Inverter Testing Solutions

Full test coverage for drive inverters makes the difference in power electronics.

The inverter is the heart of any electric vehicle and has a significant impact on the driving experience. Our inverter test solutions enable independent testing of the inverter by using e-motor emulation technology with real-time simulation. This leads to highly accurate results, an efficient test methodology and set-up.​

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The inverter is very complex, and its behavior and handling influence the driving experience significantly. Therefore, it needs to be tested and developed without further influences of other components. That is why a dedicated test system (TS) is required which enables the testing of the inverter – independently from the e-motor and already in an early development phase. Such an optimized testing environment results in an efficient verification process and shorter time needed compared to the testing of the Unit Under Test (UUT) in a real-world prototype vehicle.

The inverter is an intelligent mini-computer in electrified and electric vehicles. Together with battery and e-motor, they form the basis for the final driving experience. But, before all these components are tested together, every single one should be developed and validated on a dedicated test system. The frontloading of tests leads to shortened integration tests and therefore shorter time to market. The inverter controls and monitors all driving conditions and the vehicle’s safety-critical functionalities. Power electronics, in combination with a high level of signal complexity, require an appropriate test methodology and the use of adequate testing equipment.

History

The AVL Inverter TS™ enables independent testing of the inverter while optimizing the integration with all other components in the electrified powertrain. The test system is based on e-motor emulation technology with real-time simulation. This leads to highly accurate results when testing the inverter with required battery voltage and e-motor current. For such a testing setup, exact copies of the e-motor and the battery are required. 

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Within the AVL Inverter TS™, the e-motor is replaced very accurately with the Power Amplifier Cabinet (PAC) and the Signal Processing Cabinet (SPC). The UUT DC Supply Cabinet (USC) represents a digital copy of the battery. As a result, an efficient and flexible test equipment for the testing of inverters is available, which – in contrast to an active load cabinet – emulates with highest accuracy the real physics of an e-motor directly at the terminals.

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inverter test system

The emulated e-motor must behave exactly like a real e-motor. Software tools are developed to ensure the optimal use of the test systems over their entire performance range and to render our specialist’s knowledge available for customers over a broad scope and without limitation. They make it possible to configure a machine model correctly and quickly, without the need for deep expert knowledge.

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It is important to us to provide our customers not just with individual parts, but with a state-of-the-art, complete test system that is based on years of application know-how and thus enables our customers to use a highly efficient test methodology.”

– Dr. Tobias Schelter, Managing Director, AVL SET GmbH

AVL Inverter Testing Solutions – Brochure
Full test coverage for drive inverters makes the difference in power electronics testing.
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AVL Inverter TS™ – Solution Sheet

Full test coverage for traction inverters makes the difference in power electronics testing.

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Parametrization of an Inverter Test System – Whitepaper

Fast and reliable parametrization of an inverter test system with the e-motor’s type plate data.

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Customer Story – “Inverter Testing at Polestar”

Highest replication precision is key. All relevant driving characteristics can be optimized to an depth and speed.

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Inverter Testbed Automation

AVL’s automation platform PUMA 2™ represents the brains behind many different testbed applications. 

AVL PUMA 2™ Inverter features an intuitive user interface displaying all important values immediately. You can easily integrate the automation software into existing AVL test fields, allowing data to be shared across different testbed types and configurations. Our complete integrated solution covers all inverter testing requirements that arise from automation, limit monitoring and measurement, leading to the most efficient inverter testbed operation.

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AVL PUMA 2™ Inverter

AVL PUMA 2™ Inverter is a comprehensive automation system for inverter testing, offering everything you need in one place 

rendering of dark gray "active load cabinet" in a white room
AVL Active Load Cabinet™

The AVL Active Load Cabinet (ALC) is an active power test device which can be used to perform high-voltage functional tests of inverters (UUT). Thanks to its open communication interfaces, the ALC can be easily integrated into a lab or test setup.

xion pa2
AVL X-ion™ PA2

The AVL X-ion™ PA2 power analyzer is a modular data acquisition platform that is optimized for electric and hybrid applications.

Customer Services
Customer Services for Testing Solutions

The AVL Customer Services organization consists of more than 700 service- and application engineers worldwide, operating from more than 50 locations. Our global footprint is your local benefit.

AVL’s comprehensive worldwide network of experts allows best customer vicinity, ensuring consistent and connecting testing fields globally. Wherever your R&D challenges take you, we are always close at hand, ready to provide the service you need.

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> 70

years of experience

> 5,000

employees worldwide for testing solutions

> 30

countries covered by the global network

> 7,000

testbeds installed worldwide

> 80

turnkey projects

See what drives us and explore our latest webinars
AVL Active Load Cabinet
EV Inverter Hardware Development: When Active Power Makes the Real Difference
On-demand

Modern tools are improving the historical methods used to develop and validate traction inverters. What was once a time-consuming and expensive testing process on various dynos, vehicles, and passive loads has been shortened and improved with new tools and methods.

Frontloading der Inverter-Kalibrierung – von der Basisbedatung bis zur Validierung im Fahrzeugkontext
Frontloading inverter calibration task – from base calibration to vehicle validation
On-demand

In this free webinar, our experts Benjamin Kanya and Christian Mayr will show you the benefits of frontloading inverter calibration. They will take a look at the entire calibration process, from basic calibration to in-vehicle validation.

PUMA 2 Inverter
Not just AC/DC – inverter testing for efficient electric vehicle development
On-demand

In this webinar a game-changing test environment is presented where the battery and e-motor are replaced with emulators, which are controlled from a powerful automation system.

P10774032
How to use an e-motor emulator to test an inverter
On-demand
All high-voltage components in electric powertrains require dedicated testing methods and tools. The inverter is the heart of electric traction systems as it controls all driving conditions and is part of safety-critical vehicle functionalities.An El
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Testing Power Electronics in an Emulated Environment
On-demand
In every electric power train, the drive inverter is a key component. When testing inverters, the main challenge is to increase test quality and test depth without increasing test effort, while at the same time the scope of the inverter functionality