JLR’s New Laboratory Tests for Electromagnetic Interference

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

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2nd August 2022

Jaguar Land Rover has created a facility to test the next generation of vehicles for electrical and radio interference.

Its Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) laboratory at Gaydon in the UK, will attempt to ensure future JLR vehicles meet current and future legislation and quality standards for connectivity and electronics. The Range Rover Sport, which launched in May, was the first vehicle to undergo a bespoke testing program at the in-house facility.

The automaker says EMC is the ability of electrical equipment and systems to function correctly in their electromagnetic environment. It works by limiting the unintentional generation, propagation and reception of electromagnetic energy to reduce the risk of unwanted effects such as electromagnetic interference.

The new vehicle laboratory features two anechoic chambers: an electrically ‘quiet’ rolling road that enables engineers to test vehicles at speed, as well as equipment to assess the performance of individual components, such as batteries or electric motors. Bluetooth, GPS, WiFi, 4G, 5G, adaptive cruise control, wireless charging and blind spot monitoring are all examples of vehicle services and features that the facility will test for EMC.

With government mandates set to increase the number of electric powertrains and industry advances extending the range of digital and cloud-based services on vehicles, testing for EMC is seen as crucial to delivering quality, legislative standards and customer satisfaction. Peter Phillips, senior manager, electromagnetics and compliance at JLR, said: “The importance of testing our vehicles for electromagnetic compatibility cannot be underestimated.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_