An increasingly competitive automotive industry requires constant alteration and an emerging key trend is eco-friendliness coupled with advanced safety.
The automotive industry is facing huge challenges, some of which are:
• additional safety features require additional weight and energy resources,
• additional weight on fuel efficiency, and,
• lightweight material (Al, Mg, Carbon composite etc) costs more and in turn reduces demand for these vehicles.
Automotive brands and manufacturers have made significant improvements in this regard by developing highly-efficient drivetrains, alternative power sources, as well as lighter, but stronger construction materials. For instance, there is an uptake in the use of fully electric and fuel-electric hybrid drivetrains, combined with fast-charging battery technologies, which allay range anxiety among users of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids.
The increased dependence on technology for safety and performance comes with potential risks. For example, the high energy density of batteries used in EVs can sometimes lead to fire or explosions when damaged in a crash, or if they overheat while charging. The risk for post-crash chemical reaction due to cell damage may result in explosion even weeks after the accident (crash).
Testing for Electrical Systems
Automotive manufacturers need to fully understand how varying operating conditions limit the life and usage cycle of battery systems through extensive testing and modeling, and developing sophisticated algorithms to track and predict various parameters, including state of battery charge and health, among others. To ensure quality, TÜV Rheinland provides type testing and certification for vehicles and components according to EU Directives, UN/ECE regulations, E/e mark certification ECE-R100, as well as EMC testing based on European regulations and other international standards.
We also provide testing and certification for charging systems and their related components, such as connectors and cables. Our testing services include EMC, UL standards, field labeling, IEC/DIS 61980-1/-2/-3, V2H systems and grid connectivity testing. In addition to our TÜV mark license, we issue CB reports and certificates based on IEC 61851 series, as well as cTÜVus and TÜV mark license for the North American market.
We also provide certification for batteries and capacitors used in EVs through our Battery Testing Laboratory at our Kansai Technology Assessment Center (KTAC), the largest laboratory in Japan dedicated to Rechargeable Energy Storage Systems (REESS). We provide testing services using the latest facilities and the highest level of specialist knowledge.
Testing for CNG Automotive Components
Compressed natural gas (CNG) is becoming increasingly popular as it is cleaner-burning than gasoline or diesel. Vehicles that run on CNG may show up to 80% reduction in ozone-forming emissions compared to petrol-fed vehicles. TÜV Rheinland’s facility supports manufacturers in developing cleaner vehicles with comprehensive one-stop-shop CNG components testing services. Our testing capabilities include external leakage or durability, to guarantee component type approval. Our experts also perform Conformity of Production tests for such components.
Testing for Environmental Impact
The tire’s rolling resistance can significantly affect carbon emissions; the lower the rolling resistance, the lower the friction levels between the tire and the road surface. However, this also needs to be balanced with an adequate level of friction while braking to ensure enough stopping power depending on the weight of the vehicle.
At TÜV Rheinland, we have experts who will test tire safety, as well as potential emissions of substances that may be harmful to humans and the environment. We help vehicle and component manufacturers with our testing and certification services for electric vehicles, batteries and components to ensure top quality and compliance with standards.
Supporting automotive safety and alternative energy sources with our laboratories around Asia Pacific
***Note: TÜV Rheinland offers you Market Access Service. We use the same regulations so you can use our services that match with your requirement from our laboratories in Asia Pacific.
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