Testing

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Project tests electric truck for work in the Arctic

Operating EVs in extreme temperatures is a demanding exercise, as lithium-ion batteries generally work best between 15 and 35 C, so a four-week trial conducted throughout February 2021 above the Arctic Circle in Sweden was a severe test of a truck and its charging infrastructure (writes Peter Donaldson). In the test, the battery-powered truck carried loads of 14 t of iron ore sludge over a 280 km round trip in temperatures down to -32 C, says Adam Holmer of power-as-a-service provider Vattenfall. The trial was a cooperative effort between Vattenfall, Volvo Trucks and dealer Wist Last och Buss, charger manufacturer ABB and mining company Kaunis Iron.

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Ground vibration testing of NASA’s X-57 Maxwell electric aircraft

Electric propulsion is spawning aircraft with diverse and novel configurations. The multiple motors, rotors, propellers and fans associated with distributed electric propulsion are shaping many complex and unusual forms in the quest to enhance lift and thrust, and to reduce drag through close aerodynamic coupling with airframes. One of the most important processes in their development is ensuring that they don’t suffer from damaging vibration. To that end, NASA has used equipment from Hottinger Bruel & Kjær (HBK) to collect and process accelerometer data in ground vibration testing (GVT) for its X-57 Maxwell aircraft.

Grid

Reducing models of EV behaviour

The development of e-mobility platforms requires a complex interplay between different engineering teams for the mechanical, thermal, electrical, control and software design. ROMs from 3D design tools can be substituted for 1D system simulation models to provide more accurate and detailed results, so teams can make an informed and correct design choice earlier.

New Products

CSM launches HV breakout modules with PowerLok connector system

Measurement technology supplier CSM has unveiled two ‘C’ (Connector) variants of its high-voltage breakout modules (HV BMs) for measuring current, voltage and power in EVs.

New Products

New online calibration tool enables access to test benches and test vehicles via web browsers

VEMAC has developed an online calibration tool (OCT) that allows full remote access to its integrated calibration and data logging functions. The OCT can be connected to a test bench, test vehicle or measurement system via CAN or Ethernet. It can be accessed via any web browser, eliminating the need for software licences. The user […]

Focus on...

Battery cooling

As liquid-based cooling for EV batteries becomes the technology of choice, Peter Donaldson explains the system options now available. Although there are other options for cooling EV batteries than using a liquid, it is rapidly taking over from forced-air cooling, as energy and power densities increase. It is emerging as the dominant technology...

New Products

High-voltage breakout module needs no power meters or current transformers

Measurement and data technology company CSM has unveiled a new HV breakout module designed to meet the international safety standards required for the use of equipment in HV applications on EVs. The company says it simplifies the instrumentation, improves accuracy and reduces costs compared with systems that have not designed for in-vehicle use. When combined […]

Deep Insight

Battery Testing

Battery test systems are proving key to speeding up the development times for new batteries, as Nick Flaherty explains. At the heart of testing battery cells, modules and packs are the levels of voltage and current. Temperature and pressure are increasingly important conditions ...

Grid

Electrolyte detection outs cell leaks

Cell leakage in lithium ion batteries is bad news, so battery makers want to find any that happen during manufacture or assembly so their quality control teams can prevent early failures and minimise warranty costs, while drivers need confidence, safety and low servicing costs. Sandra Seitz from vacuum analysis and test instrument specialists Inficon explained […]

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Dyno development

For ICE powertrain companies looking to transition into e-powertrain engineering, the construction of the new test cells poses on of the biggest cost-barrier to entry, writes Rory Jackson. High-speed dynamometers and test benches capable of measuring the performances of e-motors are inevitably pricey, and many such companies already possess significant testing equipment for cycling combustion […]