What is an electronic parking brake?

This was accomplished traditionally using a manual parking brake. With Electric Park Brakes, the driver activates the holding mechanism with a button and the brake pads are then electrically applied onto the rear brakes. This is accomplished by an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and an actuator mechanism. read more

Some cars with disc brakes have separate handbrake drum-brake shoes or even a separate disc-brake caliper for the handbrake. Put simply, an electronic parking brake replaces this mechanical system with an electrical one. By pressing the switch, motors on each brake caliper squeeze the pads into the disc. read more

Instead of a conventional handbrake lever attached to a cable activating the parking brakes and holding the vehicle in place, the electric version merely requires the driver to flick a switch in the cabin. read more

These new electronic parking brake (EPB) systems, once you're used to them, are very convenient. There's no guessing whether it's properly engaged or not—that's all done by electronics, and all you need to do is switch it on or off. And yes, they operate independently of the primary braking system. read more