Montu Khokhar, CEO of NRS Brakes, and Blake Fuller, Tesla S Plaid driver, discuss developing brake pads for the EV market.
Drivers getting behind the wheel of an EV for the first time are often surprised to learn about regenerative braking. Unlike vehicles with internal combustion engines, electric and hybrid vehicle brakes operate the electric motor in reverse, and this applies a braking force through electromagnetism. This not only recaptures some of the vehicle’s kinetic energy to give a bit of charge to the battery, but it also means the brake pads in these vehicles are used less frequently.
That doesn’t mean EV brake pads should be ignored, though; on the contrary, after a chat with Montu Khokhar, CEO of NRS Brakes, a company that manufactures galvanized brake pads, and Blake Fuller, a professional Tesla S Plaid driver, multiple record holder and CEO of ElectricPerformance TV, you’ll find that by paying special attention to these components, EV drivers can be treated to a big boost in both safety and performance.
Both Fuller and Khokhar recently discussed how the electric vehicle brake pad market is one that is ripe for growth, and that both safety and performance are critical considerations.
When did NRS Brakes begin manufacturing brake pads for EVs?
Montu Khokhar (MK): Officially in 2019, and we already have the most complete lineup of brake pads in the market for EV vehicles, as NRS Brakes is the leader in first-to-market with all new launches. We have been providing technology solutions to the hybrid/electric market since the major recall of the original Toyota Prius due to rusty brakes that were causing the fiction to separate from the steel backing plate.
What caused this specific rust issue?
MK: Back in 2001, Prius was the first hybrid vehicle out there in a mass way and it was recalled due to a brake defect called friction delamination. Simply put, hybrid and electric cars brake differently than gasoline-powered vehicles. A gasoline vehicle uses brakes frequently, causing them to heat and dissipate moisture. Hybrid and electric cars use their electric motor to slow the vehicle, resulting in less frequent use of their brakes which can cause moisture to build up on the surface of brake pads. When this happens on traditional painted steel brake pads, you’ll get corrosion.
When rust and corrosion get between the friction and the backing plate, it can cause the friction to crack, breakaway or lift away from the steel backing plate. It’s a potentially fatal situation. There are plenty of YouTube videos you can research that document this process extensively and it is increasingly happening today as more EVs hit the market.
How does NRS Brakes address these challenges?
MK: Rust is a cancer for brakes. To fight it, we first start with clean pickled and oiled rust-free steel to make our steel backing plates. We then apply our patented and award-winning NRS technology to its surface and take it through a meticulous cleaning and zinc-plating process called ‘galvanizing,’ and then – and only then – do we apply the friction material to the steel backing plate. This process ensures the integrity of the bond friction and steel to eliminate delamination and the fully zinc-coated steel ensures that the galvanized backing plate will outlast the friction material, resulting in the longest-lasting brake pads in the market.
Will EV brake pads continue to be an area of focus for NRS Brakes moving forward?
MK: The electric vehicle revolution and evolution of the entire automotive industry is in full swing and NRS Brakes is positioned as the market leader in EV brake pads. We recognize the future is in electric vehicles, and that EVs have unique needs with respect to braking and brake pads given the dynamics of regenerative braking. So, I would say yes, EVs will be a large area of focus for NRS moving forward, and will possibly become our primary focus for many years to come.
Read the full interview HERE.
