The validity of cycle life bench test data in relation to real world in-vehicle testing

✍ Scribed by Frank H. Klein

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 560 KB
• Volume: 17
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0378-7753
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-7753(86)80045-3

✦ Synopsis

In order to fulfill the stringent requirements of EV propulsion with the lead-acid system, careful modification and adaptation with regard to vehicle and vehicle operation is important. Bench tests provide much of the required information. Because of the controlled test conditions the impact of various parameters as well as differently designed battery cells can be compared. Test benches which simulate practical operation sufficiently well usually provide cycle life results which are in good accord with on-the-road results. Even when less carefully adapted, reasonable results can be obtained by the application of correction factors.

Successful EV battery bench tests require the application of dynamic fundamental cycles (instead of low rate constant current) as well as waiving the possibility of accelerated cycling (e.g., increased number of cycles per day or increased current rates). In addition, the thermal behaviour of batteries in practical operation must be considered.

Practical field tests with vehicle fleets continue to be important. These are the only tests which allow the battery to be stressed with the entire spectrum of constructive and operational parameters. The results complement, and in many cases correct, the bench tests.