Kenworth announced that the Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program is now standard on new Kenworth T680 and T880 tractors. According to the company, Bendix ESP full stability meets the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new electronic stability control (ESC) technology mandate, which goes into effect Aug. 1, 2017, on Class 8 tractors with tandem drive axles.
“The T680 on-highway flagship and T880 vocational leader are Kenworth’s most technologically advanced vehicles. Kenworth’s move to standardize on the Bendix ESP system continues our offering of technology systems to help our customers achieve success in their specific operations,” said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director.
Kenworth T680 and T880 customers will receive the Bendix 4S/4M configuration, which has four sensors and four modulators, and includes Bendix Smart ATC Automatic Traction Control and Bendix ESP.
According to Bendix, its full stability technology is designed to help stabilize the vehicle during loss of control situations on dry, wet, snow and ice-covered roadways. In addition to using sensors that monitor lateral acceleration, as found on some roll-only systems, the Bendix ESP system also uses sensors to monitor steering angle and vehicle direction. This allows for detection of a vehicle's impending loss of stability and automatic intervention through dethrottling of the engine and selective application of tractor steer and drive axle brakes, along with trailer brakes, helping the driver to maintain control of the vehicle in a variety of situations.
