The smarter brake pads for EVs and Hybrids

Electric cars are playing a pivotal role in slowing down climate change.

And now EV owners can further reduce their environmental impact every time they brake, thanks to a cutting-edge and sustainable replacement brake solution developed by Australia’s leading friction specialists, Bendix.

The company, which is renowned for specialist braking packages for performance vehicles, four-wheel drives and more, has created replacement disc brake pads specifically for owners of electric and hybrid vehicles that not only delivers improved stopping performance but breaks – or brakes – new ground in terms of sustainable manufacturing processes.

The Bendix EV-Hybrid Disc Brake Pad has been developed in Australia at its Ballarat research and development facility using a range of organic friction materials, including synthetic glass and aramid fibres as the primary reinforcing elements, as well as organic modifiers and binding resins.

This combination of unique materials results in the brake pads containing less than 0.5 percent of copper by weight, earning the Bendix EV-Hybrid Disc Brake Pad the highest ‘N’ rating for sustainability from the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and allowing Bendix to use the trademark LeafMark™ icon.

The Bendix EV-Hybrid Disc Brake Pad has been developed specifically for battery-powered vehicles to maximise the efficiency of their regenerative braking capabilities while also improving stopping performance, reducing brake squeal and generating less brake dust, further enhancing their environmental credentials.

Electric and hybrid vehicles feature a unique braking system that uses a combination of the traditional disc brakes and the electric motors when decelerating.

In a conventional vehicle with an internal combustion engine, the primary source of stopping power is the hydraulic braking system. When the brakes are applied, the kinetic energy is transferred to heat via the friction of the brake pads clamping on to the discs to slow the vehicle down. This energy is dissipated into atmosphere and, effectively, wasted.

In an electric or hybrid vehicle, the initial source of deceleration is derived by using the electric motors as a generator and reverses the flow of electricity. This, essentially, captures that wasted energy and returns it to the battery pack, providing additional charge and ultimately extending the vehicle’s driving range.

However, the regenerative braking system cannot do all the work and battery-powered vehicles still require a conventional hydraulic braking system that operates in tandem with the electric motors, providing additional security and stopping power particularly in emergency situations.

While EVs and Hybrid do not require special brake pads, the Bendix EV-Hybrid Disc Brake Pad further enhances the environmental credentials of a battery-powered vehicle thanks to the groundbreaking organic material composition.

On top of that, Bendix has also developed unique and sustainable packaging for the EV-Hybrid Disc Brake Pads. Instead of shrink-wrapping the pads in plastic, they are cocooned in a recyclable paper product called Hexcel Wrap that provides the same protection and cushioning as bubble wrap. The box has also been FSC™ Certified, with 70 per cent of its material coming from recycled material while the remainder is sourced from controlled wood.

This means that once the brake pads are fitted, all the packaging can be fully recycled. And, eventually, when the pads themselves need replacing, they can be disposed of too through metal recycling.

So, make sure you choose the Bendix EV-Hybrid Disc Brake Pad for your battery-powered vehicle to further slow the effects of climate change when driving your electric or hybrid vehicle.

For more information and to your find your nearest stockist, visit the Bendix website.