Expanding Battery Testing

AVL List GmbH said it will increase the battery testing capability of its test center in Graz, Austria, with the addition of four battery test systems for e-mobility batteries, including a thermal chamber that is capable of handling even batteries for truck applications. The four new battery testing facilities will cover an area of 400 m² and are expected to go into operation in spring 2018.  

According to AVL, the most striking feature of the new testbeds results from the combination of the highest-possible test parameters voltage, power and temperature-changing speed in larger test chambers than previously.

These testbeds will be covering the development of batteries up to 1200V – right now 450 V batteries are standard (900 V for premium-class vehicles). 

AVL started developing lithium batteries for the global passenger car and commercial vehicle industry ten years ago. The company develops new technologies to support the optimal integration of all types of cells in batteries, and to make them suitable for large-scale production.

To address battery validation, AVL originally built four battery test beds with 800 to 1000 V capabilities in 2010.