Testing, inspection and certification services provider Element Materials Technology (Element) has installed in-ground reactive mass bedplates at its laboratory in Troy, Michigan, to increase the site’s EV testing capacity.
As EVs and their components often weigh more than their internal combustion engine counterparts, they require larger, in-ground bedplates to conduct reactive mass testing, a method used to assess the safety of a full vehicle or a component.
Vehicles or components being tested are placed on a frame which is anchored to the bedplate. These are then then subjected to actual and extreme driving conditions to identify a point of failure.
The new bedplate area measures 85ft by 16ft and is rated for loads up to 50,000 lb. with the lab’s overall capacity now increased to 7,908ft2 . The site can now test multiple full vehicles at the same time and provides OEMs in the area with enhanced access to comprehensive testing solutions for advanced vehicle designs.
“This is a new age for automotive manufacturers in the Midwest and we are thrilled to support our customers in bringing new and improved products to market as electric vehicles become the standard,” said Rick Sluiters, EVP Americas at Element.
“This is just one of our many commitments to the electrified future of vehicle testing and we will seek to make continuous, proactive improvements to our capabilities, capacity and technologies as vehicles undergo electrical redesigns and manufacturers rely on Element for advanced testing.”
