A new test bench for electric motors and axles has begun operating at the DEKRA Technology Center at the Lausitzring racetrack near Klettwitz in Brandenburg, Germany. “This is where we test components in order to provide development support, for homologation and type testing purposes, and for quality assurance, based on CoP (Conformity of Production) tests and market monitoring on behalf of manufacturers and authorities,” says Erik Pellmann, Head of Powertrain and Exhaust Emissions at the DEKRA Technology Center. DEKRA has invested a seven-figure Euro sum in the new test bench.
Alongside durability testing, the new system allows experts to test the steady state and maximum performance capacity of electric motors up to 400 kilowatts, at speeds of 20,000 revolutions per minute and an overload of 25 percent. Thanks to two 290-kilowatt axle brakes, these tests can also be offered for fully electric drive axles (combination of electric motor, inverter and transmission).
Most of the electrical energy used in testing can be recuperated by the brakes of the test bench – a key aspect given the aim of achieving the greatest possible sustainability.
“At this facility, we don’t just test components against manufacturers’ specifications and European homologation standards but also offer testing to other standards such as the GB standards 18488 and 17692, which are relevant to the Chinese market,” explains Pellmann. “Working hand in hand with our colleagues at the DEKRA laboratory in Shanghai, this enables us to deliver a comprehensive range of services from a single source to manufacturers for the Chinese market.”
With the new test bench, DEKRA is targeting vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, engineering service providers and authorities.
“We are gradually and systematically aligning our powertrain and exhaust emissions laboratory to the market’s future e-mobility needs. This new test bench is another step in this direction,” says Erik Pellmann.
DEKRA is currently investing in electromobility at various locations. Recently, the company inaugurated a new open-area testing facility at its site in Arnhem (Netherlands) for measuring electromagnetic compatibility on large vehicles such as electric buses or e-trucks. In 2020, a state-of-the-art laboratory for end-to-end testing of charging infrastructure was opened there.
Source: DEKRA
