Expanded German test facility launched

Motorcycle insurance customers could be set to benefit from a new generation of more powerful machines after a major upgrade to a German test facility.

The €4 million (£3.4 million) expansion of Ricardo's test facilities in Schechingen was officially opened last week.

It will be used to develop the cutting-edge technology of low-emission, high-efficiency engines for all kinds of vehicles, ranging from high-performance motorcycles to heavy trucks.

The expanded facility features two new fully transient powertrain test cells, bringing the total there to 15, as well as an 800kW hot gas component test cell for advanced exhaust systems.

Ricardo Deutschland managing director Peter Heuser said the company has "enjoyed a period of dramatic expansion in recent years as green technology becomes ever-more important to vehicle manufacturers".

"It is important that we are able to offer our customers access to a comprehensive range of flexible and technically advanced test facilities to support their product development programmes," he commented.

In March, the firm established a battery systems development centre at the Ricardo Detroit technology campus, offering facilities for engineering high-voltage battery pack systems vehicles such as electric motorcycles.

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