What is the difference between laboratory testing and road testing of electric wheelchairs?

What is the difference between laboratory testing and road testing of electric wheelchairs?

1. Differences in test environment

1.1 Controllable laboratory testing environment
The environment of laboratory testing is highly controllable. For example, the laboratory can precisely control environmental factors such as temperature and humidity to ensure that these variables remain constant during the test. Taking the battery performance test of an electric wheelchair as an example, the laboratory can control the temperature within the range of 25℃±1℃ and the humidity at 50%±5%RH, thereby accurately evaluating the charge and discharge performance of the battery under a standard environment. This controllability enables laboratory testing to exclude interference from external environmental factors, focus on the precise measurement of specific performance indicators, and provide reliable data support for product development and improvement.
1.2 The road test environment is complex and changeable
Unlike laboratory testing, the environment of road testing is complex and uncontrollable. Road testing needs to be carried out in a real outdoor environment, and electric wheelchairs will face challenges from various natural conditions. For example, in outdoor testing, electric wheelchairs may encounter extreme temperature changes, such as driving in high temperatures in summer (above 40°C) or low temperatures in winter (below -10°C); humidity may also fluctuate greatly due to weather changes, from dry desert environments to humid rainforest environments. In addition, road testing is also affected by natural factors such as wind speed and light intensity. For example, in strong winds, the driving stability of electric wheelchairs may be disturbed; in direct sunlight, the surface temperature of the wheelchair may rise, affecting riding comfort. These complex and changing environmental conditions enable road testing to more comprehensively evaluate the performance of electric wheelchairs in actual use scenarios, including their adaptability and reliability to different environments.

2. Different test content focuses

2.1 Laboratory testing focuses on basic performance

Laboratory testing focuses mainly on the basic performance indicators of electric wheelchairs, which are key factors in evaluating whether the product meets basic design requirements and safety standards.

Power performance test: By testing on a dynamometer in the laboratory, key power parameters such as the maximum speed, acceleration time and cruising range of the electric wheelchair can be accurately measured. For example, in laboratory tests, a certain electric wheelchair can reach a maximum speed of 10 km/h, an acceleration time of 0-5 km/h of only 5 seconds, and a cruising range of 40 km. These data provide clear quantitative indicators for the power performance of the product, which helps the R&D team optimize the motor performance and battery management system.
Battery performance test: The laboratory can conduct detailed tests on the battery’s charge and discharge efficiency, cycle life, and self-discharge rate. For example, the battery’s charge and discharge performance at different temperatures is tested by simulating different temperature conditions in a constant temperature and humidity chamber. The results show that the charge and discharge efficiency of a certain battery can reach 90% at 25°C and the cycle life can reach 500 times, while at 0°C, the charge and discharge efficiency drops to 80%, which provides an important reference for battery improvement.
Braking performance test: The braking distance and braking time of the electric wheelchair can be accurately measured using the brake test bench in the laboratory. For example, when a certain electric wheelchair is at a speed of 10 km/h, the braking distance is only 1.5 meters and the braking time is less than 1 second. This data shows that its braking system has high safety and reliability.
Structural strength test: The laboratory can use a mechanical testing machine to perform mechanical performance tests such as tension, compression and torsion on key components such as the frame and wheels of the electric wheelchair. For example, the frame of a certain electric wheelchair did not show obvious deformation when subjected to a tensile force of 1000 Newtons, indicating that its structural strength can meet the needs of daily use.
Electrical safety test: The laboratory can perform comprehensive safety tests on the electrical system of the electric wheelchair, including insulation resistance, leakage current and overload protection. For example, the insulation resistance test result of a certain electric wheelchair was 10 megohms, which is much higher than the 1 megohm required by the safety standard, which ensures the electrical safety of the user during use.
These basic performance tests provide key data support for the research and development and improvement of electric wheelchairs, ensuring that the product meets the design requirements and safety standards in terms of basic performance.

