Work starts on electric vehicle battery testing site

Warwickshire-based engineering, research and testing firm Horiba Mira has begun work to build a £2 million Advanced Battery Development Suite for the testing and development of high voltage battery systems.

The announcement comes shortly after the company opened its £8 million vehicle emissions testing centre at Nuneaton, specialising in the testing of exhaust emissions in ‘real-world’ conditions (see airqualitynews.com story).

The site will incorporate facilities battery pack testing, simulated battery pack testing, integration testing and development of powertrain and battery packs

According to the company, the new facility is being developed in response to increasing demand for electric vehicle powertrains. The facility will provide ‘dedicated facilities for high voltage battery testing in both climatic and EMC environments’.

The 2,000 sq. ft. test centre, which starts construction this month, will be a dedicated facility for the testing and development of high voltage battery systems, the company has explained.

The facility will be capable of high resolution cell characterisation as well as testing battery modules and packs through representative charge and discharge cycles at a wide range of temperatures to provide full representative testing profiles.

Capability

The Development Suite will provide testing capability, with the ability to test battery packs at up to 600kW, 1200A and 1000V.

The facility is set for completion by the end of 2017.

Dr George Gillespie OBE, chief executive at HORIBA MIRA, said: “By 2020, 26% of vehicles across the globe will have an electrified powertrain. The increase in electric and hybrid vehicles demands improved test facilities, which can keep pace with the changing requirements for battery range and thermodynamic efficiency – which is exactly why we’re developing the Advanced Battery Development Suite.

“This investment, in addition to the recent launch of our Advanced Emissions Testing Centre, which is already performing incredibly well, demonstrates HORIBA MIRA’s commitment to reducing vehicle emissions through improved testing facilities and expertise, and we look forward to officially opening our new battery suite towards the end of the year.”

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