The automotive industry has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. Technology has driven a new way of conceiving and operating our cars with the gradual elimination of some common elements of the driving experience. One of the most significant examples is the progressive disappearance of the gear shift lever as we had known it and its replacement by an automatic gearbox.
The keys and the cigarette lighter, as well as the manual handbrake lever, are other elements that some more modern models are no longer equipped with. Regarding this last accessory, only 9% of new cars sold in Europe continue to equip it. This is said by a report from the British website CarGurus, which notes that in 2018, 37% of new vehicles still left the factory with the traditional handbrake lever.
Today, 91% of all models already have the electric handbrake, also known as the electronic parking brake, which replaces the common hand lever. It consists of a small switch that, when activated, blocks the car's brakes with all the necessary force with the convenience of not having to forcefully pull the hand lever.
According to the CarGurus study, only three car brands equip half or more of their models with a manual parking brake lever. They are Suzuki (71%), with five of their seven models for sale; Abarth (66%), with two of three models; and Dacia (50%), with two of the four models it sells. Next, Fiat (45%) and Ssangyong (40%) are the brands that come closest to them.
Nowadays, the manual handbrake is now mostly present in urban models, the smallest and most economical ones. For example, the Kia Picanto and the Mazda 2. But the most likely thing, the report suggests, is that there is a good chance that the traditional handbrake will disappear in all vehicles and will be replaced by its electric version before the end of this decade.
In the premium brand segment, only two manufacturers maintain the classic gear lever in their vehicles. Audi incorporates it in 2% of its cars and Mini does it in 10%. However, it is expected that with the arrival of the new generation of Mini this element will disappear in all its cars.
Compared to the traditional system, the electronic handbrake offers the driver greater comfort. Additionally, this mechanism incorporates the hill start function (HSA) or Hill Holder system, which activates the electric parking brake for a few seconds when it recognizes that the car is on a steep road. Likewise, it offers greater safety during emergency braking, preventing the car from skidding.
In contrast, the electric parking brake tends to experience a higher number of breakdowns, which are usually more costly compared to traditional manual levers. In emergency situations, operating the device through the button can be more complicated compared to the conventional lever located between the two front seats.
Additionally, when the car is stopped, the wheels are locked, which means that if the vehicle runs out of battery, it cannot be pushed without first consulting the instruction manual to unlock them.
