Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has taken another step towards a new era of electrification, after officially opening a new facility to conduct tests on the electrical and radio interference systems on the forthcoming generation of cars.
The testing facility is located in Gaydon, United Kingdom, and will be used as the hub in which future vehicles are tested for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). They will also undergo strict assessments to ensure that they adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and quality requirements for connectivity and electronics - with the new Range Rover Sport posing as the first ever test subject.
EMC is a crucial component within a car, and has a substantial influence on determining its performance. First, it assesses how effectively the electrical equipment and systems operate within their electromagnetic environment. It then responds by restricting the unintentional production, transmission, and receiving of electromagnetic energy to lessen the possibility of undesirable effects like electromagnetic interference.
The facility has two anechoic chambers (which is a room that stops sound and electromagnetic waves from escaping), a rolling road that is electrically "silent" and allows engineers to test cars at high speeds, and also tools for evaluating the performance of individual parts like batteries or electric motors.
For EMC, the facility will evaluate a variety of automotive services and technologies including bluetooth, wireless charging, WiFi, GPS, 4G, 5G, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control.
Testing for EMC is essential to ensuring quality and regulatory compliance, since industry advancements are expected to enhance the variety of electric powertrains and digital services available to manufacturers in the future. Such advancements will range from Over-The-Air software updates to varying levels of autonomy.
“The importance of testing our vehicles for electromagnetic compatibility cannot be underestimated’’ said Peter Phillips, Senior Manager of Electromagnetics and Compliance at Jaguar Land Rover. ‘’Opening this new testing facility is an important step forward for the business and it will play a crucial role in helping us deliver quality, legal, and customer satisfaction.”
As JLR heads towards an all-electric line-up by 2025, and continues to make advancements in electric car technology through its Reimagine strategy, the new facility demonstrates the brand’s commitment to providing customers with premium in-vehicle connectivity.