Electronic Brakeforce Distribution or EBD is an automobile brake technology that automatically varies the amount of brake-force applied to each of a vehicle’s wheels, depending on the road conditions, speed, loading, etc. The EBD is always coupled with ABS, and the system can ensure lesser braking distances, and more vehicular control under braking.

The front end of an automobile typically carries more weight compared to the rear, and the EBD ensures that lesser braking pressure is applied to the rear brakes, so that the rear wheels do not lock-up. When this system is also coupled with the ESC(Electronic Stability Control), it helps a driver who is panick-braking to stop earlier, steer better, and not to loose control under braking. The ESC works in the background all the time, monitoring whether the vehicle is moving as per the steering inputs given by the driver. When the system detects a loss of steering control(when the vehicle is skidding, for example), the ESC kicks-in and applies the brakes to individual wheels asymmetrically in order to create torque about the vehicle’s vertical axis, opposing the skid and bringing the vehicle back in line with the driver’s commanded direction. Additionally, the system may reduce engine power or operate the transmission to slow the vehicle down.

A skilled driver can try and mimic the ABS system by using a technique called ‘threshold braking’ – applying just enough braking force, above which the wheels would start skidding. However, no driver can do what the EBD does for a vehicle. Slamming the brakes in a non-EBD enabled car would surely provide equal stopping force to each of it’s wheels. Thus, the EBD is an innovative introduction to automobile safety, and would surely make the roads safer.

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