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Winter Vehicle Testing

Winter Vehicle Testing in Sweden

The Winter Test Region is an unrivaled network teeming with top-tier vehicle and component manufacturers coming from all over the world. The region encompasses the municipalities of Arjeplog, Arvidsjaur, and Älvsbyn, which during winter transform into a leading global test center for companies such as VW, BMW, Daimler, Audi, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lamborghini, MAN, BOSCH, Continental, among others.

The Worldwide Nucleus of Winter Vehicle Testing

There’s no other place in the world with such an international network possessing immense knowledge and expertise in winter vehicle testing as in northern Sweden. The Winter Test Region is rather quiet during the summer, with about 3,000 locals living in Arjeplog and 6,000 in Arvidsjaur (the main hubs of the Winter Test Region). During the winter test season, however, the population almost doubles.

Engineers from all the different corners of the world and various companies swarm the region to test components and thousands of vehicles including trucks, buses, and cars in different winter conditions. Along with local winter test experts and a testing infrastructure specialized for winter testing, everything you require is easily accessible, from EV-charging infrastructure, accommodation, and workshops to land tracks and lake tracks.

It all commenced nearly five decades ago when pioneers David Sundström and Per-Axel Andersson lent out their private landing strip on Lake Hornavan, Sweden’s deepest lake, to a group of car testers carrying out winter tests on the northern Sweden public road network. The rest, as they say, is history.

The co-existence of all these various component and vehicle manufacturers in one location creates unique synergies in potential collaborations and knowledge exchange between companies and local institutions.

In the Winter Test Region, you have access to a complete package for testing components and vehicles under winter conditions. A successful winter vehicle testing project requires more than just cutting-edge winter test tracks. Other elements like accommodation, local know-how, and logistics solutions are equally as important when testing in extreme subarctic circumstances.

TRACK VARIETIES

Winter Vehicle Test Projects

Winter vehicle testing is vital for manufacturers of vehicles, systems, components, and tires for testing, demonstrating, and validating new products and concepts. Today, testing vehicles like buses, trucks, and cars under winter conditions can be achieved with software modeling and simulation, but there’s no substitute for subjecting a new product to extreme real-world conditions through winter vehicle testing in Sweden.

The Winter Test Region in northern Sweden provides world-class winter vehicle testing facilities not found anywhere else in such relative concentration, offering a complete range of winter test services. From November to March, leading companies from all over the world conduct various winter test projects, executed within the region’s winter test facilities and public road network.

Such projects involve many variables, complex logistics, and tight schedules, adding significant complexity, regardless of the project’s size. The time spent on site should be utilized to the fullest to meet the project objectives. Planning everything from abroad can be challenging, and to extract the maximum benefit from all the opportunities in the Winter Test Region, having a reliable and experienced partner on site is a significant advantage.

At Icemakers, we are your one-stop solution for all your winter vehicle testing requirements and the only contact you need to ensure a successful and efficient winter test project.

TYPES OF TESTING

Testing at Icemakers’ Facilities

Icemakers’ facilities for winter vehicle testing in Sweden provide the ideal approach for assessing vehicles in harsh and challenging climates. We provide everything you need to carry out your winter vehicle testing. Below are a few examples of testing you can perform at our facilities:

Cold starts: Evaluating the vehicle’s capacity to start and run in extremely cold temperatures, including assessing battery performance, fuel system functioning, and engine operation.
Traction and stability: Assessing the vehicle’s handling, traction control systems, and stability control systems on snowy or icy surfaces. This involves testing acceleration, braking, and cornering capabilities.
Brake performance: Evaluating the effectiveness of the vehicle’s braking system under icy or snowy conditions, including testing stopping distances, ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) functionality, and brake performance at varying speeds.
Handling and dynamics: Driving vehicles during winter can impact handling and dynamics. This includes testing for oversteer and understeer tendencies, evaluating the effectiveness of electronic stability control systems, and overall handling characteristics.
Cold weather durability: Exposing the vehicle to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures to evaluate the durability and reliability of various components, like the engine, transmission, suspension, and electrical systems.
Cold weather performance: Evaluating the vehicle’s performance in low temperatures, including acceleration, top speed, fuel efficiency, and power delivery. This segment of winter vehicle testing aids in determining if the vehicle’s performance is affected by cold weather.
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system: Driving vehicles during winter can alter the car’s interior environment. Hence, it’s necessary to assess the vehicle’s heating and defrosting systems’ performance to ensure they can keep the cabin warm and windows clear in extremely cold conditions.

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FAQ – Winter Car Testing

1. What makes the winter test region in Northern Sweden unique?

The winter test region in northern Sweden is unique due to its high concentration of knowledge and experience in winter car testing. This cluster offers world-class winter testing infrastructure that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet in such relative concentration.

2. Which municipalities are included in the winter test region?

The winter test region is a cluster of municipalities in northern Sweden, including Arjeplog, Arvidsjaur, Älvsbyn, and Jokkmokk. It is a world-leading test hub for winter car testing.

3. Does Icemakers offer accommodation for clients during their time in the winter test region?

Yes, we have our own apartment building in central Arjeplog and can also help arrange bookings of hotels and private houses all over the region.

4. Why is it beneficial to have an experienced and reliable partner on site for a winter test project?

Having an experienced and reliable partner on-site for a winter test project is beneficial because they possess the local knowledge and expertise necessary to navigate the complex logistics and maximize the opportunities available in the winter test region. At Icemakers, our top priority is always to help ensure efficient and successful winter test projects for all our customers.

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