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June 18, 2013
Development of harness for electric parking brakes
Hitachi Cable, Ltd. is announcing the successful development of a harness for electric parking brakes (hereinafter referred to as "EPB"). In addition to the mass production of this product in Japan, we are planning to start mass production in China in the summer of 2013 and in Europe within fiscal year 2013.
As represented by hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, use of electric systems in engines and control systems has been increasing in recent years to reduce environmental impact and energy consumption. Electric control has also realized products such as driving assistance systems and electric sliding doors that improve safety and convenience for passengers and drivers.
Under such circumstances, demand for electric systems to be applied in parking brakes is also increasing as part of an effort to improve safety and convenience. EPB has a mechanism which can electrically lock tires at the flick of a switch. This control system is an alternative to the conventional parking brake which employs mechanical levers and wires. EPB greatly improves safety and convenience. For example, it makes more effective use of the space around a driving seat because it does not require a mechanical lever. Also, EPB prevents a car from moving backwards when starting it on a hill because stepping on the gas pedal automatically releases the parking brake.
For these reasons, the number of automobiles equipped with EPB is expected to increase rapidly in the future. Thus, Hitachi Cable developed this high-quality EPB harness to respond to such market demand.
This is a high-quality EPB harness which can withstand large external stresses. This product has been developed by integrating manufacturing technologies to improve the flex resistance that Hitachi Cable has accumulated through producing electrical wires and cables, in addition to the mass production and quality management technologies of automotive components such as brake hoses, ABS wheel-speed sensors and power supply harnesses that it has also acquired over many years. Specifically, the great durability of this product has been demonstrated in durability and vibration tests. This product maintained a satisfactory level of electrical performance without being damaged after undergoing more than 5 million vibrations*1. This product is fitted in 2013 model vehicles.
In addition to mass production at bases in Japan, Hitachi Cable is planning to start mass production in China in the summer of 2013 and in Europe within fiscal year 2013. Hitachi Cable is going to establish worldwide production systems which are connected with the global supply chains of automotive manufacturers.
Hitachi Cable is committed to developing automotive components with extra value which improve the safety, energy conservation performance, and convenience of automobiles and responding to market needs.
*1 When a vibration test is conducted under conditions recommended by Hitachi Cable
