Traditional handbrakes are gradually disappearing on new cars.

A survey by online car market research company CarGurus found that only 37% of new cars sold in the UK are now fitted with a traditional handbrake, and only two manufacturers equip all models with a traditional handbrake as standard: Dacia and Suzuki.

In contrast, many other brands, such as Audi, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche no longer equip their vehicles with traditional handbrakes.

Is electronic handbrake better?

The answer is: A lot. The mechanism of the electronic handbrake is a button (with the letter P symbol) that will control two small motors to act on the rear brakes of the car. Therefore, it does not require much mechanical force and does not need to pull the traditional handbrake, thereby freeing up a lot of space for the cockpit, especially the center console area. This technology will help limit the risks from the driver forgetting to pull the handbrake.

Furthermore, most electronic parking brakes will automatically open/close when the car stops or starts and rolls, and also support automatic hill braking. This feature helps to avoid the risk of the car rolling downhill.

“Yes, the traditional handbrake is going away as more and more car manufacturers switch to electronic handbrakes,” says CarGurus UK editor Chris Knapman. “Over the next few years, we’ll see fewer and fewer cars equipped with handbrakes, possibly limited to a small number. There are benefits, of course, but as this new technology sweeps through manufacturers’ product lines, many new drivers may never know what a handbrake is.”

Electronic handbrakes also have some disadvantages, such as less durability than traditional types, because electronic parts often have a shorter lifespan than mechanical parts. When damage occurs, repair costs are also higher.

Also, when the battery is dead, the electronic handbrake cannot be engaged.

However, all of the above situations are very rare.

Nhat Minh