TÜV Rheinland and RWTH Aachen as a pioneers in the transformation to e-mobility
In its independent test center in the Dutch-German innovation park Avantis near Aachen, the TÜV Rheinland Automotive Component Testing GmbH (ACT) is testing traction batteries from numerous manufacturers worldwide for compliance with almost all common standards. ACT operates here as part of the Future Mobility Hub Avantis, which also includes an institute at the RWTH Aachen University as well as mobility start-ups.
At the Aachen test center, the batteries are tested for their maximum load capacity and are subjected to performance tests, climate and environmental tests, mechanical tests, and safety tests, among others. All scenarios that may stress or even damage traction batteries can be simulated in the Aachen laboratory – from fires and short circuits to extreme climate conditions.
Artur Schneider, Managing Director of TÜV Rheinland ACT, explains: “For our customers, the safety of their batteries is an essential part of the development process. With our services, we create urgently needed testing capacities to ensure that safe traction batteries can be installed in vehicles and launched on the market as an innovation.” This is a much needed service, as manufacturers continue to develop better batteries at a rapid pace. However, before these batteries can be installed in series-produced vehicles, extensive testing is required. With its services, the TÜV Rheinland battery test center thus supports and accelerates needed innovations as part of the successful transformation to e-mobility.
The test center also incorporates sustainability aspects. For example, the waste water collected during the test procedures is disposed of by a specialized company, and for particularly exposed areas, a multi-stage exhaust gas purification system was developed and installed to protect the environment from gas leaks.
The video gives you a glimpse behind the scenes of our battery test center in Aachen.
