![]() ![]() Any driver-assist or convenience feature that involves turning the wheels without steering input from the driver is enabled by electric power steering. The benefits of providing assist electrically are multifold: it improves fuel economy by a few percent, as the electric motor only draws power when needed it eliminates the hydraulic fluid maintenance mentioned above and it also enables a variety of features. In most systems, the computer changes the steering effort based on the vehicle's speed: at parking speeds, the steering is light and easy to turn, while at highway speeds, the effort amps up, giving the driver a feeling of greater stability and control. Sensors detect the torque, or effort, that the driver is applying at the steering wheel, and a computer decides how much assist needs to be added. This electric motor can be located either directly on the steering rack-this arrangement is more expensive and tends to be used on the sports- and luxury-car end of the spectrum-or mounted to the steering column. EPS uses an electric motor that draws energy from the vehicle's electrical system to provide the steering assistance. There's still a solid metal steering shaft running from the steering wheel to the steering rack, which steers the tires, but the rest is high-tech. Electric power steering (EPS) is the norm on today's new cars. ![]()
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