As battery technologies continue advancing for electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and next-generation energy applications, manufacturers are placing greater emphasis on comprehensive cell validation throughout the development and production lifecycle. Testing requirements now extend beyond basic charge-discharge cycling to include high-current performance evaluation, environmental testing, safety validation, and long-term reliability assessment. To address these requirements, PEC has developed the ICT0550 Integrated Cell Tester, a platform designed to combine battery test instrumentation, climate control, and workflow automation within a single testing environment.
The ICT0550 integrates test instrumentation, climate chambers, and cell holders into a unified system architecture. Combined with PEC’s LifeTest Software, the platform is designed to automate daily battery testing operations across research and development laboratories, quality assurance facilities, and cell manufacturing environments. The system additionally incorporates workflow management, reporting tools, and operator-guided logistics processes intended to streamline test preparation, scheduling, and monitoring activities.
A major technical aspect of the platform is its flexible current testing capability. According to PEC, the ICT0550 supports test instrumentation ranging from microamp-level measurements up to 2000A, enabling evaluation of a wide range of battery cell technologies and operating conditions. The system utilizes the company’s CT0550 and ACT0550 testing electronics and supports on-the-fly channel configuration from 50A to 1000A, providing flexibility for varying cell formats and performance requirements. The modular architecture allows multiple high-current channels to be combined, enabling test configurations up to 2000A for evaluating high-capacity battery cells and next-generation energy storage technologies.
The platform incorporates three independently controlled climate chambers within a single ICT0550 unit, each programmable between -30°C and 80°C. Depending on cell size and current requirements, a chamber can test up to 40 cells at 50A maximum or equivalent parallel high-current configurations such as 4 x 500A. The architecture is designed to support pouch, prismatic, and cylindrical battery cells through standardized pallet systems while enabling cell-specific holders and current-specific test configurations.
Safety and measurement flexibility are central to the system design. PEC states that the climate chambers are equipped with safety devices compliant with EUCAR Level 6 requirements for non-abusive cell testing and formation procedures. The ICT0550 also supports integration with AUX IO instrumentation for additional measurements including temperature, pressure, voltage, and digital I/O monitoring. Optional electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) functionality is available on selected channels, enabling more advanced battery characterization and analysis.
By combining high-current battery testing, independently controlled environmental chambers, automated workflow management, and scalable test configurations, PEC’s ICT0550 platform is designed to support battery developers and manufacturers seeking greater efficiency and deeper insight throughout battery development, qualification, and production processes.
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About PEC
PEC (Production Engineering Corporation) develops test and automation solutions for battery manufacturing, energy storage technologies, automotive electrification, and advanced electronics production. The company specializes in battery testing systems, formation equipment, laboratory automation, and manufacturing solutions designed to support battery development, validation, quality assurance, and large-scale production environments.
