Abstract The presented research discusses the experimental procedure developed for testing of friction brake systems installed on the modern electric vehicles. Approach of combined experimental technique utilizing hardware-in-the-loop platform and brake dynamometer is introduced. As the case study, an influence of brake lining coefficient of friction fluctuations on the anti-lock brake system (ABS) performance is investigated. The ABS algorithm is represented by the direct slip control aimed to the precise tracking of reference slip ratio by means of electric and friction brake system. Vehicle prototype is represented by RWD electric vehicle with in-wheel motors. Results, representing the investigated phenomenon, are derived using the developed combined test bench. The achieved results give a basis for further extension of standard brake testing procedures. Introduction Among many specific technological problems related to the electric vehicles (EV), development of EV brake system is of special importance and can require the revision and advancement of conventional design principles. The reason is that an influence of different electric powertrain concepts must be properly taken into account to guarantee safe and energy- efficient operation in the braking mode. Various factors should be especially addressed during the process of EV brake system design. The main factors related to the architecture of the brake system can be formulated as follows: • Brake functions of an electric vehicle are being realized both with friction brakes and electric motors operated in a recuperation mode (brake blending). As a result, friction brakes operate in different loading modes as compared with conventional vehicles. • The specific cases as the electric system fail must be considered to provide an appropriate deceleration requested by the driver. Such modes bring several constraints to the brakes design. • Due to the specific operation modes friction brakes can meet also other problems such as corrosion. • In the case of electric powertrain architecture with in-wheel motors (IWM), wheel hub space available for the installation of friction brakes is limited. Therefore their downsizing is required. • Packaging of IWM and friction brake inside of the wheel hub is characterized by specific thermal mode that calls for advanced cooling or ventilation measures. Other factors are relevant to the brake system level, where the brake blending requires proper consideration for the following tasks: • Optimal brake force distribution realized through both brake subsystems; • Wheel slip control with combined brake torque modulation, for instance, by electric motors and wheel brakes actuated by hydraulic brake systems; • Adaptation of brake pedal characteristics to ensure the required driver comfort (brake pedal feel). These points evidence the need of the novel testing approaches and development of special testing procedures for brake systems of electric vehicle. It is also required to shorten significantly the step between simulation and road tests. For this purpose, the tests carried out on the stand-alone brake dynamometer [1, 2] can be advanced by installing of the real brake system. With further extensions like the brake robot and vehicle dynamics simulator software, the resulting approach will have several advantages as consideration of the system hysteresis, inclusion of delays produced by the driver during brake application etc. For the research tasks related to safety and stability control algorithms of electric vehicles, it can be very advantageous to receive the information about the brake lining coefficient of friction to track its possible influence on the Combined Testing Technique: Development of Friction Brake System for Electric Vehicle2014-01-2529 Published 09/28/2014 Klaus Augsburg, Dzmitry Savitski, Lukas Heidrich, and Valentin Ivanov Ilmenau University of Technology CITATION: Augsburg, K., Savitski, D.