Precision in Electric Traction Testing

In a global race toward energy efficiency, precision measurement has become a strategic enabler. Governments, industries, and research institutions are all pushing to reduce energy losses and improve system efficiency, not only through electrification itself, but by optimizing how electrical systems are designed, tested, and validated. Even marginal efficiency gains, when scaled across fleets and industries, translate into substantial energy savings and lower emissions.

Within this context, TestLine, an Italian expert in custom industrial test systems, plays a key role in enabling accurate, standards-compliant testing of electric traction systems. In close collaboration with Yokogawa, and through the integration of its power analyzers, TestLine delivers advanced test solutions that helps to determine motor efficiency and losses with high precision, in full compliance with IEC 60034-2-1 standard, supporting the development of increasingly sustainable technologies.

Electrification is rapidly transforming traction applications far beyond passenger vehicles. Electric drives are now widely used in agricultural machinery, forklifts, industrial vehicles, and specialized mobility platforms. Designing and validating these systems requires test benches capable of delivering accurate, repeatable measurements under realistic operating conditions.

TestLine addresses this challenge with customizable, turnkey test systems that combine mechanical braking with energy recovery, variable AC/DC power sources, advanced instrumentation, and automated software for testing, visualization, and reporting. At the core of these systems are Yokogawa power analyzers, including the WT1800R and the flagship WT5000, which set the benchmark for precision and reliability.

The WT Series provides highly accurate measurements of voltage, current, and power, along with advanced features such as harmonic analysis, waveform capture, and multi-channel acquisition. Measurements can be performed at motor terminals or at inverter outputs, enabling engineers to analyze efficiency, losses, and dynamic behavior across the entire drive system. Native Ethernet connectivity ensures fast data logging and seamless integration with other test bench components.

With full compliance to IEC 60034-2-1, Yokogawa power analyzers enable traceable, certification-ready efficiency measurements. Their modular and scalable architecture supports multi-phase configurations and evolving R&D requirements, making them ideally suited for next-generation electric traction systems.

By combining TestLine’s test bench expertise with Yokogawa’s reference-class measurement technology, this long-standing partnership delivers future-proof testing solutions, helping engineers push efficiency limits and accelerate the transition to sustainable electric mobility.