At Automotive Testing Expo North America 2024, powertrain test specialist Eden Engineering is highlighting its newly established facility in Brighton, Michigan, where it offers dyno services for transmissions, axles and complete powertrains for conventional and electrified vehicles. The first tests at the new facility took place in February this year, and the show has provided the perfect platform to showcase these new capabilities.
Vice president Robert Camp explained the motivation behind launching the new facility: “We reached out to our customer base and the response was overwhelming. People were asking, ‘When can you be up and running?’ That pushed us to start operations in August 2023.”
The facility is equipped with two flexible powertrain dynos, capable of handling different powertrains. It features battery simulation up to 1,600V and 1,600A, which Camp noted is above the industry standard. “Most battery simulators on dyno test stands run up to 1,000V. We had requests for 1,200V, so we decided to spec ours at 1,600V,” he said.
The systems can achieve axle output torques of 35,000Nm. They are also capable of high-speed electric motor testing beyond 12000rpm. Both dynamometers are modular, facilitating configurations with two, four or five motors. Camp stressed that adaptability is critical in today’s powertrain development, especially as the focus shifts from electrification, bringing hydrogen internal combustion engines into the mix.
Since the new asset became operational, Eden Engineering has seen significant growth across all three tiers of its service portfolio: on-site services, equipment and test services. “We’re planning to bring a couple more test cells online next year,” Camp added.
One challenge the company faces is managing the automation and data analysis systems of each customer. Due to a lack of standardization, this requires careful planning to ensure that the right data package is created for each use case, including data acquisition, transmission, management and storage. “We’re working with one of the big OEMs here in the US to integrate their automation system into their test cell hardware to enable different types of tests. They need to move fast and don’t have time to get bogged down,” said Camp.
Meet Eden Engineering at Booth 12065.
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