Dec 2 2009
Using a part of its recently awarded $118.5 million federal stimulus grant, the subsidiary of Ener1, EnerDel, will deploy AeroVironment’s advanced electric vehicle power cycling and test systems.
EnerDel will add 170-kilowatt ABC-170CE cyclers from AeroVironment to its 250-kilowatt AV-900 heavy-duty cyclers to expand the battery testing capabilities at its Indiana facility. Programmed to simulate real world driving conditions, both test systems will serve to replicate actual operating conditions.
ABC-170CE cyclers are designed to facilitate high-current and high-voltage battery and fuel cell charge and discharge testing with 170 kilowatt sinking power. The AV-900 is capable of up to 250-kilowatt charge and discharge testing of large applications such as plug-in and full battery electric buses, military equipment and trucks. Adding ABC-170CE to AV-900 systems will facilitate the advanced power cycling of EnerDel’s electric and hybrid vehicle batteries.
According to Rick Stanley, EnerDel’s President, the AV units will offer additional life-cycling systems for the company’s major projects, enhance its performance testing abilities and empower the company to meet rigorous customer standards.
Michael Bissonette, General Manager and Senior Vice President of AeroVironment’s Efficient Energy Systems division, said that the company’s power cycling and test systems offer adaptability, reliability, longevity and ease of use. He added that these features facilitate the development of next generation of clean vehicle powertrains by battery manufacturers. The AV-900, one of the heavy-duty test systems of the company, allows the development of hybrid locomotives and fuel cell buses with the required high-power capability.
AeroVironment has supplied test equipment for electric systems across the globe to manufacturers and developers of fuel cells, EV, gen sets and batteries. These systems have been deployed to support the development of systems hybrid electric vehicles, power generation equipment, high power energy storage systems, electrical components and powertrains as well as to develop, test and integrate hybrid energy and fuel cell systems.
In addition, the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) has used AV-800 electric vehicle test systems to conduct critical testing for the progress of electric transportation technologies in ground systems for the support and protection of current military forces.
Source: www.avinc.com