Battery testing expert · Dr Nicolas Bertrand

Your battery tests, from the test bench to usable data.

Battery test lab management, test bench automation, PAtools expertise and test data post-processing. Fifteen years in the field, from cell to pack, for the battery industry in France and across Europe.

Tell me about your project See my expertise

A bench that won't run, a test campaign running late, data nobody can read anymore? A first conversation is often enough to see clearly.

CC-CV charge, rest, 1C discharge, rest · Li-ion cellIllustrative data
15+ yearsin battery testing and test equipment
100+ benchescommissioned
PhDin battery modelling
3 countrieson-site work: France, Spain, United Kingdom

Five areas of expertise, one contact

What I take care of for you

I step in where battery testing gets difficult: in the lab, in the automation software, on PAtools, in the data, and when you need the right partner on board.

Laboratory

Battery Test Lab Manager

Running a battery test laboratory, from test plan to report.

See the page → Software

Battery automation software

Support for developing and integrating your test bench software.

See the page → Tool

PAtools expert

Configuration, test sequences, extensions and troubleshooting of PAtools benches.

See the page → Data

Data post-processing

Test data post-processing with the NeydFlow platform.

See the page → Free

Free viewer data files

Open MDF4, NI TDMS, CSV, Excel, GPX, FIT and TCX in your browser.

See the page → Network

Testing partners

Experts in testing and test equipment, ready for your projects.

See the network ↓

Your battery test lab must deliver reliable results, on time and safely. I take technical charge of the lab or the test campaign: organisation, test plans, equipment, teams and report delivery.

  • Battery test lab management: bench scheduling, prioritisation, KPIs, safety
  • Cell, module and pack test plans: characterisation, cycling, calendar ageing, HPPC, impedance (EIS), abuse testing
  • Technical lead of test campaigns, results analysis and test reports
  • Test equipment: specifications, supplier bid review, project follow-up, commissioning and acceptance
  • Commissioning: more than a hundred test benches brought into service, including in gigafactories
  • High-current cabling, EMC and bench metrology
  • battery test lab
  • test laboratory
  • battery cycler
  • climatic chamber
  • cell · module · pack
  • ageing
  • HPPC
  • EIS
  • safety testing
  • commissioning
  • EMC
Talk about your labMore about the Battery Test Lab Manager role

Battery test automation software proves itself on the bench. I bring the expert user's view to your developers: specifications, test writing, validation on real benches and field feedback.

  • Battery testing requirements written for the development team
  • Test writing, parameter setup, sequence libraries, test campaign set-up
  • Hardware integration: power supplies, cyclers, NI PXI and cDAQ acquisition, climatic chambers
  • Acceptance testing on real benches, corrective and application support
  • Configuration procedures and user documentation
  • test automation
  • test bench automation
  • bench software
  • NI PXI
  • cDAQ
  • power supply
  • test sequence
  • software acceptance
Talk about your softwareMore about test bench automation

PAtools is powerful, but few people know it in depth. I configure, extend and unblock your PAtools benches, and help your teams become self-sufficient with it.

  • Configuration and parameter setup of PAtools test benches
  • Writing and optimising test sequences and test libraries
  • Software extension of existing benches: new channels, new equipment, new tests
  • Troubleshooting and corrective support on production benches
  • Hands-on support for operators, technicians and engineers during each assignment
  • PAtools
  • PAtools expert
  • PAtools consultant
  • PAtools bench
  • bench extension
  • test sequence
Talk about your PAtools benchMore about PAtools expertise

Your benches produce gigabytes of measurements. NeydFlow turns them into results: test files in one place, automated processing and interactive visualisation on a single platform.

  • Automated test data post-processing with Python scripts
  • Test files from your benches and campaigns organised by project
  • Interactive visualisation of measurements
  • Exploratory study on your own data, then a pilot deployed in your environment
  • For any test domain: battery, thermal, powertrain, safety
  • test data post-processing
  • test data analysis
  • battery data analytics
  • data visualisation
  • industrial SaaS
  • Python
Talk about your dataDiscover NeydFlowMore about post-processing

Test data · NeydFlow free viewer

View your test data for free

Thanks to NeydFlow, a free viewer is available to open and view your measurement files right in your browser: MDF4, CSV, Excel, NI TDMS, GPX, FIT and TCX, with no software to install. It is available with a free NeydFlow account.

  • NI TDMS
  • MDF4
  • CSV
  • Excel
  • GPX
  • FIT
  • TCX
  • Open a file from a test bench, a data logger, a lab or a supplier
  • View your measurement channels in seconds
  • Move to the NeydFlow platform when whole test campaigns need processing
Create my free NeydFlow account All about MDF4, TDMS, CSV formats… Test data file formats guide →
TDMScell_test_042.tdms
Group
Measurements
Channels
Voltage [V] · Current [A] · Temperature [°C]
Points
7,200 per channel

Illustrative example

How an assignment runs

From the first call to a running bench

  1. Diagnosis

    A conversation to understand the bench, the test or the data involved, and what is really blocking.

  2. Proposal

    A clear scope, a quote and a schedule, with a partner from the network when the topic requires it.

  3. On-site work

    On site Monday to Friday or remotely, working directly with your technical teams.

