£12.5 million centre will aid WLTP fuel consumption and emissions testing to support Bentley’s electrification
Bentley Motors’ state-of-the-art Engineering Test Centre based in Crewe has commenced operations after receiving official approval from Britain’s Vehicle Certification Agency.
The move will allow Bentley to carry out in-house emissions, fuel economy and electric range testing, including the latest WLTP (World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) fuel consumption and efficiency test procedures.
The new structure includes 1,550 square metres created for the installation of a climate-controlled chassis dynamometer. This highly-advanced rolling road allows engineers to simulate different gradients of hill, measuring exhaust emissions from combustion engine cars, or electrical energy consumption from hybrid and future electric models. The ‘real world’ simulations can also be completed across a range of temperatures, from -20C to +50C
Bentley’s Technical Conformity department, responsible for the compliance of all Bentley products, will be based at the new centre. There will also be a dedicated laboratory to run Real Driving Emissions (RDE) using the latest portable emissions measurement systems.
According to Dr Matthias Rabe, Member of the Board for Engineering, this is another key landmark in Bentley’s ongoing modernisation programme.
“It will give us the independence to test our own engines and further enhance our site in Crewe as we move towards offering electric or hybrid versions of all our models by 2024,” he says.
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