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Battery safety: TUV SUD calls for standardised international specifications(ENP Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ENP Newswire - 20 October 2014 Release date- 16102014 - Battery safety, charging infrastructure, periodic roadworthiness inspections, hydrogen technology - TUV SUD will present its full range of services related to alternative drive systems at the sixth eCarTec, the leading trade show for electric vehicles and electromobility, held in Munich from 21 - 23 October 2014. At TUV SUD's stand number 410 in Hall A5, focal topics will be the global network of battery testing centres and harmonisation plans for international battery safety regulations. On the latter subject, Christian Theeck, Project and Sales Manager at TUV SUD Battery Testing GmbH, will present a technical paper on the UN ECE-R 100 standard at the International Conference for Electric & Hybrid Mobility, held during eCarTec. 'Connecting mobility markets' is the motto of the 2014 eCarTec. But 'connecting battery markets' is a long-standing core topic for TUV SUD's international involvement in electromobility. With a global network of battery testing centres in the USA, Canada, Singapore, Korea and Shanghai as well as the network headquarters in Garching near Munich, the company's experts not only link up the major international battery markets, but are also pushing for standardised testing specifications around the world - for example, through their involvement in industry bodies in the USA. Volker Blandow, Head of e-Mobility at TUV SUD, comments, 'One of our foremost demands is for battery testing using globally reproducible methods and standardised processes. This is vital if we are to achieve our aim of growing electromobility into a global mass phenomenon.' Focus on batteries The testing methods used for batteries in electric vehicles (drive batteries) still vary widely throughout the world. In addition, they refer to differing types of battery, varying from single cells and modules to full-scale battery systems. 'Standardised testing criteria and methods would significantly speed up time to market for battery manufacturers and automotive companies', says Blandow. In addition, standardisation would promote consistency of quality and thus ensure that customers were supplied with high-grade products. A global regulation governing vehicle approval will provide for more safety in future, while also imposing more rigor on battery testing. The UN ECE R100 Regulation addresses areas including severe misuse of complete battery systems, simulated vehicle fires and mechanical deformation of the battery. Many countries, among them China, are already incorporating the requirements of R100 into their national regulatory frameworks. 'With representation in areas including industry bodies in the US, we are urging the adoption of the UN ECE R100 as the global standard for battery safety', stresses Blandow. Charging infrastructure But before electric vehicles can become a mass phenomenon, the range that those vehicles can achieve - and thus the charging infrastructure available - play a critical role. TUV SUD is among Europe's leading certification bodies for conductive and inductive charging stations for electric vehicles and thus helps to ensure that uniform high safety standards also extend to charging. Safe refuelling is also a particularly important concern for hydrogen vehicles. The eMobility experts at TUV SUD provide certification for hydrogen fuel pumps and their components. Highlighting periodic roadworthiness inspection As vehicles with electric or electrified drive systems rapidly become widespread, new laws on battery safety and charging infrastructure are only some of the aspects under development. For example, how must periodic roadworthiness inspections be designed in future to cater to vehicles with high-voltage drive systems? TUV SUD played a central role in a study commissioned by the German Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt). The field study, which surveyed a total of 2,500 vehicles, focused on issues including all high-voltage components and systems impacting on vehicle functioning, such as brake energy regeneration systems. Showcasing electromobility As a promoter of the electromobility of tomorrow, TUV SUD is represented as a partner in all four 'showcase regions' of the German government's Electromobility Showcase initiative (Baden-Wuerttemberg, Berlin/Brandenburg, Lower Saxony and Bavaria/Saxony). Qualifications in the limelight: TUV SUD also drives safety ahead in areas including the production, repair and maintenance of e-vehicles by providing training concepts on high-voltage technology tailored to automotive manufacturers and workshops. Seminars held by TUV SUD Academy cover all aspects of working on high-voltage systems, both activated and powered off. A further key topic at TUV SUD Academy is safety in working with hydrogen fuel technology. (c) 2014 Electronic News Publishing - |