Siemens VDO took its Electronic Wedge Brake (EWB) up to the Arctic to put the new improved braking technology to the test. During intensive cold-weather testing in Arjeplog, Sweden, the company found that their EWB achieved an average braking-distance reduction of approximately 15 percent over vehicles equipped with conventional hydraulic brakes.

On pure ice, comparable with freezing rain conditions in Michigan, it takes an upper mid-range class vehicle with conventional hydraulic brakes, modern ABS and winter tires approximately 246 feet to come to a complete stop from a speed of 50 mph. Under similar testing conditions, Siemens VDO's latest EWB prototype reached a standstill in 211 feet: almost two car lengths sooner than modern hydraulic brakes.

Siemens VDO's EWB uses an electric motor that presses a wedge connected to a brake pad located between the brake caliper and the brake disk. The resulting friction of the wheel's rotation automatically strengthens the wedge effect, producing strong braking force with little energy. With the successful completion of winter testing, Siemens VDO now is reviewing its data to further develop and refine EWB hardware and software by the time it is ready to go into series production as early as 2010.