Steering becomes electric, saves gas
By: Jack Nerad for Driving Today
Date: 2004-07-18
If you have an upscale European car, you probably have electric power steering and don't even know it. Electric power steering (EPS) systems have been utilized in several European vehicles for years, yet penetration into North American vehicles has been limited. Now, though, several new models from General Motors are bringing acceptance of the technology to Detroit, and its use should increase during the course of the decade, according to ABI Research.
"Electric and electro-hydraulic power steering systems (EHPS) have been popular in Europe for years because of the complexity of selling in both right-hand and left-hand drive markets," said Dan Benjamin, ABI Research analyst. "Using EPS offers advantages in ease of design and manufacturing, as well as a boost to fuel economy."
According to ABI's findings, the use of EPS around the world will expand because of an increase in global platform sharing and the need to increase fuel economy in several markets. This will result in a significant increase in production around the world, but especially in the U.S. and China. ABI Research estimates the global electric steering system market was worth over $2 billion in 2003, and may exceed $8 billion in 2010. (The estimate includes revenue from EPS, EHPS, as well as rear-wheel by-wire steering systems that are becoming available on big SUVs and trucks.)
Experts have theorized that using EPS could increase fuel economy by more than five percent. The most advanced current systems also offer the potential to interface with other safety equipment within the vehicle, anticipating accident-avoidance systems of the future in which cars would steer themselves away from danger.
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