Austrian Ford Power Stroke designer AVL awarded contract to outfit new CARB emissions lab

[kscarbel2]

Richard Truett, Automotive News  /  December 19, 2018

AVL Test Systems Inc., the U.S. arm of Austria's AVL List, will provide the hardware and software test equipment for a huge emissions testing lab being constructed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

The $368 million lab, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2021 in Riverside, Calif., will have 18 dynamometers for chassis, engine and powertrain testing and more than 90 emissions measurement devices and systems -- along with areas for evaporative emissions testing, AVL said.

The lab combines work that has been done at multiple CARB locations.

CARB officials said they believe the lab will be one of the world's most advanced. Not only will engineers there test internal combustion engines used in cars and trucks, but also gasoline-electric hybrid powertrains and battery-electric vehicles. "Developing clean, efficient propulsion technology is the driving force behind everything we do," said Kyle Kimel, president of AVL Test Systems, which is headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, west of Detroit.

Although vehicles powered by gasoline and diesel engines are likely to account for much of the lab's work, testing of electrified vehicles will grow in the coming years. CARB last week mandated that the state's bus fleet must be all electric by 2040. And although electric vehicles don't emit carbon dioxide or other harmful pollutants, they must still be tested for range, battery performance and durability.

CARB says the lab will have about 450 employees.

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[Red Horse]

Great- I wonder when the electric vehicles crank out wonderful emissions numbers who will be looking at the emission  numbers  of the plants generating that electricity  as well as the impact of battery disposal when the batteries  ultimately fail.

[kscarbel2]

Bob, why does a US state have to source from an Austrian company? (however good AVL may be)

Not a single American company can meet CARB's requirements? 

Has US Inc.'s expertise portfolio sunken that low.

[41chevy]

1 hour ago, Red Horse said:

Great- I wonder when the electric vehicles crank out wonderful emissions numbers who will be looking at the emission  numbers  of the plants generating that electricity  as well as the impact of battery disposal when the batteries  ultimately fail.

Emissions generated during charging should also be figured into their "zero" emissions claims, but than we would see they are not as clean as we are lead to believe. The carbon foot print is greater than the "dirty" fossil fueled vehicles when you figure in manufacturing and disposal of the batteries.

CARB's using off shore companies  probably has something to do with the CARB Rules of Liability for future environmental issues with the build. A large amount of U.S. companies won't jump through California DOT and CARB's micro management of job sites and equipment..

[Red Horse]

18 hours ago, kscarbel2 said:

Bob, why does a US state have to source from an Austrian company? (however good AVL may be)

Not a single American company can meet CARB's requirements? 

Has US Inc.'s expertise portfolio sunken that low.

To say nothing of the ongoing cost.  Think of it-368 million worth of equipment!  How many highly paid techies does it take to run that gear?  Carb story says 450-at average salary of????

And what is there mission?  To outthink the automotive industry? Or just monitor it?

How can anyone do business in that fugged up state?

[Maxidyne]

CARB has a half billion $ a year budget. But in a state with a couple trillion a year of GDP that would be the world's 4th or 5th largest economy all by itself, that's practically a rounding error. California is an expensive place to do business, but it's so big and profitable a market that few businesses can resist it.

[41chevy]

Yes the pluses generally out weigh the negatives in California depending on what type of business you have. You do at least the good weather, clean cities and reasonable taxes and a massive work force. The minor issue with homelessness and a small number of migrant workers is not a real issue compared to the good points.

[RoadwayR]

11 hours ago, kscarbel2 said:

Bob, why does a US state have to source from an Austrian company? (however good AVL may be)

Not a single American company can meet CARB's requirements? 

Has US Inc.'s expertise portfolio sunken that low.

Why did Ford have to rely on an Austrian company to engineer their diesel?  Wait, forget I asked.........