Cloud-Based Service Cluster: Managing Electric Vehicle Testing

Car manufacturers spend years developing and testing before putting a new car model into mass production. Everything is meticulously tested to find the best possible solutions and address issues before the new model goes to the assembly line. This rigorous process requires numerous pre-production vehicles, built in various configurations. Managing these specifications requires a robust planning system, which Akkodis helped an automotive client enhance with a cloud-based solution tailored for electric vehicle testing.

From Concept to Production: Testing EV (Electric Vehicle) Components

“It takes 5 to 7 years to develop a new car model,” says Jochen Scheikl, project manager at Akkodis. 

“So, if our client plans to launch a new car in 2029, they start development now [in 2022], including planning the parts and cars needed for testing. The tests cover everything: handling, air conditioning, noise, suspension, crash tests, and more, ensuring any problems are addressed before volume production. To order and specify these test vehicles, they use a custom-built test management system, which we support and maintain.”

In 2019, the client sought a specific test management system for electrification components, particularly high-voltage batteries and drivetrains.

Overcoming the Limitations of Excel in EV Component Management

The initial method for managing electric vehicle components involved an ever-growing Excel file. As the data expanded to several thousand entries representing millions of euros in equipment, this approach became unmanageable. Akkodis was tasked with creating a custom solution, alongside a new platform for test management software.

The solution: a cloud-based service cluster on the client's private Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud tenancy.

Private Cloud Implementation

Akkodis integrated three services into the private AWS cloud:

• Management of battery and drivetrain components
• User authentication service
• Master data service

Following a swift 10-month development period, this private cloud implementation was enforced and enhanced with interfaces for the client's broader test management infrastructure.

The electric vehicle components system now manages between 15,000 and 20,000 high-voltage batteries and nearly twice as many drivetrains, reflecting its critical role in automotive testing.

Transition from Old to New Systems

The old test management platform will be gradually phased out as the new cloud-based system is implemented. This transition requires careful planning to avoid disruptions, and Akkodis is deeply involved in the process.

Easier Maintenance and Future Scalability for Automotive Industries

The new system’s architecture enables seamless maintenance and updates, allowing new features to be integrated without interrupting existing services. This cloud-based solution offers significant improvements over the legacy system, which was challenging to update due to its monolithic structure.

“For Akkodis, this project highlights our expertise in developing custom software for the automotive industry,” Jochen Scheikl explains. “From requirements gathering to implementation, maintenance, and ongoing development, we’ve delivered a comprehensive solution that aligns with our client's needs.”