Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has added a new battery testing laboratory to its R&D labs at its North American headquarters in Plymouth, Michigan. The company says 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 EVs. The new lab will enable simulation tests that replicate battery cycling scenarios.

Automakers are always looking to increase range and power, which leads them to develop batteries with higher energy and power densities. Freudenberg points out that these batteries could pose a greater risk of thermal events because they may generate higher heat and pressure during use. The new laboratory will allow engineers to observe thermal runaway and other phenomena as they take place, and incorporate data generated during these tests into their R&D 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,” said Chad Bauer, Senior VP of Technology and Innovation. “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.”

Source: Freudenberg Sealing Technologies