Going Friction-Free - How France's Telma is Supporting the Battle Against Fine Particle Emissions

Fine particulates are odourless, microscopic and airborne, and they can be toxic to humans. With the increasing demand for more sustainable mobility, fine particle emission caused by braking is becoming a major issue of concern for the automotive industry.

France's Telma develops induction braking systems that do not emit fine particles and, by absorbing a large part of the braking energy, increase braking durability and reduce wear on service braking systems; so lowering maintenance costs. The company has also just unveiled its latest innovation, the Hybrid Induction Brake (HIB) system, at IAA Transportation in Hanover, Germany.

Auto Futures recently caught up with Marc Blanzé, Telma's Project & Sales Director. 

"Since more than 75 years, Telma has been world leader in friction-free braking systems, based on the physical principle of electromagnetic induction," says Blanzé. "Air pollution affects all of us, and air pollution due to fine particles is a real public health problem."

The range of Telma induction brakes includes more than 250 versions of devices designed for road vehicles.

The Paris region-based company's latest innovation is the HIB, (Hybrid Induction Brake) system, a complete hybrid solution which adapts to all vehicles over 5 tonnes, regardless of whether they are combustion engine (Diesel, CNG, LNG), hybrid, 100% electric or hydrogen powered. 

"This is more than just a retarder system. It also functions as a propulsion unit, an electrical power generator, thereby reducing the vehicle's fuel consumption for mild hybrid application or increasing its range for full electric vehicles. This is an innovation that both increases vehicle safety and preserves the environment." explains Blanzé,

In a press release. Nicolas Quennet, R&D Director at Telma, says: “Thanks to technological progress and the increasingly strict European environmental standards (Euro standards), combustion engines are no longer the only sources of pollution receiving close attention: wear on brake systems is now known to be a significant contributor to fine particle emissions.” 

"This is a friction-less system, and this system does not emit any fine particles unlike brake pads and discs. HIB is a new breed of induction brake, and does not just reduce these kind of particle but also the CO2 emissions produced by the internal combustion engine," adds Blanzé.

Responding to Future Vehicle Energy Demands

The HIB system can also convert braking energy into power and, as part of a 100% electric vehicle, it can also increase vehicle range.

“Its operation responds directly to increasing current and future vehicle energy demands.” says Quennet.

"Vehicles fitted with this kind of innovation multiply the operating life of their service braking systems by a factor of ten as well as reducing the maintenance costs. That's why the initial investment is therefore quickly offset," notes Blanzé.

Finally, we asked Blanzé what transportation will look like by the end of the decade.

"We all see it personally and professionally that the world of transport is changing. Global warming imposes significant regulatory changes on us, which have the consequences of drastic changes in the design of vehicles and in the global transportation offer. From now on. diesel is no longer the only energy for vehicles and the transport of tomorrow. Transport of tomorrow will use diesel, gas, hydrogen, electricity in various ways," predicts Blanzé. 

"We simply have to all prepare for it and ensure agility, and always offer more innovations. Manufacturers always change everyone's lives," he concludes.