Battery testing and development

Delivering industry leading battery testing solutions for all electric and hybrid propulsion systems enabling full-service battery development from concept to production.

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Ricardo has the hands-on experience and expert capability to support and advise customers on batteries from concept through to production and testing. Our clients rely on Ricardo's expertise in battery technology and legislation to deliver testing programmes which meet legal requirements and ensure safety, high performance and longevity.

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Ricardo has the capacity, facilities and capability to deliver a variety of battery testing options. Our capacity for testing is further increased by our dedicated test partners.

Time and again, our customers trust us to deliver test programmes which meet their unique requirements. We excel in all forms of battery testing capability, including our climatic battery cycling which is leading in the industry.

Our state-of-the-art facilities, together with our engineering expertise, enables our clients to take advantage of full-service battery development and testing solutions from concept from concept through to production to test.

Ricardo delivers battery research and development testing from our facilities in the UK. Here we focus on electrical characterisation testing of cells and module level testing.

For larger scale testing of cells, modules and packs, we work with our trusted partners to deliver programmes managed and delivered by Ricardo battery testing experts.

We work with clients across multiple sectors to deliver battery testing and development on wide variety of platforms, from high performance automotive to passenger vehicle.

We have supported an impressive range of OEM clients including:

  • Volvo
  • McLaren
  • iCoBat​ Collaborative R&D Consortium

  • Battery simulators covering a wide range of hybrid vehicle development needs
  • Bitrode 25 – 750V DC sink or source emulator:
    • 0 – 500A current, 250 kW power rating
    • CAN bus communication
    • User programmable battery modules
    • Transportable – can be linked up to any Ricardo test rig
    • Transmission, engine or chassis dyno test cells
  • High bandwidth 0-60V DC, 16kW, 380A source/sink unit
    • Ideally suited for 48V battery, BMS and vehicle power systems development
    • Supports sub-system testing and development to VDA LV148 standard
    • Programmable battery emulation
    • Integrated data logging
    • Highly Portable (19in flight case) for use at client test facilities
  • 2650 square foot facility located on Ricardo Detroit Technology Campus in Van Buren, Michigan
  • Turnkey engineering and development of complete high voltage battery pack systems with HEV, PHEV and EV capability
  • 3 Li-Ion, NiMH capable development chambers
    • Thermal controls from –29 deg C to 60C.
    • Size is 12’ by 12’, enabling use of large format battery pack
  • V900 battery cycler and ABC150 battery cycler
    • 250kW, 1000A, 8 to 900V
  • Hardware-in-the-Loop system which enables advanced controls development and engineering development
  • High voltage instrumentation for independent measurements
Battery Testing

Choose Ricardo as Your Battery Testing Partner

Existing test capability for battery cell and packs

We offer our customers battery test capability meaning there is no need to invest and build your own capability resulting in quicker and lower risk than building your own.

Deep knowledge of battery testing

We have a deep knowledge of battery testing and we are happy to share this knowledge meaning that our customers can rapidly increase their own knowledge.

High specification test facilities

Our state of art facilities means better control of test parameters to deliver high-confidence test results. This results in accurate data which allows for better decision-making on battery performance.

Connected battery management system

Ricardo has developed the Connected Battery Management System (BMS) to significantly benefit OEMs and fleet operators by allowing them to manage battery health across all their vehicles.

Battery testing and development

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Meet the experts

Tim Bassett

Tim Bassett

Head of Test

Read my story

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