Automotive manufacturer SEAT has started construction of a new battery laboratory as part of a continued expansion of its electrification capabilities.
Located at the company’s plant in Martorell, Barcelona, the 1,500m2 Test Center Energy (TCE) facility will be used to test and develop energy systems for electric and hybrid vehicles.
According to SEAT, the laboratory will be unique in Spain and is set to feature test spaces for evaluation of lithium-ion technology, medium- and high-voltage batteries and a range of different chargers. It will include several climatic chambers to enable batteries and modules to be tested under extreme thermal conditions.
The construction is due to be completed in April 2021 with a maximum testing capacity of 1.3MW. Workshops will be incorporated to allow simultaneous testing on up to six EVs while artificial vision systems will also be incorporated into the instrumentation.
Werner Tietz, SEAT vice-president for R&D, commented, “We are very excited to announce the launch of this project. SEAT has been committed to the electrification of the company for years and the construction of this unique new Test Center Energy in Spain is a firm step in this direction. This new battery lab will enable us to develop the energy systems of future hybrid and electric vehicles, thus contributing to the creation of sustainable electromobility.”
The TCE facility will complement the company’s combined low-, medium- and high-voltage battery lab built in 2010. Over the past decade, SEAT has carried out national and international research projects and conducted over 2,000 test cases at the facility which has two climatic chambers and a test power of 200kW.