety.

This will minimize the risk of the vehicle rolling downhill if the driver carelessly forgets to engage the parking brake when stopping or parking. Additionally, if the driver forgets to release the parking brake while still pressing the accelerator, the electronic parking brake system will automatically unlock, preventing brake lock-up or brake overheating.

How to use the electronic parking brake on a car.

Not everyone knows how to use an electronic parking brake, especially new drivers. To avoid confusion and awkwardness while driving, you can refer to the steps below for using the electronic parking brake correctly:

If the gear lever is in the non-park (P) position, press the brake pedal, then press (P) to activate the braking system and use it.

To release the parking brake, depress the brake pedal, then press the control lever on the (P) button. The brake will then be released and the parking brake warning light will turn off. This helps ensure driver safety in case they forget to depress the brake pedal.

When you want to stop the car, simply shift to (P) gear, and the parking brake will automatically engage.

When using the electronic parking brake system, you must not move the vehicle while the brake warning light is illuminated. Although the system will automatically unlock, doing this repeatedly can damage the braking system and the actuator brakes.

Get it checked if the electronic parking brake system is making excessive noise and vibrating violently.

Advantages of electronic parking brake

Undeniably, electronic parking brakes offer many outstanding benefits to users, such as:

Modern automation featuresThe electronic parking brake system can automatically detect and lock the vehicle when it stops. When using this system, you don't need to pull the brake lever; you can simply shift the gear lever to the "P" position.

Additionally, if the driver forgets to release the handbrake while accelerating, the parking brake system will automatically activate the Unlock function and release the brake to ensure vehicle safety, preventing brake lock-up or overheating.

Hill start assist and hill start assistThe electronic parking brake features automatic engagement and disengagement when the vehicle is in motion, and an automatic brake hold function when the vehicle stops on an incline.

The operation is simple.You can activate the automatic parking brake system simply by shifting the gear lever, instead of having to exert considerable effort to engage and disengage the traditional mechanical parking brake.

High safety when drivingThe safety features of electronic parking brakes are most evident in sudden braking situations. Instead of only acting on the rear axle and causing loss of steering control, the electronic parking brake, through the vehicle's stability control system, applies hydraulic braking to all four wheels, ensuring the safest possible stop.

Transform your car's interior into a more luxurious and modern space: Unlike conventional parking brakes, electronic parking brakes are very compact and feature a modern design, making the car's interior more elegant and minimalist.

Disadvantages of electronic parking brake

Despite its many advantages, the electronic parking brake still has a few drawbacks, such as:

The lifespan of electronic parking brakes is not long. Furthermore, when the car battery runs out of power, the electronic parking brake also becomes unusable.

If the system malfunctions, the cost of repairing it is quite high.

When in use, if the driver applies the brakes, in some cases the vehicle may experience a slight shaking or vibration.