Škoda Auto Opens Simulation Center for Advanced Vehicle Testing

MLADÁ BOLESLAV, Czech Republic—Škoda Auto has opened new 22 million euro ($24 million) Simulation Center at its assembly plant here. 

The laboratory will bolster the carmaker’s in-house development capabilities. The lab is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies for the precise and accurate simulation of a wide range of climatic conditions, enabling comprehensive tests that mimic real-world operations. The laboratory is unique in the Czech Republic and the Volkswagen Group.

The laboratory will allow vehicle functionality to be tested under extreme loads and driving conditions. It can recreate temperatures from -7 to 50 C, as well as relative humidity from 10 to 95 percent, sunlight exposure, and mountain driving at altitudes of up to 18,000 feet above sea level. 

The laboratory features a dynamometer for vehicles with outputs up to 300 kilowatts and speeds of up to 165 mph. Additionally, it is equipped with sophisticated air ducting with two fans for airflow simulation, an emissions analysis system, and a high-speed charging station for electric vehicles with outputs up to 400 kilowatts. 

The ability to combine these technologies allows for complex tests that closely replicate real-world operations with high accuracy and precision.