Intertek invested 3.4 million euros in its new Test Center for Electromobility in 2012. Due to the constantly increasing need for testing and certification in the European automotive industry, as well as in response to a large number of component suppliers, Intertek has additionally installed a number of car lifts with loading infrastructure. The purpose of this investment is to determine and optimize the efficiency, practicality, and performance of the electric-vehicles (EVs) that are on the market under real conditions.
By April, a large abuse bunker (with a volume of 160 cubic-meters) will be built. This will allow complete abuse tests according to SAE J2464 as a supplement to the current requirements of the ECE-R 100, including future requirements of the second supplement to the ECE-R 100. Twelve new testing stations for battery modules (cyclers) and four temperature chambers will also expand the capacity of the location.
In addition, this summer the Kaufbeuren specialists for e-mobility and transportation will install two battery testing stations with two channels of 60 kW nominal capacity each. These will make it possible to test batteries for electric vehicles with an operating voltage of up to 1000 VDC, and is supported by a team of experienced engineers and technicians. With their knowledge and dedication, they help ensure the services - most recently also battery tests according to UL 2271 for e-bikes and e-rollers for the North American market - with short project lead times and high test quality.
"The focus of German OEMs and component suppliers is currently on the development of economical, efficient storage technologies for hybrid vehicles" explained Roger Grumpelt, Business Development Manager for E-Mobility, Intertek Deutschland GmbH. "The decisive factor is being able to reliably test and certify key components for these vehicles. This challenges us to link our laboratories with their modern equipment and the specialists at these locations, which applies to both the local presence and global competence. We are a global test and certification partner for many renowned European vehicles manufacturers and component suppliers. Our Competence Center in Kaufbeuren offers them an extensive range of tests in the areas of e-mobility, storage media, and transportation technologies close to their locations."
The European Competence Center for E-Mobility and Transportation Technologies in Kaufbeuren acts as an important element of Intertek's global laboratory network for Transportation Technologies with locations in Leatherhead (United Kingdom), Stockholm (Sweden), Detroit (U.S.A.), and Shanghai (China). In proximity to the global automotive manufacturing hotspots, Intertek offers its independent testing and certification services in a quick and flexible way for all notable component and automotive companies and is key to Intertek's expanding its leading role as a development and testing partner for the automobile industry.