Battery Power - January/February 2013 - (Page 20)

Feature High-Voltage Battery Simulator and Test Systems Critical for Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Development Essential for Conducting R&D, Performance and Durability Testing Randall Beattie SAKOR, Technologies, Inc. High voltage battery simulator and test systems are essential for conducting testing of the high voltage DC power systems that are such a critical element of electric (EV) and hybrid/ electric (HEV) vehicles. To accurately test a high voltage hybrid or electric drivetrain, you need to be able to provide precise, repeatable high-voltage DC power. Standard off-the-shelf power supplies will not work because they cannot absorb power from the EV/HEV’s regenerative system and may even be damaged or destroyed if used with one. To fill the need, new technology is being developed specifically to test high-voltage HEV batteries and simulate these batteries in an electric drivetrain environment. At the heart of the system is a fully line-regenerative DC power source, which can provide reliable power that allows for repeatable data because the system’s performance is not affected by battery charge state. In addition, this method provides much greater power efficiency and measurably reduces overall operating costs. Such a system can also test batteries by precisely simulating road conditions, so engineers can see how the battery will really respond if put in a vehicle under real-world conditions. state will affect the results. Batteries absorb and generate power at differing rates depending on how fully the battery is charged (its charge state). To use a battery for testing, you must therefore ensure it is always at the identical charge state at the beginning of each test, and charged exactly to the same level every time, or you are likely to get somewhat different results. What’s required instead is an electronic power supply, running off of the power grid, which can actually provide the very stable DC high voltage capability that the battery would give, and also be able to absorb power like the battery would. Unfortunately, providing precise, repeatable high-voltage DC power for accurately testing a high-voltage hybrid or electric drivetrain is no easy task. Most standard power supplies are single quadrant units, which means they supply current in one direction; they generate power to drive whatever device they are attached to. They do not absorb power. Driving power back into this type of AC power supply will likely overload the power supply, and permanently and severely damage it. New and Advanced Battery Testing Technology High-Voltage Battery and Charging System at the Heart of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles The battery is the heart of an EV or HEV, acting as an energy storage device that allows the vehicle to store electrical energy and then use it to drive when needed. In an EV, the battery is analogous to the gas tank: fill it up and it runs until it is empty. With an HEV, the electrical system is used to assist an internal combustion engine. In a normal condition, an electric motor can be used to drive the vehicle. However, it can also be used to resist vehicle motion during braking. At this point it becomes a generator, generating electricity and pumping it back into the battery to be stored and used to drive the vehicle later. This energy recapture is called dynamic braking. Whether in an EV or HEV application, the battery needs to store the regenerated power so that it can be used later to power the vehicle on demand. Testing overall electric or hybrid vehicle performance as part of new product engineering requires a system that can be used to test the high-voltage battery system, as well as simulate highvoltage batteries while conducting EV or HEV driveline and inverter system testing. Using a battery as the power source for an EV or HEV driveline testing system will not give the repeatable data that is required. This is because the battery’s charge and discharge In the recent past, battery manufacturers have not needed sophisticated systems to test batteries, but the advent of EV and HEV systems has led to a greater need for new and advanced battery testing technology. For example, Michigan State University is developing a battery testing laboratory as part of its advanced energy storage technology research. In response to this critical need, technology is being developed that can be used for high voltage battery testing. The testing system subjects the battery to the same charge/discharge profile as it would encounter in an actual vehicle on an actual road course. HEV Battery Tester 20 Battery Power • January/February 2013 www.BatteryPowerOnline.com http://www.BatteryPowerOnline.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Battery Power - January/February 2013

Battery Power - January/February 2013
Table of Contents
Editor's Choice
GM, ABB Demonstrate Chevrolet Volt Battery Reuse Unit
Features
Testing Requirements in the Electric Vehicle Industry
Nearing the Promise of the Micro-Hybrid Vehicles: Technology Improvements and New Markets
So You’ve Been Placed on Notice... Now What?
Advanced Numerical Simulation for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
High-Voltage Battery Simulator and Test Systems Critical for Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Development
Key Elements to Assuring a Well Developed Verification Plan for Your Battery Powered Device
New Products
Batteries
Components
ICs & Semiconductors
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Industry News
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Calendar of Events

Battery Power - January/February 2013