Horiba has supplied Mahle Powertrain with a four-wheel drive chassis dynamometer for its all-new Real Driving Emissions Centre in Northampton, UK. The new technology will enable at-altitude driving simulation.
The Horiba Vulcan II 4WD Extra Cold unit will be used in a variable control temperature and humidity test chamber that can be partially evacuated of atmospheric air to simulate driving at altitudes of up to 5,000m.
“The chamber is soon to be fitted with a suite of exhaust emissions testing equipment to satisfy the requirements of the new Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure,” said Derek Wise, chief engineer at Mahle Powertrain.
“Vehicle manufacturers are keen to optimize their vehicles for real-life driving conditions, which means either taking prototype vehicles fitted with sensors out onto a variety of roads and in different conditions or using a test chamber that can replicate conditions and apply realistic loads.”
With a traversing wheelbase, a speed range of up to 118mph (190km/h), a power rating of 450kW and an operating temperature range of -40°C to 60ºC, the test chamber will be the first of its kind in the UK, Mahle says.
Additionally, the dynamometer can provide a resistive load to each of a vehicle’s rotating road wheels to simulate various driving conditions, and drive a vehicle’s wheels to simulate descending gradients.
“This will be the first UK application of the Vulcan II ExtraCold in a variable barometric environment and will showcase the full performance capabilities and accuracy of the Vulcan product line,” added Ana Anyaeji, sales manager at Horiba.