PRODUCTION · Production
No Brake Fluid: Cybercab Goes Fully Electronic
The two-seater is Tesla's first brake-by-wire car, with an actuator at each caliper and no hydraulic lines.
James Okonkwo, Production
Published · 1 min read
Cybercab is the first Tesla with fully electronic brake-by-wire and no hydraulic brake fluid.
Each corner gets an actuator. The car drops the lines and plumbing that a conventional brake system carries around for the life of the vehicle. Musk has said electric brakes avoid that complexity.
A robotaxi that is supposed to run for 500,000 miles, Tesla's stated design life for the cab, does not want fluid to change, leak, or age. Steer-by-wire is part of the same design. There is no column to connect to a wheel that is not there.
ARK's Keeney listed the brake system with Unboxed production and the rare-earth-free motor as the hardware that makes a cheap mile possible. It is unglamorous. It is also how you build a cab that other people might buy.
About the Author
James Okonkwo
James Okonkwo covers production and technical developments in autonomous vehicle manufacturing.
