TÜV SÜD expand its global network of testing laboratories for e-mobility

02 August 2011 - TÜV SÜD is stepping up the expansion of its global network of testing facilities for e-mobility, with plans to build two further laboratories for the testing of high-voltage batteries in South Korea and China in 2012.

Counting the existing facilities in Northern America, Canada and Singapore and the Garching-based battery laboratory which is currently under construction, TÜV SÜD is the only third-party service provider maintaining a global network of laboratories for testing the batteries of electric-drive vehicles in accordance with uniform standards throughout the world: "By establishing this network, we underline our goal of becoming the leading provider of all testing services related to safety in e-mobility", stated TÜV SÜD Member of the Board of Management Horst Schneider at the press conference for eCarTec 2011 on 28 July in Munich.

Schneider emphasized that TÜV SÜD sets great store by the equipment and the test procedures at its testing laboratories, which must enable testing and certification to be performed in accordance with uniform standards and thus ensure reproducible results throughout the world: "Given this, we not only satisfy one of the most central requirements of industry, but also contribute significantly to high standards of battery safety all over the world."

TÜV SÜD has invested a total of several million euros in establishing its global laboratory network. Testing is already under way at its facilities in Auburn Hills / USA, Newmarket / Canada and Singapore. The Garching-based laboratory will launch operations in mid-August. Also located in Garching is Battery Testing GmbH. The Managing Director of this TÜV SÜD subsidiary Stefan Rentsch is also responsible for coordination duties for this worldwide network.

All laboratories will test the chemical and electrical safety of new batteries for electric-drive vehicles and subject the high-voltage units to crash tests and 'abuse tests', i.e. tests which examine the risks faced when the batteries are operated or used incorrectly.

As Schneider announced at his welcoming speech at the opening press conference for eCarTec 2011 in Munich, the opening ceremony for the laboratory in Garching will take place during the trade fair in mid-October:"eCarTec, the international flagship trade fair for electromobility, offers the ideal framework for showcasing our performance and our services in the field of battery testing."

While the opening ceremony of the battery laboratory, at which testing facilities and test procedures will be presented to the public, will take place in Garching, TÜV SÜD will also showcase its services at its own stand at eCarTec 2011 between 18 and 20 October in Munich. TÜV SÜD will inform visitors about its broad portfolio of electromobility services at stand 410, in hall A 5. In this context, the experts at TÜV SÜD Automotive will present an integrated safety concept for electromobility which comprises the subjects of electrical, functional, mechanical and chemical safety. This integrated safety concept demonstrates how the safe operation of electric and hybrid-drive vehicles can be ensured from design and development to disposal. Another central theme is the TÜV SÜD standard for determining the range of e-vehicles.