MGA Has a Long History of Battery Testing
MGA’s involvement in battery testing goes back over 40 years. In 1980, We performed our first test on a lithium-ion battery intended for use in a pacemaker. In 1984, the Technical Services Lab (TSL) was opened in Akron, NY. Over the years, MGA has opened several more locations to expand our capabilities and better serve the ever-growing demand for battery testing. Our location in Burlington, WI was established in 1988. Its 400-acre campus now contains several different test tracks for vehicle testing and several buildings used for battery abuse testing. In 2021, we developed our Holly, MI location with sled, high frequency vibration (E.D.Shaker), and Multi-Axial Simulation Table (MAST) capabilities. These tests further enable our growth alongside the developing field of electric vehicle testing. MGA conducts battery testing across its New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin facilities. Currently, our testing ranges from the cell level up to full packs.
MGA is continuing to expand in cell testing. One example is cycling to test lifespan and duty cycle capabilities of small cells to large modules. Cycling can help predict lifecycle performance of batteries for electric aircraft, electric vehicles, and many other needs. We have equipment allowing us to test up to 16 cells at a time, running complex profiles. These tests can also be conducted for a long duration to watch cell capacity change over time. This testing can be conducted to any customer profile or standard to ensure testing needs are met. With ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation at all our locations, the quality of the testing done at MGA is constantly verified by an external company. This gives our customers confidence that their testing is being done properly.
We also have made advancements in electric vehicle testing. In 2020, fuel burn capabilities were added to our Wisconsin location which has high levels of containment. Both full pack and full vehicle fuel burns can be conducted within the outdoor structures. Large scale crush equipment has also been implemented for pack level crushes. Our first MAST testing was completed in 1990 and we continue to increase our capacity for battery-oriented MAST testing at our Michigan location. Environmental tests are also conducted to ensure lithium-ion batteries can withstand the conditions these components will see during their real-world applications.
To learn more about MGA’s battery testing capabilities, reach out to us via our website contact information. We are proud to continue to support battery advancements in a variety of industries by offering our knowledge and expertise. As our founder, Patrick Miller, once said: ‘Of the various definitions for “odyssey” a wonderful and eventful journey best describes the history of MGA and, we hope, describes our experience as we march into the future.
