IAV Commissions Four-Wheel Drive Dynamometer

Four-wheel drives will play an important role in future for electric vehicles too, because they permit greater recuperation of braking energy and show better drivability. IAV’s new dynamometer in the Chemnitz/Stollberg Development Center is simply ideal for such applications as well as for electric cars with two-wheel drive and classic transmission tests and investigations on conventional four-wheel drive vehicles. “Actually this is four test rigs in one”, says Wolfgang Reimann, Head of Powertrain & Power Engineering at IAV. “We can adapt the measuring equipment to the specific task in hand without any problems.”

This is all due to the flexible concept for the dynamometer: it combines a transmission test rig with three electric motors with an axle test rig that has two electric motors. Both are separated by a wall that is easily removed, so that when the need arises, this gives one single dynamometer with five electric motors for testing all-electric four-wheel drives. But this is not the only special feature of the new facility. It is designed for voltages of up to 1200 V and currents of up to 1400 A, thus making it fit to cope with future developments in terms of power electronics. “There is no other comparable test facility in this class throughout the whole of Germany”, says Reimann.

IAV has pooled all its activities concerning electric powertrains in Chemnitz/Stollberg. The new test facility is part of the strategic “E-mobility” initiative.

• Drive unit with 370 kW output, 650 / 1000 Nm torque (max. 2000 Nm with transmission). Maximum engine speed 10,000 rpm (20,000 rpm with transmission). Dynamic: 46,000 rpm/s.
• Four brake machines each with an output of 290 kW. Braking torque 4200 / 5000 Nm each. Maximum engine speed 3000 rpm. Dynamic: 10,000 rpm/s.
• Battery simulator with 600 kW