Across Europe, shutdowns, stock production, limited availability of specific vehicles, the introduction of the WLTP (World-wide Harmonised Light Duty Test Procedure) — as well as the future RDE (Real Driving Emissions) regulations —are posing major challenges to the automotive industry.
However, the opening of Mahle Powertrain’s new UK WLTP and RDE-capable test centre (RDEC) in Northampton means that the company can reduce bottlenecks in the calibration and certification of vehicles and help its customers to meet the challenges arising from the new type-approval standards.
The commissioning of the RDEC marks a further step in the expansion of Mahle Powertrain’s capabilities in the development and certification of vehicles with internal combustion engines and hybrid powertrains.
Jörg Stratmann, CEO of the Mahle Group (
www.mahle.com), said: “We are thus consolidating Mahle Powertrain’s position as one of the leading development service providers in the area of conventional and electrified drive systems.
"The shortage of suitable test facilities is an issue of concern within the industry, but with our new RDE test centre, we are taking the pressure off our customers and at the same time expanding our own capacities in order to remain one step ahead of our competitors.”
The Mahle RDEC, supplemented by two certified RDE test tracks, is capable of simulating the entire WLTP test cycle on a 4WD chassis dynamometer.
The alternating altitudes specified by the WLTP are created by a pressure chamber that encompasses the entire test bench.
This can simulate environments at altitudes up to 5,000m; it can also control and accurately maintain air temperatures ranging from +40 to -60°C, as well as headwind and humidity at the specified levels.
The RDE test measures the pollutants emitted by cars while driven on the road; it does not replace the WLTP laboratory test but complements it, ensuring that cars deliver low emissions in on-road conditions.
Europe is the first region in the world to introduce such on-road testing.