A clip of the Faraday Future FF 91 undergoing testing at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) in Ohio to refine the vehicle’s battery, thermal systems and powertrain.
As FF 91 enters the final test phase, FF engineers recently traveled to TRC to conduct two tests they dubbed the ‘Autobahn drive cycle’ and ‘operation 120mph’.
“Both tests are critical to the engineering process of FF 91,” said senior manager of powertrain and thermal controls Chou Yeh. “The testing and development helps to eliminate issues before they arise and continues to add value to the vehicle during the final stages of verification.”
The Autobahn drive cycle test consisted of a 155mph run for three minutes, followed by a 120km/h (75mph) run for two minutes. These grueling drive cycles were repeated three times in 15 minutes.
“Our engineers refused to identify the term Autobahn as max speed or top speed. We conducted the test procedure as a ‘German style’ driving simulation which subjected FF 91 to an aggressive and demanding high-speed driving schedule,” explained Yeh. “The objective was to test and measure the battery, thermal, and powertrain components by pushing them to their limits.”
In order to deduce the performance of FF 91’s battery system and powertrain consisting of three motor drive units, FF engineers conducted the second phase of testing by midday. FF 91 sped down the tarmac taking the turns at 193km/h (120mph) on TRC’s 12.7km (7.5-mile) high-speed test track for 55 minutes for a total of 14 laps – a distance equivalent to 105 driving miles.
“When testing the vehicle at a constant speed of 193km/h (120mph), we closely monitored the battery’s thermal temperature and current draw from start to finish. We also paid close attention to ensure the three motors and inverters received adequate cooling throughout the entire 55-minute run. Overheating would ultimately result in degraded battery and powertrain performance,” added Yeh.
“Overall, we were pleased with both the Autobahn and constant speed testing as our vehicle sustained close to an hour at 193km/h (120mph) without any drivetrain or thermal issues. Our initial data looked really promising. In all honesty, I don’t think we pushed FF 91’s true potential and think we can go even further.”