What is the difference between ABS and EBD?

ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution) are two complementary automotive safety technologies, with the core difference lying in their functional focuses and working logics. ABS prevents wheels from locking up completely by adjusting brake fluid pressure at high frequency, ensuring that drivers can still control the direction during emergency braking. Its principle is to keep the wheels in a state of rolling with slight sliding to maximize ground friction. As an intelligent upgrade module of ABS, EBD analyzes the difference in traction among the four wheels via sensors at the moment of braking and dynamically adjusts the distribution of braking force. For example, when the left wheel of a vehicle is on a wet road while the right wheel is on a dry one, EBD will reduce the braking force on the left wheel to avoid skidding. This predictive adjustment occurs before ABS intervenes, effectively preventing tail-swinging or side-slipping. The two technologies share the same set of sensors and hydraulic systems in terms of hardware, but EBD optimizes the braking force distribution strategy through more complex algorithms, significantly improving stability particularly during cornering braking or when the load changes. Currently, most vehicles integrate the two into an "ABS+EBD" system. The former ensures basic braking safety, while the latter further optimizes braking efficiency. Together, they reduce the braking distance by approximately 15%-20%. It should be noted that the effectiveness of these systems depends on regular maintenance, such as cleaning the wheel speed sensors and replacing brake fluid, to ensure their proper operation in critical situations.