advanced_vehicle_testing

Relevant Experience

eTec has tested dozens of vehicles over the past 10 years including:

Electric Vehicles:

  • General Motors EV1 (Lead-acid and Nickel-Metal-Hydride battery types)
  • Ford Ranger (Lead-acid and Nickel-Metal-Hydride battery types)
  • Chrysler EPIC Electric Mini-van
  • Toyota RAV-4 Electric

Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs)

  • Global Electric Motorcar (GEM)
  • Club Car
  • Frazer-Nash
  • ZENN Motor Company
  • Roush EV

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

  • Toyota Prius (Both generations)
  • Toyota Highlander
  • Toyota Lexus RX400H
  • Toyota Camry Hybrid
  • Ford Escape
  • Honda Insight
  • Honda Civic Hybrid
  • Honda Accord Hybrid
  • Saturn Vue Hybrid
  • Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid
  • Nissan Altima Hybrid

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

  • EnergyCS Prius PHEV
  • Hymotion Prius PHEV
  • Hymotion Escape PHEV
  • Electrovaya Escape PHEV
  • Hybrids-Plus Escape PHEV

For additional information about the work eTec and its sister company, Electric Transportation Applications (ETA), is doing with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA), please visit http://avt.inl.gov/

Laboratory Testing Services

Baseline Vehicle Testing

eTec developed a set of highly repeatable test procedures under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy in conjunction with vehicle manufactures and industry stakeholders with the objective of measuring real-world vehicle performance.

This testing is conducted on dynamometers and closed-track environments. Vehicles are evaluated using these Baseline Test Procedures in the following areas:

  • Fuel consumption
  • Acceleration
  • Gradeability
  • Road load coefficients (to support dynamometer testing)
  • Vehicle durability
  • Charger performance

Track testing is conducted at automotive proving grounds near Phoenix, Arizona. Dynamometer testing is conducted at Argonne National Laboratory’s Advanced Powertrain Test Facility outside of Chicago, Illinois.

Baseline testing has been performed under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy for the following types of vehicles:

  • Battery Electric Vehicle
  • Neighborhood Electric Vehicle
  • Hybrid Electric Vehicle
  • Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
  • Hydrogen ICE Vehicle

Test results are summarized based on each client’s individual requirements. Reports for the US DOE AVTA activity are presented in detailed test reports and summarized for wide dissemination in one-page data sheets. (See the USDOE AVTA webpage at: http://avt.inl.gov/)

On-road Accelerated Testing Services

Accelerated Vehicle Testing provides a way to rapidly collect performance and reliability data for advanced vehicle technologies. Accelerated Vehicle Testing procedures have been developed under contract to the U.S. Department of Energy for the following types of vehicles:

  • Battery Electric Vehicle
  • Neighborhood Electric Vehicle
  • Hybrid Electric Vehicle
  • Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
  • Hydrogen ICE Vehicle

Accelerated Vehicle Testing typically utilizes dedicated drivers in a carefully controlled environment with the goal of performing repeatable drive cycles and maximizing the number of miles driven in a limited time period. On-board data is collected on the vehicles utilizing either the eTec developed data collection system or data provided through the vehicle manufacturers system. Other data collected includes fuel use, maintenance costs and vehicle reliability.

For additional information about the work eTec and its sister company, Electric Transportation Applications (ETA), is doing with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA), please visit http://avt.inl.gov/