VDE Testlab Offenbach
VDE
2024-03-18

Battery Testing & Certification

VDE Renewables operates multiple state-of-the-art PrimeLabs world-wide, providing unique battery testing capabilities. With many years experience, our engineers have a deep understanding of battery testing and technology. 

We support you over the entire battery development process until certification of your product. Our services are tailored to your unique needs to support you with your battery testing and battery certification. 

Our ISO/IEC 17025 accredited test laboratories use modern testing equipment to guarantee precise and reliable measurement data. Our unique selling points include more than 400 test channels handling voltages of up to 1,000 V and currents up to  2,000 A, vibration and shock test systems with maximum loads of up to 1,000kg, and superimposed climatic chambers, as well as walk-in climatic chambers with a volume of 45 m³.

Our experts offer comprehensive guidance on the development of test specifications and we can also test to your individual requirements and set a special focus on performance and abuse tests. 

We test to national and international regulations and standards, and guide in the assignment of applicable standards for market access world-wide. 

Contact our Battery Test Labs
Dominik Hennefeld

VDE PrimeLabs - Battery Test Centers

One of the main focuses of our electrical testing is on the performance and abuse testing of consumer and automotive cells. We have more than 400 test channels in our VDE Laboratories, including more than 140 cell test channels with a maximum current of at least 300 A, which can be parallelized to currents up to 2,000 A. Our large battery test channels provide voltages up to 1,000 V at maximum powers of 540 kW.

Climate Chambers for Battery Testing
VDE Renewables

Our PrimeLabs have shock and vibration testing systems with a maximum force vector of 120 kN, mounting surfaces of 1.20 x 1.20 m and a maximum load of up to 1,000 kg. Shaker tests are also possible under thermal and climatic superposition with simultaneous loading/unloading.

Our environmental simulation includes over 50 temperature and climate chambers, with temperature change rates of up to 18 K/min and a maximum size of over 45 m3. Temperature shocks and cycles are as much a part of our service spectrum as IP, corrosion and EMC tests.

In our battery abuse testing, we simulate foreseeable misuse and abuse such as nail penetration, crush simulation, and thermal runaway propagation. For this purpose, we have twelve abuse chambers connected to a flue gas scrubber and equipped with manually controllable and automated extinguishing devices.

We test and certify batteries for a wide range of applications, from garden tools, power tools, medical equipment, household equipment, electric vehicles, through to commercial and industrial energy storage systems.

Our certifications according to the CB scheme are recognized worldwide and our VDE mark of approval is very well known.

Tour of VDE battery laboratory

Tests and Certifications

BESS Services Grafik
VDE Renewables

Battery Forensics

VDE Renewables takes advantage of its extensive testing capabilities as well as the knowledge of its experienced battery experts to conduct independent forensic- or accident investigations of cells and battery energy storage systems (BESS), either standalone or in collaboration with established surveyors (e.g. in the marine business), relevant authorities or other stakeholders.

Our services in that field include, among others:

  • Document reviews: QA procedures and logs, shipping documentation, incident reports
  • Inspections and evidence collection: Accident sites, production facilities
  • Testing and analysis: Re-testing of samples to confirm claims, electrochemical analyses, inspection and testing of product packaging

Some examples from past projects:

  • Reconstructing of an incident device after a battery explosion and  deter-mining the cause of the incident
  • (Re-)Tests and measurements on batteries and cells from a battery fire during transportation
  • Provided expert opinions on possible causes of incidents and review of the battery Dangerous Goods shipping documentation
  • Assisting stakeholders and authorities with evidence collection at the harbor and assessment of cells from the same shipments that survived the fires
  • On-site inspection of containerized energy storage after battery container fire

Use the knowledge of VDE Renewables to quickly resolve incidents and improve your products and processes.

How we can support you