> I think Bosch is trying to maximize complexity of a safety-critical system by deeply integrating it into all the other bits of the car.
Wait until you hear about how the brake pedal works in hybrids and EVs!
I'm only joking a little. There are good reasons to integrate the brakes with electronics in the car, with regenerative braking being the smallest of them.
From the driver's perspective, they push the brake pedal and it just works.
Under the hood, there is software determining how much braking power the motor can provide. The car will maximize that and only use the friction brakes at the very end, or when there is nowhere to dump the energy. My car (a series hybrid) powers the generator if the battery is full and gets rid of the energy as engine braking.
As a result, the car is significantly more fuel efficient AND the brakes last much longer. Yes, it's because sometimes I push the brakes and the brake pads don't get mechanically pushed.
Wait until you hear about how the brake pedal works in hybrids and EVs!
I'm only joking a little. There are good reasons to integrate the brakes with electronics in the car, with regenerative braking being the smallest of them.