Assessment of a Vehicle's Electromagnetic Emissions Under Dynamic Drive Conditions

This article presents measured results carried out inside an automotive EMC semianechoic chamber of test methodologies that assess the radiated emissions of a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) under dynamic drive conditions including acceleration, deceleration and different constant speeds. On the contrary, existing automotive EMC test methods applied as per UNECE Regulation 10 and CISPR 12, concerning the radiated emissions of vehicles, consider fixed laboratory setups and vehicle drive conditions. Test parameters, such as 360° azimuth scan around the vehicle, antenna height scan and broadband versus fixed-frequency measurement techniques based on a single vehicle demonstrate that actual radiated emissions can be higher than those in fixed laboratory configurations prescribed on existing standards. Next to this, measurements that associate the time-dependence of the electromagnetic emissions with vehicle's parameters such as velocity and power from the (electric) traction battery are analyzed and discussed. Furthermore, results of radiated emissions below 30 MHz and above 1 GHz, which are not obligatory during vehicle EMC testing, are outlined. The EMC test methodologies discussed in this work can assist the EMC troubleshooting of vehicles and help to quickly identify the critical area(s) around the vehicle that contribute to the generated electromagnetic interference.