The new Street Series EV brake pads range has been designed for Electric and Hybrid Vehicle applications

Disc Brakes Australia (DBA) explains that a commitment to offering the right product for the application has guided its product strategy for many decades.
Developing a brake pad specifically for the growing population of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles on Australian roads was therefore the next logical step in DBA’s long history of product innovations.
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles have slightly different braking requirements, necessitating a change of friction material from the current, common material composition as used, for example, in DBA’s Street Series brake pads offering.
EVs primarily use engine braking, where the vehicle slows down when the accelerator pedal is released. This engages an alternator, which is used to generate energy that is fed back into the vehicle’s battery pack, a process known as regenerative braking.
At low speed, the regenerative braking does not engage as efficiently and is reliant on the traditional brake system. At the same time, the weight of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles in comparison to conventional vehicles of the same size is substantially higher, resulting in the requirement for more stopping power.
Changing to a higher friction co-efficient addresses this requirement. DBA engineers have opted for a friction co-efficient approximately 10 percent higher (SAEJ522 Dyno-tested) compared with the company’s Street Series pads to produce optimal friction at low speeds.
Secondly, with regenerative braking responsible for most of the retardation of the vehicle, the conventional brakes on an EV operate less frequently and work less hard than that of an ICE vehicle, resulting in lower average operating temperatures and potential residual contamination on the brakes rotors.
With all DBA friction material developed for optimal performance under the respective conditions, the all-new EV friction composition accounts for the lower operating temperatures whilst delivering maximum stopping power.
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles are quiet, so the demands placed on the materials from a comfort perspective are even higher than for conventional vehicles. DBA states the new friction material and shim for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles is an evolution up from any existing designs, allowing for extra noise and vibration reduction.
The Street Series EV ceramic friction material has low dust (low particle emissions) and is copper-free, ensuring cleaner wheels, longer brake rotor life and a greener, environmentally friendly product. It is ‘N’ rated by the NSFI and has passed the AMECA certification, backing DBA’s commitment to minimising environmental impact and meeting strict US copper content requirements due to be introduced in full by 2025.
DBA’s Street Series EV brake pads range features a unique, silver label design for ease of identification. Both the label and the backing plate feature DBA’s unique, trademarked EV logo which DBA says gives you the peace of mind you “are buying the best product on the market.”
The new EV and Hybrid Vehicle Street Series brake pads are part of DBA’s comprehensive range of over 1,300 SKUs of brake pads, which DBA says ensures you always have the right pad for the application. DBA summarises the key features as follows:
• Silver titanium stripe improves the initial friction co-efficient during bedding in period
• Ceramic, copper-free (NSFI rated) formulation with AMECA certification, backing DBA’s commitment to minimising environmental impact
• OE-style, post-cured process for optimal braking performance over the pad life
• Delivers on safety, low noise, wear resistance and environmental protection as the standards for DBAs approach to development.
• Passes the US City Traffic Noise and Wear Test, due to superior noise-reduction attributes.
• Contains hardware and wear sensors where applicable

For further information, visit www.dba.com.au or call DBA Customer Service on 1800 730 039.