Date:         Thu, 2 Jan 2003 08:32:00 -0700
Reply-To:     Ben McCafferty <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ben McCafferty <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM>
Subject:      NVC:  Eurovan traction/stability control
Comments: To: syncro <syncro@yahoogroups.com>,
          WetWesties <wetwesties@yahoogroups.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi all,
As a full-fledged geek, I came across some interesting technology the other
day, that some of you might be interested in as well.  Not really
Vanagon-related, but evolutionary....

I have a friend at a VW dealer in town, and we were talking about the
traction and stability control on the new Eurovans.  It is available on the
normal van and weekender, but not on the full camper.  By the way, the
weekender is still being converted by Westfalia, not Winnebago.

Anyway, as we all know, one of the main problems with taller vans is body
roll in corners.  The new system uses technology that senses wheel speed
(similar to ABS, I gather) and steering input.  Rather than wait until the
body starts to lean and reacting to that, the system is proactive based on
steering input and tire speed differential.

The way my friend described it, as the driver starts to steer into, say, a
left turn, the computers running the show will automatically drag the left
front and/or left rear brakes lightly, while stiffening the right side
suspension.  Again, everything happens based on steering input, so the
suspension gets stiffened before any noticeable lean happens.  The net
effect is that the body gets pushed through the turn as if on rails.  When
the factory rep came out to demonstrate this, he said they were doing donuts
at nearly 50 MPH in the parking lot with no lean.

Maybe they'll eventually make it like the German Neigezug (leaning train)
and have you lean into the curve as well....  :)

I'd love to see this technology on the full camper too, especially if they
could account for weight differences side-to-side with levelers, etc.

Anyway, stopping my propeller beanie now....

tx,
bmc  :)

Ben McCafferty
ben@volkscafe.com

Volks Cafe
1823 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA  95062
831-426-1244
http://www.volkscafe.com