Electrically operated parking brakes are starting to replace mechanical systems, which have gone largely unchanged since the 1940s. The electric brakes are expected to be the first step to computer-controlled brake-by-wire systems, which are forecast to arrive in about a decade, according to Automotive News Europe.

Electric parking brakes eliminate bulky hand and foot levers and free space for the growing number of electronic devices being installed in vehicles. Cars available with electric parking brakes include the Audi A6 and A8, BMW 7 series, Lancia Thetis, Renault Vel Satis and the Jaguar S-type and XJ. The new Volkswagen Passat also has the system.

"They need the space where they have the parking brake lever today," said Josef Pickenhahn, vice president of brake engineering for TRW Automotive. "It's a nice feature to have. Costs have come down, and we can have some additional functionality."

Electric parking brakes simplify manufacturing efficiency by using fewer parts. Today's electric systems also will put in place some of the hardware needed for brake-by-wire systems.

TRW Automotive's Electric Parking Brake system is the most advanced in production. It not only eliminates the foot or hand lever but the cables, linkage and mechanical adjusters under the car. Instead, a computer-controlled motor mounted on the brake caliper operates the parking brakes.

Other systems made by Continental Teves, Siemens VDO Automotive and Dura Automotive Systems use an electric motor to operate the parking brake cables.

"Eventually, electric parking brakes will lead to full electric braking," said Phil Headly, chief engineer of advanced technologies for Continental Teves. He sees the first applications on non-conventional vehicles, though "We are going down the path of hybrid and fuel cell vehicles where you will need by-wire and regenerative braking because there is no vacuum system," he said. "Those vehicles will have it first. Everything points to that."