Battery Testing and Optimisation Facility

National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
What the facility does

Innovative safety assessment testing and performance/environmental analysis of battery packs and cells

Areas of expertise

The Battery Testing and Optimisation Group at the National Research Council (NRC) offers innovative safety assessment testing and performance/environmental analysis of battery packs and cells to industry and governmental organizations. In the past years, our group has been one of the leaders in battery safety assessment testing and has developed unique expertise in the subject. Our group uses our experience in battery testing to provide support to government regulators, OEMs and suppliers. We provide useful tools and insightful feedback to improve battery designs under a variety of situations and operating conditions.

Research services

Safety Assessment Testing

  • Thermal runaway, propagation and characterization analysis
  • Mechanical shock/vibration testing
  • High temperature storage
  • X-Ray impedance autopsy
  • Small cell immersion testing
  • Impact/deformation testing
  • Thermal stress testing
  • Projectile testing
  • Crush testing

Performance Analysis

  • Performance monitoring (long term/high rate cycling)
  • High mileage testing
  • Altitude simulation
  • Performance at hi/low temperature and humidity
Sectors of application
  • Aerospace and satellites
  • Automotive
  • Clean technology
  • Consumer durables
  • Defence and security industries
  • Energy
  • Environmental technologies and related services
  • Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
  • Transportation
  • Utilities

Specialized lab

Equipment

Function

Performance Testing

Battery Cyclers

Performance evaluation to determine if batteries meet claimed specifications.

Performance Testing

Environmental Chambers

Allows us to evaluate batteries under extreme temperature limits (-50°C to +85°C) and humidity.

Performance Testing

Thermal cameras, X-rays 

Non-destructive testing.

Battery Destructive testing

Walk-in test chamber

Allows us to safely test batteries beyond normal operating parameters.

Battery Destructive testing

20,000 liter liquid waste water holding tanks

Ensures contaminated water is not released in the environment.

Battery Destructive testing

Thermal Oxidizer

Prevents volatile organic compounds (VOC) released by the reacting cell/battery from being released in the atmosphere.

  • Department of National Defence
  • Transport Canada