Electric steering; Good, bad or maybe?

[videobruce]

I have been reading up, or trying to, on this somewhat new "esteer" as Delphi calls it;
http://delphi.com/manufacturers/auto.../electric/eps/

Found this overview;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_steering

What are the opinons of the members here about this? Yes, no or maybe? I have seen more negitive responses in most of these so called 'expert reviews' because of the lack of feedback (road feel).

[bobss396]

Traditional power steering is old technology but very reliable. Electric steeing has the one distinct advantage of not being driven by the engine. You pick up a couple of MPG, it is "tunable" to the driver's preferences.

The car makers will no longer have to design hydraulics around engine components, it will be more efficient, less expensive (perhaps) and save weight overall.

Like anything new, it had bugs that need to be worked out. Give it a few years and it will be tunable from a dash control and will be able to store and retrieve preferences for multiple drivers.

Bob

[videobruce]

I can see mostly advantages, but I worry about any 'quirks' that would appear. I see it's been around since 2000 with a couple of foreign manufactures using it from other 3rd parties so it's not exactly new.

I also see talk about 42 volt systems since the current limitation of a 12 volt battery is a issue with larger vehicles. Are the manufactures considering 42 volt electrical systems just for autos??

[GreyGoose006]

one major advantage i see is that there would be the ability to have full ackerman steering at high steering angles without compromising low angle steering inputs and vice-versa.

a finely tuned electric steering system could be implemented on all four wheels and allow any one wheel to turn independantly of the others...
this would give you lots of low speed manoeuverability, with high speed stability at the same time.


the only drawback is that some law says that there has to be a mechanical linkage in the steering, so electric wont fly until the laws change

[Steel]

Originally Posted by GreyGoose006

the only drawback is that some law says that there has to be a mechanical linkage in the steering, so electric wont fly until the laws change

And i consider that a good thing. Failsafety for the most part, like airbrakes on a truck.

[GreyGoose006]

its a good thing to have a failsafe, but dumb to require that it limit technical advances.

if a truck looses all its airpressure, then it has no brakes
so there is an emergency brake.
but what if the cable is corodded and snaps when the driver uses it for the first time in 5 years.
the list goes on...


the system i image is one where each wheel is one a spindle similar to what is used on typical front wheels, but it is controled by an electric solenoid.