With the theme of Taking It to the Streets, 2015 GM China Tech Day gave media from across China the rare opportunity to visit the Shanghai GM/PATAC Guangde Proving Ground in Anhui province. From June 24-26, they learned how the country’s most advanced proving ground is supporting the design and development of world-class vehicles.
“The Guangde Proving Ground is enabling our joint ventures to offer vehicles that meet the highest levels of safety, quality, performance and durability not just in China, but in the world,” said Matt Tsien, GM executive vice president and GM China president. “It has significantly improved testing efficiency, shortened product development time and reduced test costs.”
GM China Tech Day attendees experienced the Guangde Proving Ground’s facilities including Oval Track, Vehicle Dynamics Test Area, Low Coefficient Surface Area, Ride & Handling Loop, Hill Test Facility, Durability Test Area, Long Straightaway and Environment Test Facility.
China’s Largest and Most Comprehensive Proving Ground
The Guangde Proving Ground was opened by GM, SAIC, Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) on September 22, 2012. It is the largest and most comprehensive automotive proving ground in China.
The 5.67-square-kilometer proving ground includes more than 60 kilometers of test roads along with support facilities, and is capable of doing testing in more than 70 different driving conditions. Vehicles are put through about 20 million kilometers of testing on an annual basis.
The 9,036-meter Oval Track is the longest in China. With a maximum speed of 280 km/h, it tests reliability and durability during high-speed driving. It has the smallest maximum rolling angle of curve (only 35 degrees) among proving grounds in China.
The 120,000-square-meter Vehicle Dynamics Test Area is the largest in China and meets the highest technical standards in the industry. It supports the development of brake, stability and suspension systems, while carrying out important certification testing.
The unique Low Coefficient Surface Area consists of a Low Coefficient Straight (with a ceramic tile surface), a Low Coefficient Fan (with a basalt tile surface) and Low Coefficient Hills (with ceramic tile and basalt tile surfaces). It can simulate driving in rain and on snow to help improve antilock brake and traction control systems.
The integrated Ride & Handling Loop is a first in China. It has 19 different types of roads commonly found in China and abroad for assessing handling, reliability and durability. It is similar to facilities at other GM proving grounds, allowing the Guangde Proving Ground to contribute to vehicle development on a global basis.
The Hill Test Facility is also unique in China. It has a 1.2-kilometer Paved Extended Grade with a height range of 50 meters. It supports powertrain development, vehicle durability assessment and hill climbing performance.
The Durability Test Area allows testing in actual road conditions as well as in extreme conditions to evaluate noise, vibration and harshness. This is critical for assessing performance and quality to ensure long-term vehicle reliability and durability.
The 5,424-meter handset-shaped Long Straightaway has an asphalt surface with three 4-meter parallel lanes. The straight-line segment exceeds 2 kilometers in length yet has a longitudinal slope that is no more than 0.1 percent, making it ideal for energy and fuel economy testing, wind resistance and rolling resistance testing, and brake system performance testing.
The Environment Test Facility includes a Salt Mist Chamber, Water Trough, Grit Trough, Mud Trough, High Temperature and Humidity Chamber, and Cold Chamber. It can simulate the corrosive impact of salt water, mud and sand on vehicles.
Advanced Global Proving Ground Standards
The Guangde Proving Ground has adopted many of the latest global proving ground standards in its facilities and for testing. By meeting GM’s advanced engineering standards, it is ensuring not just the quality of testing but also consistency with other GM proving grounds.
It was also designed to ensure the safety of those carrying out testing. All test areas have a green protective buffer belt of up to 50 meters, elliptic curves have guardrails with a special high-strength energy-absorbing structure, and signs inside the proving ground have a collapsible structure to protect drivers should an impact occur. Comprehensive test road indicators and advanced gate controls between test areas help to precisely control traffic to prevent accidents.
Supporting the Natural Environment
GM and its partners also made environmental protection a priority at the Guangde Proving Ground. Existing vegetation was preserved during construction and more than 90,000 trees were planted, creating 1.3 square kilometers of wildlife habitat.
The facility built its own sewage treatment station and a reservoir for collecting treated water to keep it out of nearby rivers. Staff apartments utilize a solar water heating system.
As a result of its focus on the environment, GM was recognized by the Wildlife Habitat Council in 2014 for creating a wildlife habitat and enhancing biodiversity at the Guangde Proving Ground. It was the first company in China to earn certification from the international nonprofit organization for its habitat program.
