Investing in World Class E-Mobility Solutions
Electromobility (e-mobility) is the move toward the use of electrically powered vehicles (e-vehicles), including those using full electric, hybrid electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies. This trend is driven by regulations to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles and dependence on fossil fuels.
Within the EU, regulations require car manufacturers – known in the industry as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) – to intensify their CO2 reduction efforts, in order to bring their fleets’ weighted average CO2 emissions down to 95 g/km by 2021, to 81 g/km by 2025 and to 59 g/km by 2030.
OEMs in Europe can achieve these targets by designing vehicles with traction batteries. However, this presents a challenge, as consumers, having turned their backs on diesel, have been switching to SUVs and crossover vehicles rather than opting for e-vehicles. This means that OEMs must make e-vehicles, including hybrids, more attractive by meeting two of consumers’ fundamental needs: affordability (relative to fuel burning vehicles) and practicality (ease of use and acceptable charging range for car batteries).
With megatrends such as urbanization, digitalization and climate change redefining mobility in inner cities, OEMs must influence more than just the consumer market. They must work with municipal authorities to provide sustainable infrastructures that support electrically powered public transport, taxis and delivery vehicles.
SGS has been a leading player in third party testing services for the e-mobility sector since 2011. Through our investment in a new e-mobility laboratory in Gelting, south of Munich, Germany, we provide one of the most advanced e-mobility test centers in Europe. One of three e-mobility labs operated by SGS in Europe, this new facility occupies 4,000 square meters and employs 40 SGS experts. It supports OEMs and suppliers through battery testing and the testing of electronic and electromechanical components, such as connectors, and several other components of electric, hybrid and conventional vehicles.
Alongside safety and functional testing, we also offer state-of-the-art environmental simulations, testing equipment for hardiness, safety and performance through vibration. We also perform mechanical shock, temperature and humidity tests, and test the effects of salt mist, dust, mixed gases and chemical substances.
A significant part of our investment includes a life cycle testing area with several test benches, where the performance and aging of batteries is tested across their life cycles. This is especially important, given that the average life of an e-vehicle battery can be as long as six or seven years, yet during its lifetime, it can lose a significant amount of its power capability.
We also support OEMs who are interested in secondary uses of lithium ion batteries, such as in homes, or in production facilities, where these batteries can be used to store photovoltaic power.
As we invest in world class e-mobility solutions and help our customers to define a new era of mobility, SGS remains at the forefront of the industry.
Laura Garcia Baglietto
Division Manager e-Mobility, Germany
