The challenge
An increase in traffic fatality and a lack of information on EV crash testing is prompting automotive manufacturers to prioritize safety testing.
The solution
Hyundai Motor America is creating a Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory to conduct crash investigations and support electric vehicle development.
The impact
The new laboratory will improve driver and passenger safety and set the standard for automotive testing in North America.
15,000 sq ft
test facility
1,640 sq ft
asphalt test track
The challenge
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) reports, traffic fatalities are at an all-time high in the US, with nearly 43,000 deaths occurring from vehicular crashes in 2021 alone. Increased concerns for passenger safety are challenging the modern auto industry to identify vehicle field issues, prevent collisions and improve occupant safety.
Standard car crash tests do not reveal the vast majority of vehicle issues as they do not represent real-life crash environments. As a result, automotive manufacturers are pushing to create testing facilities that allow their engineers to observe collisions in a controlled environment to better investigate how to improve vehicular safety and apply their findings to new products.
The solution
Hyundai Motor America retained Arcadis to provide architecture, engineering and construction administration services for the Hyundai Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory (STIL) located in Superior Charter Township, Michigan. In collaboration with Hyundai Motor America, the National Highway Safety Administration, Washtenaw County and Superior Charter Township, we’ve created a facility layout that will help Hyundai Motor America learn about all stages of a vehicular crash, with each area of the facility focusing on a specific stage of a collision.
The Hyundai STIL facility will feature a field crash investigation lab, a high-voltage battery lab, a forensics lab, a 500-meter test track and a Vehicle Dynamics Area pad. The Field Crash Investigation Lab will focus on crashes in the field that Hyundai Motor America’s customers have faced, with a focus on enhancing Hyundai’s safety commitment to identifying vehicle field issues, preventing crashes, and keeping passengers safe.
The facility will also focus on EV testing with a dedicated indoor EV battery lab. Additionally, the STIL will feature an outdoor battery pad to explore the limits of battery systems and how they behave when overloaded.
The impact
The STIL will allow Hyundai Motor America to analyze real-life crash scenarios, which will ultimately lead to improved vehicular and passenger safety and lowered automotive fatalities.
The first-of-its-kind facility in North America will also support the development of new safety products and enhancements, evolving the standard for automotive safety in gas and electric-powered vehicles.
With an estimated completion date of 2023, the facility is expected to bring 160 high-skilled jobs to the Michigan area, contributing to the reinvigoration of America’s automotive powerhouse.
