Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Battery Testing
Millbrook conducts hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) battery testing to: assess the life of battery cells, modules and packs; determine battery safety in a wide range of situations including crash events; and validate the performance of automotive batteries under a range of environmental conditions.
EV Battery Testing Overview
Millbrook offers a wide range of battery safety and abuse tests including for UN 38.3 and ECE Reg 100 and operates a state-of-the-art battery life and performance test facility in the UK. It tests all major Lithium-ion chemistries and a range of other chemistries by simulating normal and extreme operating conditions.
Hybrid and Electric Battery Tests
Millbrook provides a wide range of test methods to assess the life, safety and performance of vehicle batteries. These include:
- Pack life and performance testing
- Cell and module life and performance testing
- Battery shock testing
- Battery safety and abuse, including battery drop and nail penetration testing
Millbrook also offers a range of electric machine and inverter tests and provides full vehicle test facilities including the ability to crash EVs and FCVs.
Battery Strip and Inspection
After completing a battery test, Millbrook’s skilled team safely strips them down to component parts, while measuring key parameters, such as distances, torques, voltages, and resistances. A detailed photographic record can also be provided.
A high-resolution video link allows real-time interaction. This can be especially useful in situations where the battery pack is damaged, making it difficult to specify in advance what is of interest.
Millbrook conducts abuse testing of lithium ion batteries for applications including rail, aircraft, grid storage and electric vehicles, all of which can be followed up with battery strip and inspection.
Other capabilities include:
- Battery repairs, such as fuse replacement, module replacement and software reflashing
- Return shipping of batteries after testing
- Secure battery disposal after testing
Battery Coolant Testing
Millbrook conducts a range of tests to assess the performance of battery coolants from development samples to production. Coolant tests are performed on battery cells, modules and packs. These include:
- Performance tests i.e. can the battery function as required in the vehicle over the expected range of ambient and use conditions?
- Life tests i.e. does the battery meet its warranty targets, and customers’ expectations for life?
- Safety tests i.e. is the battery safe enough in normal use and in other likely situations, such as a crash?
Find out more about the impact of the battery coolant in Dr. Peter Miller’s white paper – ‘The Impact of Battery Coolant Choice on Lithium-ion Batteries.’
Electromagnetic Compatibility
More about electric vehicle testing in the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) chamber in France
