Ford opens UK-based electric vehicle test lab

Ford has opened a £24 million facility in its headquarters in Dunton, Essex, to help deliver the manufacturer's electric vehicle plans.

The Propulsion Development Laboratory was inaugurated by UK transport minister Anthony Browne MP as part of a site-wide tour on Wednesday (14 February).

The minister saw EV powertrain components tested with speeds and loads to accelerate levels of wear which customers would incur after years of vehicle use.

In the last two years Ford has invested £47 million in the adjacent Advanced Propulsion Laboratory (APL) and separate E:PRiME (Electrified Powertrain in Manufacturing Engineering) prototype build facility, also toured by the minister.  

APL specialises in minimising noise and vibration from EV powertrains as well as developing hybrid powertrains for the latest emissions regulations, while E Prime develops advanced manufacturing processes, producing prototype EV components ahead of volume production. 

The newest Propulsion Development Laboratory comprises eight vehicle-size rooms capable of testing electric power units and propulsion systems – maximising development time, including round-the-clock component reliability sign off.  The new laboratory’s test rooms are configured to test EV, hybrid and combustion powertrains, flexing between technologies in anticipation of market changes and customer requirements.

Lisa Brankin, chair and managing director of Ford Britian and Ireland, said she was "delighted" transport minister Browne opened the lab.

She added: "This is the third new test facility opened on our Dunton Campus in two years, underpinning the site’s key role in delivering Ford’s electric vehicle plan in Europe.”

Ford is launching nine new EV vans and cars by 2025, including five van-based vehicles.