Views: 26 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-12-31 Origin: Site
Against the backdrop of global advocacy for green mobility and sustainable development, the new energy vehicle industry is booming and has become a key area of transformation for the automotive industry. As the brake system is central to automotive safety, the green production of its components has also become a focus of industry attention. How brake components such as brake pads, brake discs, and brake drums can achieve green transformation in the new energy era is not only crucial for environmental protection but also impacts the performance and market competitiveness of new energy vehicles.

Traditional brake pads often contain heavy metals such as copper. During braking, these heavy metals enter the environment through wear and tear, generating dust and causing pollution. In the new energy vehicle sector, copper-free brake pads have emerged. Examples include TRW Lightning Blue brake pads, which utilize a copper-free formula and are free of heavy metals such as lead and antimony. This not only reduces heavy metal pollution but also significantly reduces braking noise, demonstrating a profound commitment to green mobility. Bendix's EV series is specifically designed for electric vehicles and is made from copper-free organic friction materials, ensuring low dust and particulate emissions, truly achieving green braking. Furthermore, some companies are exploring the use of green, organic, renewable, and recyclable materials, natural minerals, and other environmentally friendly materials in brake pads to reduce pollutant emissions at the source.
Traditional brake discs are mostly made of cast iron, which presents shortcomings in lightweighting and environmental friendliness. The aluminum-ceramic brake discs represent a breakthrough. When used in new energy passenger vehicles, they reduce vehicle weight by 15 to 30 kilograms, a 50% reduction, effectively reducing energy consumption and improving range and handling. It is estimated that a new energy vehicle with a nominal range of 500 km using aluminum-ceramic brake discs can save approximately 120 kWh of electricity, reduce coal consumption by 48 kilograms, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 120 kilograms annually. Furthermore, aluminum-ceramic brake discs easily meet the EU's stringent brake particulate matter emissions requirements in road tests, emitting 0.33 mg/km. Their corrosion resistance is also far superior to cast iron products. The brake discs in Brembo's Greentell kit feature a patent-pending double-layer nickel-free coating, combined with laser metal deposition (LMD) technology. This reduces environmental impact by 85% over their entire lifecycle, reduces brake disc wear by 80%, and reduces dust emissions by approximately 90%, enabling early compliance with the 2026 Euro 7 brake system emissions regulations.
Driven by increasingly stringent environmental regulations and the development of new energy vehicles, brake drum manufacturersare actively developing new environmentally friendly materials. Low-noise damping materials are being used to reduce noise pollution during braking; wear-resistant, self-lubricating coatings are being developed to reduce friction pair wear and extend service life; and the use of recyclable materials is being explored to reduce waste and achieve green production. Through material innovation, some brake drums not only improve braking performance but also minimize negative environmental impact, meeting market demand for low-noise, low-wear, and environmentally friendly brake drums.
In traditional brake pad production, volatile components in organic solvent adhesives contribute to volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, harming air quality and potentially impacting ecosystems if they seep into soil or water. TRW's patented powder adhesive technology achieves zero harmful emissions while maintaining excellent adhesion and higher shear strength, reducing environmental pollution during brake pad manufacturing. Compared to organic solvent adhesives, this technology can reduce hazardous waste emissions by 150 tons annually.
In brake disc manufacturing, several advanced technologies are emerging. For example, ultrasonic composite machining utilizes high-frequency vibrations generated by an ultrasonic generator combined with an abrasive suspension for precision machining of carbon-ceramic brake discs. This process eliminates numerous pre-sintering steps, such as drilling and milling, significantly shortening production cycles and reducing costs. It also improves product strength and surface quality, extending the lifespan of brake discs and opening up new possibilities for the large-scale production and application of carbon-ceramic brake discs.

Traditional brake drum production processes are complex and energy-intensive. Technological innovation can effectively reduce production energy consumption by eliminating steps like sand mixing and molding. Some companies are using advanced casting techniques and equipment to improve material utilization and reduce scrap rates. While ensuring brake drum quality, this reduces energy consumption and pollutant emissions during production, making brake drum production more environmentally friendly.
Automotive brake parts manufacturers prioritize suppliers with environmentally friendly philosophies and sustainable development practices when sourcing raw materials. These suppliers not only provide reliable raw materials but also prioritize energy conservation and emission reduction during production, minimizing environmental impact at the source. For example, selecting suppliers that use renewable energy to produce raw materials can reduce carbon emissions during the raw material procurement process.
During the production process, the company strengthens energy management, adopts energy-saving equipment and technologies, and improves energy efficiency. Some brake parts production plants have obtained international green electricity certification and use renewable energy for production. Furthermore, waste generated during the production process is sorted and processed for resource recycling and reuse, reducing waste landfill and incineration, and reducing environmental impact.
Product distribution links are optimized, and rational logistics solutions are adopted to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions during transportation. A brake parts recycling system is established to recycle and remanufacture used brake pads, brake discs, brake drums, and other components. Recycled materials can be reused in production after processing, forming a circular economy model, reducing the demand for new raw materials, and minimizing the environmental impact of the production process.
In the era of rapid development of new energy vehicles, green production of automotive brake parts is an inevitable trend in the industry. Through innovative materials, production processes, and green supply chain management, brake parts manufacturers can not only meet environmental requirements but also improve product performance, reduce production costs, and enhance market competitiveness. In the future, with the continuous advancement of technology and the deepening of environmental awareness, the green production of automotive brake parts will usher in broader development space, laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the new energy vehicle industry.To learn more information about brake parts,you can visit our website:https://www.evfriction.com.If you have problems,please contact us by +86-13363216781 or jessicabrakes12@gmail.com at any time.