Engineers at Argonne’s Advanced Mobility Technology Laboratory (AMTL, formerly known as the Advanced Powertrain Research Facility) use the facility’s two-wheel drive (2WD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) dynamometers and state-of-the-art instrumentation to reveal important information on performance, fuel economy, energy consumption and emissions output.

The AMTL is capable of testing conventional, hybrid and advanced electrical propulsion systems using a variety of standard and renewable fuels in a precise laboratory environment. Equipment includes:

• SULEV-certified emissions benches
• Particulate measurement system
• Fast flame ionization detection
• Fast NOx measurement system
• Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer
• High power tester
• Mobile emissions benches
• In-house developed mobile CAN data logger
• Safety system capable of detecting all hazardous gases, heat and smoke
• Environmental Test Cell for extreme temperature studies with electric vehicles
• Air handling system that cleans and conditions test air within Environmental Protection Agency certification limits

Vehicle data obtained in the AMTL is used to:

• Support the U.S. Department of Energy in evaluating current and future technologies and developing transportation goals and policy for petroleum displacement
• Aid in the development and optimization of advanced technologies to expand commercial applications
• Demonstrate alternative fuel benefits and promote energy diversity
• Provide unbiased research results for many stakeholders