Hyundai Mobis Successfully Develops iMEB System

Hyundai Mobis has added another feather to its cap after becoming the first-ever company in Korea and the second in the globe to successfully develop the next generation of electronic integrated regenerative brake system called Integrated Mobis Electronic Brake (iMEB) for eco-friendly cars such as EV, hybrid and PHEV.

iMEB is an advanced brake system that integrates the pressure supply unit and the pressure control unit of the regenerative brake system into one electronically drive type, thus enabling more than 30 percent cost and weight reduction. Additionally, advanced brake functionality such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) functions are also integrated.

The ‘regenerative brake system’ utilizes the kinetic energy produced while the car is decelerating to charge the batteries for eco-friendly cars. Due to its capability to cut the energy dissipation rate by almost 70 percent compared to existing brake systems, it is regarded as an integral part for eco-friendly cars. Particularly, it is an essential device for the implementation of eco-friendly cars in view of the fact that the regenerative system, accounts for around 40 percent of the fuel efficiency enhancement in hybrid cars over existing gasoline cars.

The existing ‘regenerative brake system’ comes with the ‘pressure supply unit’, which boosts the power with which the driver steps on the brake and the ‘pressure control unit’, which gauges the amount of force to be applied to each wheel and controls it, but are separated. Thus, it is less competitive in terms of weight and cost.

This is why all automotive parts manufacturers in the world have recently set their sights on the development of electronic regenerative brake systems that integrate the pressure controller and the pressure supply unit. Functions performed by a number of systems should be integrated into a single system, but it poses extreme challenge technologically.

Taking pride in its insightfulness and strategic savviness, Hyundai Mobis, a late starter in brake systems, was able to obtain the key technology for eco-friendly cars ahead of other manufacturers. The company chose to do away with the development of the separated regenerative brake system, which other companies were developing thoroughly, and started to develop a cutting-edge integrated brake system instead. In this process, Hyundai Mobis applied for 109 patents, 20 of which are from overseas.

As the technology was able to secure state-of-the-art technology ahead of its rivals, it is anticipated to capitalize on iMEB to gain the upper hand in competition for contracts related to eco-friendly brake systems.

According to Jeong Seung-gyun, head of the R&D pision of Hyundai Mobis, preempting the high value-added parts market for eco-friendly cars is parallel to gaining new growth engine for the future. He revealed that they would reinforce their investments in R&D for the integral parts of eco-friendly cars and secure a number of high value-added products such as iMEB.

Meanwhile, the Korean company is strategically developing a variety of eco-friendly parts such as in-wheel systems and low-voltage hybrid systems apart from iMEB. It is mulling to dynamically engage in sales activities with the core parts of these eco-friendly cars being the focus, and to preempt the parts market for eco-friendly cars.