As a leading supplier of components and sealing systems for the electric vehicle industry, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has added a state-of-the-art battery testing laboratory to its R&D laboratories at its North American headquarters in Plymouth, MI. The multi-million-dollar investment will facilitate in-house battery and battery component testing, including simulated thermal runaway, and will increase the company’s functional knowledge and product development capabilities in the field of electric vehicles (EVs). Simulation tests that replicate battery cycling scenarios are also possible in the new laboratory.

With industry experts predicting that the sale of EVs could top 100 million by 2030, it is imperative to vehicle manufacturers that challenges including range, power, safety and charging times are addressed. One solution, the use of lithium-ion batteries with higher energy and power densities, in an attempt to increase vehicle range and power. But these batteries could pose a greater risk of thermal events taking place because they may generate higher heat and pressure during use. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ new laboratory will allow engineers to observe thermal runaway and other operations, as they take place and incorporate data generated during these tests into their research and development activities.

“Freudenberg Sealing Technologies leverages its’ experience in sealing, material design, component design and manufacturing to provide solutions across all of the industries it serves,” says Chad Bauer, senior vice president of Technology and Innovation for the company. “This battery laboratory will help provide valuable insight and the data needed to design solutions for EV products. Our material development experience with fire and thermal applications began more than 20 years ago with our aerospace products and we continue to build upon this knowledge for EV applications.”