Allison expands test centre
ALLISON TRANSMISSION HAS UPDATED ITS VEHICLE Electrification + Environmental Test Centre in Indianapolis to provide capability for hydrogen fuel cell and compressed natural gas (CNG) testing.
The updated test centre now has the capabilities to support external customer test and validation programmes for vehicles powered by every major propulsion type, including diesel, gasoline, natural gas, battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell.
The capabilities of the 5575sqm facility enable Allison and its partners to bring new, innovative technology and vehicle systems to market faster and more efficiently.
“Manufacturers of electric vehicles, including battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell and electric hybrid systems are recognising the value of reducing product development and validation timelines by utilising Allison’s Vehicle Electrification + Environmental Test Centre to assess their vehicles in a controlled thermal environment capable of simulating a broad range of duty cycles,” said David Proctor, General Manager Allison Vehicle Electrification + Environmental Test Centre.
“We are excited to expand the facility’s capabilities to support our OEM partners as they develop and optimise alternative fuel offerings intended to reduce emissions.”
As part of Allison’s goal to support the development and deployment of alternative fuel vehicles that reduce emissions, the company has completed the installation of two phases of hydrogen capabilities. Phase one provides the ability to safely detect and manage hydrogen gas or flames in the test cell. This same system is also capable of detection and management of CNG power plants.
Phase two includes a low pressure, constant supply of hydrogen directly fed into the vehicle’s fuel cell, providing extended test runs while minimizing downtime for re-fuelling.
Allison recently collaborated with one of its OEM partners to successfully complete testing of the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle at the Test Centre. Additional OEMS are scoping fuel cell vehicle testing projects for later this year.
The test facility is the only one of its kind in the Midwest United States, offering the ability to conduct year-round testing in one centralised location that can replicate the extreme environments to achieve dependable, reliable, repeatable, secure results.
T&D