New battery test technology from Unico has been unveiled that enables multiple pack, module and cell test channels to be utilized in a single system for ‘back-to-back’ EV battery evaluation. The Unico Quantum Drive platform is said to be cost efficient, energy efficient and flexible.
“Developing and testing batteries for electric vehicles requires the validation of cells, modules and packs across a wide operating range,” said Don Wright, VP of engineering at Unico. “This testing requires multiple high-power feeds and significant floorspace which leads to high installation and operational costs. The new Quantum Drive Platform from Unico aims to address these challenges by allowing companies to recirculate the energy from different pieces of test equipment, which will offer tremendous cost and floorspace savings for our customers.”
The discharge energy from one channel can be used as the charge energy for another and can also be equipped with a second-life battery energy storage system to save energy for later. This combination with proper sequencing can reduce the need for substantial utility connections and enables almost net-zero battery test applications.
Unico states that this new platform sets a new industry benchmark for multi-channel, high-power AC and DC applications in a single system, offering a notable footprint reduction and multipurpose capability. The high-performance channels also provide galvanic isolation between all test channels without the need for any low-frequency transformers inside or outside of the drive system.
“We are excited to use Unico’s new Quantum Drive Platform as a powerful solution for reducing the utility power requirements of our test systems,” said Dustin Harrison, managing director, UTAC. “This technology represents a significant step forward in our efforts to enhance energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of our test facilities. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Unico and leveraging our combined expertise to drive meaningful change in the industry.”
Pilot programs for the Unico Quantum Drive Platform will begin this summer with deliveries to customers starting in Q3 of 2023.