- Breame’s Sensify brakes are fully electric
- It has announced that the first car will be produced with them
- We don’t yet know which car brand will use them
The biggest car revolution in years, or a serious safety downgrade? That’s what motorists are wondering after parts maker Brembo announced that its all-electric Sensify brake-by-wire system is going into a production car – saying goodbye to traditional hydraulic brakes altogether.
Breame says Sensify uses data from the vehicle, the driver and the environment (such as road conditions) to apply an appropriate braking force to each wheel independently. According to the company, the system is safer as it provides a greater sense of stability compared to traditional braking and leads to a smoother braking experience – eliminating the panic that makes nervous passengers reach for a grip, according to Breame.
It also claims that this system is easier to maintain because it doesn’t require brake fluid and is apparently easier on your tires.
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While it’s currently tight-lipped as to who will be behind the vehicle that will implement Sensify – although we know it’s worked with Tesla, Ferrari and Maserati – the product FAQ page emphasizes the usefulness of Sensify in autonomous vehicles, especially in a fleet that can share driving data between multiple vehicles, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Sensify has big autonomous vehicle ambitions.
An accident waiting to happen?
When I saw this story on my timeline today, my first reaction was similar to many online: “Surely it can’t be safe.”
While our technology is usually incredibly reliable, we’ve all experienced failures. Usually these problems are a minor frustration for a few minutes, but if there is an electrical hiccup when you try to brake, the consequences can be much more of a problem.
However, as I spent some time researching things, an electrical breaker system isn’t quite as scary as it first appears.
First, many of us probably won’t be using our hydraulic brakes as often in 2026 – hybrid and electric cars still have them, but also offer regenerative braking, which slows the car while also recharging it, and many drivers rely on it for their daily commutes.
Second, it’s not like hydraulic brakes are perfect. They wear parts and can also fail or have reduced efficiency if not properly cared for.
In terms of safety, Breame has been working on this technology for years and it was only introduced five years ago in 2021, so I hope it would have solved various problems by now. Plus cars are heavily regulated. If a manufacturer wants to implement this technology, they are likely to be convinced that it has the bugs necessary to convince regulators that it is roadworthy.
As with all new technology, we’ll have to wait and see how the rollout progresses, but if things go as Breame hopes, 2026 could be the beginning of the end for hydraulic brakes.
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