Investments in test facilities increase

The transformation to electromobility requires investments in production equipment as well as new test facilities for electric vehicles. SEAT in Spain is accelerating the pace.

After recently announcing the construction of a pioneering battery laboratory to prepare for a significant expansion of their fleet of electric and plug-in vehicles in the next few years, SEAT now highlights the 30-million investments in advanced powertrain test centre in southern Europe. The facilities feature nine multi-energy benches that enable any type of engine to be tested, from the development phase to their homologation.

But Spain is not the sole region accelerating investments in test facilities.  Among the recent examples, German automotive parts manufacturer MAHLE has invested around EUR 3 million in a new test bench for electric drives.  Scania is also investing EUR 15.5 million in a new battery laboratory at its research and development facilities in Södertälje, Sweden, to intensify battery testing in order to support rapid electrification of heavy vehicles.

Europe is today the region showing the largest investments in electromobility in the world.