Intertek, a London, England-based multinational assurance, inspection, product testing, and certification company, has opened an Electrification Center of Excellence at its Transportation Technologies lab in Plymouth Township.
The facility is designed to deliver science-based Total Quality Assurance solutions to automotive manufacturers and their supply chains to support the industry’s global move toward electric mobility.
“The need to find sustainable and cleaner solutions for vehicles has accelerated the advancements in battery technologies, and the positive regulatory frameworks supporting faster adoption has compounded the surge in demand,” says André Lacroix, CEO of Intertek.
“It is within this changing landscape that Intertek has successfully positioned itself as a driving force for positive change in the automotive industry. Our investment in the Plymouth Electrification Center of Excellence confirms our dedication to support the electrification of the automotive industry and its supply chains.”
Located in the epicenter of American automotive manufacturing in Detroit, the Electrification Center of Excellence encompasses 200,000 square feet, making it one of the largest laboratories in Intertek’s global network. Enhanced testing capabilities and equipment include:
- The installation of a 55,000-pound shaker, one of the largest in North America, for use with large automotive and EV component testing.
- Battery cycler capability to 1200V/600kw.
- EVSE emulator for IEC 61851-24 certifications.
- 90 environmental chambers ranging in size from small reach-in units to those that can fit a full vehicle inside.
- Bunker/safety expansion.
- A dedicated area for full vehicle work.
- Specific areas for salt, dust, and BSR testing.
- Expansion for vibration and fixturing.
- Dedicated areas for expansion of performance work.
- Dedicated floor space and infrastructure for future development of EV and EV-related test facilities.
“As automotive electrification technologies advance to accelerate the transition to net-zero, there is a need to ensure the safety, performance, and functionality of EVs, battery packs, charging systems, and their related components,” says Mike Parker, president of Intertek Transportation Technologies. “Our Electrification Center of Excellence answers this need by offering some of the most extensive EV battery and EVSE testing capabilities in North America to support automotive OEM and Tier Suppliers.”
