![]() ![]() ![]() Manual handbrakes are used either by pulling a level upwards or by pressing a pedal down with your foot. Secondly, it allows you to engage the gas pedal while braking, which facilitates more advanced driving techniques such as drifting, and makes seamless hill starts easier. This serves two functions firstly, it ensures that you have a method of stopping your vehicle should the hydraulic brake fail. Unlike the footbrake, the handbrake is connected to the back wheels of your car via a metallic cable. Despite performing the same function, they operate individually, and are best suited to different circumstances.ĭepending on the age, model, and transmission of the car in question, the handbrake can be manual or electronic, foot-operated or hand-operated. Do note, however, that this is not the same as auto-hold and will only hold the car for a short amount of time.Every car, be it automatic or manual, has two brakes the main brake, which is found to the left of the accelerator, and the handbrake, interchangeably referred to as the parking brake or emergency brake. This holds the brakes for you while on a steep incline to allow you time to press the accelerator and pull away without rolling backwards. VW’s system “retains the last applied braking pressure”, so if you’re waiting on a hill, it’s a good idea to give the brakes a solid shove.Īnother feature made possible by an electronic handbrake is the hill-hold assistance system. New models from Volkswagen, Audi, and Skoda commonly feature auto-hold, assuming they come with an electronic handbrake. Mercedes-Benz customers have known this for some time, as some of Merc’s cars have featured auto-holding brakes for a decade or so – but more and more manufacturers are now cottoning on to their advantages. Spend any time on the road in start-stop traffic and it’s a feature you’ll quickly appreciate. If all this sounds like an unnecessary indulgence, next time you’re in a lengthy traffic jam, take note of how many times you keep your foot on the brake. A light on the dashboard tells you the system is active and holding your car stationary – it then releases the brakes as soon as you press the accelerator. When this system is fitted, a simple prod of the brake pedal will prevent a car from moving off when stopped in traffic, leaving you to relax with your feet off the pedals. ![]() Many cars with electronic handbrakes also have an auto-hold function. DIY fixes are likely to be extremely difficult, so a trip to your local mechanic is on the cards if anything goes wrong. One disadvantage of an electronic handbrake, however, is how difficult it is to repair. This means that as soon as you depress the accelerator or bring up the clutch to pull away, the electronic brake disengages. Yet, unlike a manual handbrake, most electronic handbrakes are automatic. A simple pull or press of a button engages the parking brake, just like pulling a manual handbrake would. In a nutshell, electronic handbrakes replace the conventional pull-by-wire manual handbrake with an electronic button. The BMW 7 Series launched in 2001 with an electronic handbrake and they’ve become increasingly popular to the point that most new cars now come with them instead of manual versions. Of all the new technology on offer in modern cars – from self-driving tech to gesture-controlled infotainment systems – one of the most underrated is the electronic handbrake. We take you through the pros and cons of an electronic handbrake, as well as many of the accompanying features. ![]()
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