3. Different test methods and equipment
3.1 Laboratory testing uses professional equipment
Laboratory testing is usually equipped with a series of high-precision professional equipment to ensure the accuracy and reliability of test results. For example, the laboratory will use a dynamometer to test the power performance of an electric wheelchair. This equipment can accurately measure key power parameters such as the maximum speed, acceleration time and cruising range of an electric wheelchair. The test results of a certain electric wheelchair on the laboratory dynamometer showed that its maximum speed can reach 10 km/h, the acceleration time from 0 to 5 km/h is only 5 seconds, and the cruising range can reach 40 kilometers. These data provide clear quantitative indicators for the power performance of the product, which helps the R&D team to optimize the motor performance and battery management system.
In terms of battery performance testing, the laboratory will use a constant temperature and humidity chamber to simulate different temperature conditions and test the battery’s charge and discharge performance at different temperatures. For example, a battery can achieve a charge and discharge efficiency of 90% at 25°C and a cycle life of 500 times, while at 0°C, the charge and discharge efficiency drops to 80%. This data provides an important reference for battery improvement.
For braking performance testing, the brake test bench in the laboratory can accurately measure the braking distance and braking time of the electric wheelchair. When a certain electric wheelchair is at a speed of 10 km/h, the braking distance is only 1.5 meters and the braking time is less than 1 second. This data shows that its braking system has high safety and reliability.
In the structural strength test, the laboratory will use a mechanical testing machine to test the mechanical properties of the frame, wheels and other key components of the electric wheelchair, such as tension, compression and torsion. The frame of a certain electric wheelchair did not show obvious deformation when subjected to a tensile force of 1000 Newtons, which shows that its structural strength can meet the needs of daily use.
In terms of electrical safety testing, the laboratory can conduct comprehensive safety tests on the electrical system of the electric wheelchair, including insulation resistance, leakage current and overload protection. The insulation resistance test result of a certain electric wheelchair is 10 megohms, which is much higher than the 1 megohm required by the safety standard, which ensures the electrical safety of the user during use.
The use of these professional equipment enables laboratory tests to accurately measure and evaluate the basic performance of electric wheelchairs, providing key data support for product development and improvement, and ensuring that the product meets the design requirements and safety standards in terms of basic performance.

4. Different test purposes
4.1 Laboratory testing ensures compliance with standards
The main purpose of laboratory testing is to ensure that the performance indicators of electric wheelchairs meet relevant national and international standards. These standards cover all aspects from safety performance to basic functions, and are a prerequisite for products to enter the market and ensure safe use by users.
Safety standard verification: Laboratory testing strictly follows electrical safety standards, such as insulation resistance must reach more than 1 megohm, and leakage current must be controlled within a safe range. Through these tests, it is ensured that the electric wheelchair will not cause harm to the user due to electrical failure during use.
Performance standard compliance: Laboratory testing also ensures that the power performance, braking performance, etc. of the electric wheelchair meet industry standards. For example, the maximum speed must meet the design requirements, and the braking distance must be within a safe range. These test results provide data support for product compliance with standards.
Quality control: Laboratory testing can detect quality problems in the production process, such as substandard battery charging and discharging efficiency or insufficient structural strength. Through precise measurement and analysis, laboratory testing helps optimize production processes, improve product quality, and ensure that each batch of products meets design requirements.

5. The scope of application of test results is different
5.1 Laboratory test results are used for internal reference
The results of laboratory tests are mainly used as internal reference for product development, improvement and quality control. These data can help the R&D team gain a deeper understanding of the performance of electric wheelchairs under ideal conditions, thereby optimizing product design and production. For example, through laboratory power performance testing, the R&D team can determine key parameters such as the maximum speed, acceleration time and cruising range of electric wheelchairs under standard conditions, and then adjust the motor power and battery capacity to meet design requirements. Laboratory test results can also be used to evaluate the stability and consistency of the production process to ensure that each batch of products can meet the expected performance standards. In addition, these internal reference data also provide basic support for product safety certification and standard compliance, helping companies ensure that they comply with relevant regulations and standards before the product is launched on the market.

6. Summary
Through the above multi-faceted comparative analysis of electric wheelchair laboratory testing and road testing, it can be clearly seen that there are significant differences between the two in terms of test environment, test content focus, test methods and equipment, test purpose, and scope of application of test results.
With its highly controlled environment, professional and precise equipment, and in-depth exploration of basic performance, laboratory testing provides a solid data foundation and strong technical support for the research and development and quality control of electric wheelchairs, ensuring that the products can meet various standard requirements under ideal conditions. However, the limitation of laboratory testing is that it cannot fully simulate the complex and changeable situations in real use scenarios, and there are deficiencies in the assessment of the adaptability of electric wheelchairs to various emergencies and extreme conditions that may be encountered in actual applications.
Road testing is carried out in a real and complex use environment, which can comprehensively evaluate the comprehensive performance of electric wheelchairs, including their adaptability and reliability to different road conditions, weather conditions, and actual operation requirements. The results of road testing are closer to the real experience of users, providing an important reference for the market promotion and actual use of products. However, there are many uncontrollable factors in the road test environment, the stability and repeatability of the test results are relatively weak, and the test process is restricted by many external conditions, making it difficult to accurately measure and deeply analyze certain specific performance indicators like laboratory testing.
In the actual development and quality assessment process of electric wheelchairs, laboratory testing and road testing are not independent of each other, but complementary and indispensable. Laboratory testing provides basic data and theoretical support for road testing, helping the R&D team to clarify the basic performance and improvement direction of the product; while road testing verifies and supplements the results of laboratory testing to ensure the reliability and applicability of the product in actual use. Only by combining the two can the performance and quality of electric wheelchairs be comprehensively and accurately evaluated, and electric wheelchair products that are safe, reliable, comfortable and meet actual needs be provided to users.