Valmet Automotive’s Battery Test Centre to be operational by the end of February

Due to the high demand for test capacities on battery modules and battery systems of electrically powered vehicles, Valmet Automotive is working with high pressure to set up its Battery Test Centre (BTC) in Bad Friedrichshall, nearby city of Heilbronn.

The construction of Valmet Automotive's new Battery Test Centre is well on the way. After the containers were delivered in a spectacular transport in November, the installation of the technical equipment from partner AVL had top priority for the past few weeks. Now technical infrastructure of VA is currently integrated. Afterwards the test runs of the complete systems are on the programme.

The time pressure on the final preparation is high, because the team led by Stefan Sommer, Director Testing Valmet Automotive, wants to make the test capacities available as soon as possible. The test centre should be operational by the end of February.

“Since we announced the new Battery Test Centre, there has been strong demand from the automotive industry. We are in intensive negotiations and some customers would rather start today than tomorrow,” said Dr. Robert Hentschel, SVP Engineering.

The BTC has been set up on an area of around 1,500 square metres on the location of Valmet Automotive in Bad Friedrichshall. Cells, battery modules and complete battery systems will be tested for environmental compatibility as well as function and safety.

The BTC is characterised by features such as flexible and pragmatic engagement of multi-specialised professionals within the complete product development process, state-of-the-art battery test equipment of AVL, power for the highest demand of tomorrow with peak performances of up to 3,200 A / 1,200 V / 1,600 kW, a salt spray chamber (16 m³) with active energisation of high-voltage battery systems of fully electric vehicles and safety technology at the highest international level.