Bangkok--15 Dec--OASIS Media
- International studies confirm: the Electronic Stability Program ESP? is the most important life-saver after the seatbelt
- 50 million ESP? systems since Bosch introduced first ESP? in 1995
- 36 percent of all new vehicles produced worldwide equipped with ESP? in 2009. In Thailand, 63 percent of newly produced vehicles equipped with ABS, only 4 percent with ESP?
- Production start for new ABS and ESP? technology Generation 9
- Legal regulations will soon require passenger cars in Europe, the U.S., Canada, Australia and Russia to have ESP? on board
Bosch Automotive (Thailand) Co., Ltd. invited government authorities, representative from automotive institutions and press to its 3rd ESPerience Day to celebrate the 15th anniversary of series production for Bosch Electronic Stability Program ESP?. The event aims to increase the awareness of active vehicle safety systems and to promote the contribution these systems can make to road safety in Thailand.
Globally, 36 percent of vehicles up to 6 tons were equipped with this anti-skid system in 2009. Bosch expects that figure to rise to some 50 percent by 2012. 50 million systems have been manufactured since 1995 when Bosch launched the world’s first ESP?. In 2009, 63 percent of newly produced vehicles in Thailand were equipped with the Antilock Braking System ABS and only 4 percent with ESP?.
Martin Hayes, Executive Vice President Original Equipment Sales ASEAN and Australia said, “The life-saving benefit of ESP? is undisputed among safety experts. Increasingly, we can observe a trend to upgrade ABS to ESP?.” In 2009 the Thai government had announced the “Thailand Road Safety Manifesto” with the goal to reduce the annual toll of around 12,000 fatalities by half within the next decade. “We believe that an increase in the ESP? installation rate can support the governmental activities in achieving the set goal”, states Martin Hayes.
15th anniversary of Bosch ESP? series production
Fifteen years ago, Bosch began the series production of the world’s first ESP? for motor vehicles. ESP? helps to prevent vehicles from skidding, and independent studies show that it can reduce the number of serious or fatal single vehicle accidents by nearly half. Safety experts worldwide describe ESP? as the most important vehicle safety system after the seat belt, more important than the airbag.
ESP? includes the features of both the ABS antilock braking system and the TCS traction control system. ABS stops the wheels from locking when the brakes are applied, and TCS helps to prevent the wheels from spinning when the car starts to drive. ESP? in addition detects imminent skidding, using sensor signals to compare the direction in which the driver wants the vehicle to move and the direction in which the vehicle is actually moving. If the two do not match, the system intervenes. By reducing engine torque and applying braking pressure at individual wheels, it helps prevent skidding and keeps the vehicle safely on track within the laws of physics.
It all started with improving ABS
In 1983, Bosch began to consider using an optimized ABS system to improve vehicle stability during full braking. This approach was refined in the years that followed, and Bosch ultimately filed the basic patent application for ESP? in 1987. Engineers expanded the system’s functions during 1990 and 1991 to make it effective in all driving situations, even during acceleration or rollovers. Shortly thereafter, ESP? was ready for series production, and manufacturing began in 1995.
ABS and ESP? gaining widespread recognition
Recognizing the benefits that ESP? and ABS can bring to road safety, several countries have recently made ESP? and ABS mandatory safety equipment. A 2007 cost-benefit study by the University of Cologne showed that introducing ESP? comprehensively in Europe alone would reduce road deaths by 4,000 and the number of people injured by 100,000 — every year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States calculated in 2006 that, for passenger cars in the U.S., 34 percent of all single-vehicle accidents and 71 percent of all rollovers could be prevented if ESP? were introduced as a standard feature. That benefit analysis led to the world's first regulation for ESP? in new cars: as per September 2011 all vehicles up to 4.5 tons sold in the U.S. have to be equipped with ESP?.
Australia, Europe and Russia will follow in November 2013, November 2014 and January 2014 respectively. In July 2010 the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs of Korea announced equal plans to make ESP? mandatory. In Japan the ECE Regulation is currently in public consultation, making ESP? mandatory from 2014.
In Brazil and Argentina, an agreement was reached in 2009 to make ABS and front airbags mandatory by 2014. The New Car Assessment Programs (NCAPs) in Europe and Australia now also include active safety systems like ESP? in their assessment rating.
Traffic safety on the global agenda
In March 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 2011 to 2020 the Decade of Action for Road Safety. Despite progress in many countries, the number of road deaths has continued to rise in recent years. Some 1.3 million people die annually as a result of traffic accidents, and the UN estimates that 50 million sustain injuries. The goal of the UN campaign is to reduce the number of road deaths forecast for 2020 by half. The approach involves both improving road networks and making active safety systems like ABS and ESP? more widespread.
New Bosch ABS/ESP? technology - the right brake control system for every purpose
The number of accidents cannot be appreciably reduced unless as many vehicles as possible are equipped with the safety system. Early 2010, Bosch started series production of generation 9 brake control systems. Bosch engineers have been able to reduce the weight and size by up to 30 percent as compared to the previous version. These Bosch systems will be the smallest and lightest in the market today. The most compact ABS will weigh only 1.1 kilograms, the lightest ESP? only 1.6 kilograms.
Thanks to its modular design, the new generation offers an ideal solution for all vehicle segments ? whether for small, compact cars, luxury cars, or for light commercial vehicles. “With this cost-optimized design, we are supporting the worldwide efforts of the automobile industry and governments to make active safety systems standard equipment in every vehicle,” said Martin Hayes, Executive Vice President — Original Equipment Sales ASEAN and Australia.
Press photographs: 1-CC-16601, 1-CC-16602, 1-CC-16603, 1-CC-16604
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