The secrets of Mercedes-Benz E-Active Body Control
May 18 2020,
Mercedes-Benz introduced E-Active Body Control last year with the new GLE SUV. It's actually the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz's active suspension system, and as you can imagine, it's the most sophisticated to date.
Rather than using traditional anti-roll bars, E-Active Body Control is served by electronically adjustable shock absorbers. These are supported by air springs that help control body movements. This allows real-time adjustment of the compression ratio, shock absorber stiffness and body height for each wheel.
As a result, the roll is minimized without affecting ride quality. Even the ride smoothness is pushed to a higher level, not to mention improved performance, both on and off-road. In these circumstances, through the multimedia system's screen, the driver can even adjust the height of each wheel individually to facilitate obstacle clearance.
On the road, a camera mounted at the top of the windshield constantly scans the road ahead, measuring curvatures and undulations. This data is sent to the chassis control system, which modulates spring and shock absorber settings to keep the vehicle as level as possible at all times.
The E-Active Body Control system is powered by Mercedes-Benz's new 48-volt electrical architecture. And conversely, the shocks can recover the energy generated by the movement of the suspension to charge the battery that powers the 48-volt system.
The system is sophisticated, but behind the wheel, it's imperceptible, and the result is a more muted driving experience than ever.
