US propulsion solution provider Allison Transmission has announced the expansion of electrification testing capabilities at its Vehicle Environmental Test Center.
Set to be rebranded as the Vehicle Electrification and Environmental Test Center (VE+ET), the facility is co-located with Allison Transmission’s global headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, and offers OEMs and suppliers the equipment to carry out the testing of several types of propulsion systems.
“Recognizing the value of this unique resource and considering Allison’s extensive knowledge of battery management and system level integration, Allison engineers, along with our OEM partners, are leveraging the Vehicle Electrification and Environmental Test Center to facilitate electric vehicle development and validation programs,” commented Branden Harbin, executive director of global marketing, Allison Transmission. “These engagements are an opportunity to support the continued development of fully electric propulsion solutions, as well as deepen and develop partnerships with established OEMs and new entrants.”
With demand increasing for the testing and validation of larger battery electric vehicles, the company made the decision to expand its battery emulation capability to accommodate tests above 500kW at a maximum of 900V DC. This negates the need to stop and recharge and has enabled the center to complete more tests in a shorter period. The test site also provides commercial fast-charging capabilities of 150kW to support the development of next-generation vehicles and fleets.
Covering 60,000ft2 , the center was opened in 2020 and contains both a hot soak chamber and a cold soak chamber, as well as two chassis dyne-equipped environmental chambers to simulate a broad range of duty cycles. Both testing chambers can accommodate the vast majority of passenger, on-highway, off-highway and wheeled defense vehicles. Both conventional, alternative fuel and electric or hydrogen powered propulsion systems can be tested.
The facility has the capability to recreate environmental conditions ranging from -54oF to 125oF, alongside altitudes of up to 18,000ft. A thermal feature that simulates radiant heat has also been added to facilitate the testing of HVAC systems.
“The services available at the facility allow OEMs to push their development dollars further while reducing design and discovery time, simplifying the process to help them get to market faster,” explained David Proctor, general manager, Allison Vehicle Electrification and Environmental Test Center.