Seoul, South Korea — The rapidly evolving electric vehicle (EV) sector demands increasingly sophisticated testing and development solutions to ensure the reliability, safety, and efficiency of next-generation vehicles. Addressing this critical need, ActionPower, in collaboration with its South Korean distributor RED Solutions, recently showcased two pioneering test-system products designed for advanced EV battery and power electronics development at InterBattery 2026.
The unveiling featured the PRO20 regenerative AC programmable power supply and the NEO-PRO battery testing and cycling system, marking a significant step forward in enabling manufacturers to accelerate their innovation cycles. These state-of-the-art EV engineering solutions are poised to support the industry’s drive towards higher performance, greater energy efficiency, and enhanced safety standards across the e-mobility landscape.
Revolutionising Power Electronics Testing with the PRO20
At the forefront of ActionPower’s latest offerings for power electronics is the PRO20, a regenerative AC programmable power supply engineered with a sophisticated modular architecture. This cabinet-based system is designed to meet a broad spectrum of testing requirements, from individual component validation to comprehensive system-level assessments.
The PRO20’s modularity allows for remarkable scalability. A single cabinet unit can deliver power ranging from 50 kVA up to 750 kVA, offering substantial flexibility for various testing scenarios. For more demanding applications, up to eight cabinets can be seamlessly integrated in parallel, scaling the total power output to an impressive 6 MVA. This high power density makes the PRO20 an invaluable asset for testing high-power EV powertrains, charging infrastructure, and grid integration systems.
Advanced Features for Robust Performance Validation
A key differentiator of the PRO20 is its four-quadrant operation, which integrates both source and regenerative load capabilities. This functionality is crucial for accurately simulating real-world driving conditions, where power flows bidirectionally between the vehicle and the grid or internal energy storage systems.
The system boasts an energy recovery efficiency of up to 94%. This regenerative capability not only reduces operational costs by feeding unused energy back into the grid but also minimises heat generation, contributing to a more sustainable and efficient testing environment. Such high efficiency is vital for high-volume testing facilities, aligning with broader industry goals for environmental responsibility.
Furthermore, the PRO20 supports versatile output modes, including AC, DC, and a combined AC+DC. This flexibility allows engineers to test a wide array of power electronics components and systems under varied electrical conditions. The output can be configured for single-phase, split-phase, or three-phase operations, adapting to diverse global power standards and application requirements for comprehensive EV engineering solutions.
Beyond its power delivery capabilities, the PRO20 excels in simulating complex grid anomalies. It can precisely reproduce voltage sags, swells, harmonics, and other grid disturbances, enabling manufacturers to rigorously test the resilience and compliance of their EV components against real-world power quality issues. The system’s ability to generate arbitrary waveforms up to the 100th harmonic further enhances its utility, allowing for highly specific and challenging test profiles.
Crucially, the PRO20 comes equipped with built-in IEC 61000 test profiles. Compliance with the IEC 61000 series of standards is paramount for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) in electrical and electronic equipment. By offering integrated test profiles, ActionPower streamlines the certification process, helping manufacturers ensure their EV engineering solutions meet stringent international regulatory requirements.
NEO-PRO: Precision Battery Testing for Next-Gen EVs
Complementing the PRO20, the NEO-PRO battery testing and cycling system is specifically engineered to address the rigorous demands of mid-range EV battery packs and stationary energy storage systems (ESS). This system is a testament to the ongoing advancements in electric vehicle battery testing technology, focusing on high voltage, efficiency, and accuracy.
The NEO-PRO system offers a scalable output range from 150 kW to 500 kW, providing ample power for testing a variety of battery capacities. A standout feature is its support for operation up to 1200 V, a crucial capability for validating the high-voltage battery packs increasingly found in modern electric vehicles. As EV technology progresses towards higher voltage architectures for faster charging and improved efficiency, systems like the NEO-PRO become indispensable.
Optimised for Efficiency and Accuracy in Battery Development
Designed with efficiency in mind, the NEO-PRO incorporates bidirectional power flow with an impressive energy efficiency exceeding 95%. Similar to the PRO20, this regenerative capability minimises energy waste during charge and discharge cycles, translating into substantial operational savings and a reduced environmental footprint for battery testing facilities. This level of efficiency is particularly beneficial for long-duration cycling tests, where energy consumption can be considerable.
Accuracy is paramount in battery testing, and the NEO-PRO delivers with a precision of up to ±0.05% full scale. This high level of accuracy ensures that critical battery parameters, such as capacity, internal resistance, and state of charge, are measured reliably, providing developers with trustworthy data for performance analysis and optimisation of their EV packs.
The system also boasts rapid switching times of below 6 ms, which is essential for dynamic testing protocols that simulate rapid changes in load and charge conditions. This responsiveness allows for more realistic emulation of real-world driving cycles and power demands on EV battery packs. A dual-channel option further enhances testing throughput, enabling simultaneous testing of two independent battery units or modules, thus accelerating research and development timelines.
The NEO-PRO’s modular design is another strategic advantage, particularly for integration into production lines. This facilitates seamless scale-up from research and development to manufacturing quality control, ensuring consistent performance and reliability across the entire product lifecycle of EV components. The modularity also allows for easier maintenance and upgrades, future-proofing the investment for manufacturers.
Collaborative Innovation for Enhanced Testing
The NEO series represents a powerful synergy, combining ActionPower’s robust power hardware with RED Solutions’ intuitive and comprehensive battery testing software. This integrated approach offers a complete solution for EV battery pack and ESS cycling applications, where regenerative efficiency, high-voltage capability, and flexible scaling are critical determinants of testing effectiveness and data integrity.
The collaboration leverages ActionPower’s expertise in power conversion technology and RED Solutions’ proficiency in software development and test automation, delivering a user-friendly yet powerful platform. This integration simplifies complex testing procedures, improves data management, and provides actionable insights for engineers working on advanced EV engineering solutions.
Driving Forward EV Innovation and Sustainability
The introduction of the PRO20 and NEO-PRO systems at InterBattery 2026 underscores the increasing sophistication required in the development and validation of electric vehicle technologies. As the global automotive industry continues its rapid transition towards electrification, the demand for precise, efficient, and scalable testing instruments will only intensify.
These advanced EV engineering solutions from ActionPower and RED Solutions are designed not only to meet current industry standards but also to anticipate future requirements for more powerful, efficient, and reliable electric vehicles. By enabling comprehensive testing of power electronics and high-voltage battery packs, these systems play a crucial role in accelerating innovation, improving product quality, and ultimately fostering greater consumer confidence in e-mobility.
The emphasis on high energy recovery efficiency in both systems also reflects a broader industry commitment to sustainability. By minimising energy waste during the extensive testing phases, ActionPower and RED Solutions are contributing to greener manufacturing processes, aligning with global efforts to reduce carbon footprints across the entire EV value chain. These developments reinforce the critical role of specialized testing equipment in shaping the future of electric transportation.