Seica at E-TECH Europe

The testing of EV battery packs presents several challenges. The electrical connections between the cells of an EV battery are fundamental to the correct performance and safety of the battery, so testing the bonding is a mandatory step of the battery manufacturing process. Seica’s Pilot BT test system is able to perform parallel, very precise Kelvin tests of 16+ cells at once, achieving production rates of nearly 2400+ battery cells per minute. The increasing need for high throughput requires automated solutions with the capacity to handle even very large form factors: the Pilot BT, in its standard configuration has a very large test area (1050x865 mm) and includes a pass-through conveyance by Bosch, which not only enables it to handle the many battery configurations currently on the market but also the capacity to manage the configurations of the future. With this goal in mind, Seica has further extended its range of solutions with the new Pilot H4 BT, representing a second generation of horizontal flying probe test systems for EV battery tests. Equipped with 4 independent axes for fast parallel testing of 2 bondings in one movement, a test area of 800x540mm and a test rate of over 600 bond/min, it is perfect for high mix/medium volume production, offering high flexibility and a very low setup time. No matter the battery technology, type, size or shape, Seica has a solution for a reliable, repeatable electrical test at the required throughput rate, with complete traceability of each measurement. 

The Battery Management System (BMS) is another fundamental component of any EV, and its correct operation is essential to ensure the performance, reliability, and life of the batteries. The Compact BMS Test System on display at E-TECH Europe is equipped with all the standard test instrumentation of the Seica VIP platform, as well as dedicated instruments designed specifically to meet the functional test requirements of a Battery Management System (BMS). Along with hardware and software modules providing CAN and LIN communication protocol capability, the Compact BMS includes Battery Cell Simulators able to simulate the full operating conditions of the BMS, providing the stimuli and measurements required to test all of its functions. 

Visitors to E-TECH Europe will have the opportunity to gain more insights into test approaches at  Seica’s conference ‘How to face EV modules Test Challenges,’ on 20^th April, at 14:30-17:00, Hall 22 – Rooms Powertrains, which will talk about how the evolution of automotive electrification requires significant know-how and expertise to efficiently face the test challenges of the core modules present in EVs, both from a technical viewpoint and in a cost-effective way.

In addition to Seica’s test solutions on display in booth E05-F06, it will be possible to view Canavisia’s Industry 4.0 software and hardware solutions for the acquisition and digitalisation of data coming from machines, factories, and buildings, with the goal of optimising processes, maintenance, and intelligent energy management on-site, over the web and from the Cloud. The system Dashboard and APP provide a real-time view of the connected resources as well as statistical reporting, and the solutions are compatible with the most widely used protocols and management software, for easy integration into existing infrastructures.