DETROIT: The new General Motors (GM) eBoost trailer brake concept has the potential to dramatically reduce stopping distances – in fact, it allows a truck and trailer to stop in the same distance as a truck by itself at its gross vehicle weight rating.
This is done using existing components, including GM’s segment-exclusive eBoost braking system.
Utilizing the truck’s eBoost braking system, GM engineers integrated a trailer with a similar eBoost system and upgraded hardware components such as brake rotors, calipers and tires.
With eBoost systems on both the truck and trailer and proper software to enable communication, the stopping distance of a truck and trailer improved by up to 20 percent from 60 mph to zero when compared to an identical truck and trailer using traditional electric trailer brakes – that’s about a 40-foot difference.
This pioneering technology allowed the truck to command trailer braking like never before, using the existing seven-pin trailer wire connector and without the need for any extra connections.
The advanced trailer braking also helps mitigate trailer sway by using stability control.
"This advanced trailer braking technology is a hint at what’s possible in the future,” said Tim Herrick, vice president of Global Product Programs at GM.