  4. Handover

    A working bench, written tests, documentation, and teams able to take over.

Case studies

Three assignments, told simply

No client names, but what was done and what it changed.

  • Gigafactory
  • France
  • 6 months

Commissioning more than 100 test benches in a cell gigafactory

Context

A French lithium-ion cell gigafactory had to bring its fleet of test benches into service: cyclers, data acquisition and automation. Teams were still being built and the production schedule was tight.

What I did

  • Commissioning and acceptance of more than 100 test benches
  • EMC test protocols and configuration procedures for NI PXI and cDAQ acquisition systems
  • High-current cabling study
  • On-site training of operators, technicians and engineers throughout the assignment

Result

In 6 months, more than 100 benches running and accepted, reusable written procedures, and teams able to operate and evolve the benches on their own.

Read the full case →
  • Test centre
  • Spain
  • PAtools

Automating a power electronics test bench with PAtools

Context

A test centre in Spain needed to automate a power electronics test bench.

What I did

  • Bench automation with PAtools: configuration and test sequence writing
  • Commissioning of the automated tests
  • On-site support for the teams, in English

Result

An automated, operational power electronics test bench, and teams able to evolve their tests on their own.

Read the full case →
  • Test centres
  • France
  • United Kingdom

Battery testing training for teams in France and the United Kingdom

Context

Test centres in France and the United Kingdom needed to build their teams' skills in battery testing.

What I did

  • Battery testing training: principles, test plans, running tests and safety
  • Content tailored to operators, technicians and engineers
  • Sessions in English and French

Result

Teams more self-sufficient and safer when running battery tests. Several of these clients have kept coming back for years.

Read the full case →

Sectors and countries

Where I work

Gigafactories, carmakers, motorsport, research and test centres. Several clients have been calling me back for years.

GigafactoriesBench commissioning, cell test labs
CarmakersBattery testing and test equipment
MotorsportFormula 1, high-performance testing
Battery start-upsNew cell chemistries
Public researchLaboratories and test platforms
Test & measurementData acquisition equipment makers
Test centresIndependent test laboratories
EngineeringConsulting and integration firms
  • France
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom
  • and anywhere else in Europe
Nicolas Bertrand, battery testing and test bench expert

Who you work with

Dr Nicolas Bertrand, test engineer and PhD in battery modelling

I founded Bertrand Consulting in 2021 after more than ten years in battery testing. With a PhD in battery modelling, I connect what happens inside the cell with what the bench measures.

I speak the language of electrochemists, automation engineers and bench operators alike. That is often where test projects get unblocked.

Nicolas Bertrand on LinkedIn

Role
Senior test & test system engineer, founder
PhD
Battery modelling, University of Bordeaux I, 2011
Fields
Battery testing, test equipment, automation, test data
Languages
French, English
Based in
Yvelines (78), Paris region, France

Partner network

The right expert, at the right time

When your project needs more than one profile, I bring in trusted partners in testing and test equipment. You keep a single point of contact.

Battery systems

ESS · Energy Storage Specialists

Battery design, modelling, validation and manufacturing.

Wiring

MEI Industry

Automotive wiring expertise.

Testing and test equipment

HDTEC

Support for testing and test equipment.

Test equipment

Gemesis

Test equipment supplier with its own automation software.

Test data

NeydFlow

Test data post-processing and visualisation platform.

In the trade?

Join the network

Independent expert or company in testing and test equipment: introduce yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Before you get in touch

What does an external Battery Test Lab Manager do?

They take technical responsibility for a battery test lab or a test campaign: bench scheduling, test plans, safety, team follow-up and report delivery. It helps during a lab start-up, a ramp-up, or while the lab manager is away.

Do you work on benches that are already installed?

Yes. Many assignments involve existing benches: software extension, new equipment, troubleshooting, reliability work, or taking over a bench commissioned by another integrator.

Can you work on a PAtools bench?

Yes, PAtools is one of my core areas: configuration, sequence writing, bench extension and support, in France and abroad.

How can I open a TDMS, MDF4 or CSV file without dedicated software?

NeydFlow's free viewer opens and displays MDF4, CSV, Excel, NI TDMS, GPX, FIT and TCX files in your browser, with no software to install, using a free NeydFlow account. For whole test campaigns, the NeydFlow platform automates post-processing.

Which battery tests do you cover?

Cell characterisation, cycling, calendar and cycle ageing, HPPC, impedance spectroscopy, thermal and safety testing, from cell to pack.

Do you work outside France?

Yes, notably in Spain and the United Kingdom, and anywhere in Europe, in English or French.

How long is a typical assignment?

From a few days for a diagnosis or troubleshooting to several months for a lab commissioning. On-site work takes place Monday to Friday.

Nicolas Bertrand, battery testing and test bench expert

Nicolas Bertrand
PhD in battery modelling. I read and answer every request myself.

Contact

Tell me about your bench, your test or your data. I reply personally.

A first conversation with no commitment, in English or French.

  • A test bench to commission or upgrade
  • A battery test campaign to run
  • A PAtools sequence that won't work
  • Test data processing to automate
contact@bertrand-consulting.fr
+33 6 33 72 47 43
Bertrand Consulting on LinkedIn

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