Apparatus, system and method for braking

An eddy current brake 10 for a vehicle (e.g. EV, HEV, PHEV, BEV) has a rotor 12 and an electromagnet 14, the electromagnet receiving current from an electromechanical energy generating means 16 (e.g. motor/generator) during braking of the vehicle, wherein an eddy current is induced in the rotor. The energy generating means may be provided on a first vehicle axle and the eddy current brake on a second vehicle axle. The electromagnet may be located at a radially outer portion of the rotor and separated from the rotor by a small air gap, up to a few millimetres. An electronic controller determines an amount of current generation provided by the energy generating means and thereby controls the amount of current provided to the electromagnet of the eddy current brake and/or an energy storage means (e.g. battery 32). The amount of current provided to the electromagnet may also be dependent on a current absorption limit and/or an energy storage state value of the energy storage means. The controller may receive inputs from a brake pedal position sensor 28 and/or a vehicle speed sensor 26 to determine the amount of current to be provided to the electromagnet of the eddy current brake.