Intertek Transportation Technologies provides advanced, high-precision testing for internal combustion engines, electric propulsion systems, hybrid powertrains, fuel additives, and lubricants. Our UK facilities are built for complex, bespoke programmes, helping you meet performance targets, reduce risk, and bring cleaner, more efficient vehicles to market.
The automotive industry is undergoing major change, driven by electric vehicle (EV) innovation, emissions regulations, and evolving consumer expectations. As electrification accelerates and emissions standards tighten, it’s critical for manufacturers to ensure every vehicle is safe, durable, and compliant with international automotive testing requirements.
For over 30 years our automotive testing laboratory in Milton Keynes, UK has supported our customers’ needs by testing key elements of their products. Covering Electric Vehicle Propulsion Systems (EV) testing, Fuel and Lubricants testing, Electric, Hybrid-Electric Powertrain Systems (HEV) and Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) testing. Additionally, Intertek’s Milton Keynes testing site can support manufacturers with Fleet Testing Services through our German partners and Engine Endurance and Durability testing. Our aim is to provide you with the peace-of-mind that your automotive product offers high-performance, and is safe and reliable.
About our facilities
Our Tanners Lane site operates 24/7 year-round and houses 27 fired engine test cells, 3 eMachine cells, and 1 spin rig, enabling rapid turnaround times for our customers. We cover engines ranging from the smallest non-road engines up to the largest heavy-duty vehicle engines. Each test cell contains engine testing dynamometers featuring steady-state and transient testing capabilities for testing diesel, gasoline, electric motors and any alternative fired or hybrid-electric engines or driveline systems.
We specialise in engine performance testing, engine durability testing and combustion mapping; along with test cells dedicated to fuel and lubricant testing, exhaust systems and catalyst ageing. Our fuel and lubricant test cells operate to the testing standards outlined by the Coordinating European Council (CEC). We offer full engine build, stripping and rating capabilities as well as road-based vehicle fleet management trials.
European Centre of Excellence for High Voltage EV Propulsion Systems testing
Intertek’s Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Milton Keynes offers advanced capabilities for electric vehicle (EV) powertrain testing. The site includes 5 purpose-built eMobility test cells and a dedicated facility at our Davy Avenue location for electric propulsion system testing. We support a wide range of EV testing requirements, from motors and inverters to complete drivetrain systems, helping manufacturers validate performance, safety, and compliance with international standards.
Our Automotive Laboratory Certifications
All of our vehicle test cells are fully accredited by the UK’s Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) for conducting European ECE Regulation 85 (engine power) approval tests and the entire site is covered by our ISO 9001 certification.
Our fuels and lubricant testing cells are also covered by UKAS ISO 17025 accreditation as well as being recognised by the CEC and the ATC ERC.
Our laboratory has test cells dedicated to fuel and lubricant testing, providing gasoline, diesel and lubricants evaluation to the CEC European industry standards as well as bespoke testing. The laboratory is fully accredited to ISO 9001 and can operate on a 24/7 basis, maximising cell availability for our customers. In addition, the CEC tests are accredited to ISO 17025. All of our fuel and lubricant testing is supported by comprehensive fuel storage and blending capabilities, engine strip, build and rating services and a professional quality photographic studio for detailed reporting of all test components.
Our engine test cells offer some of the most technologically advanced, commercially available facilities in Europe. The test cells offer highly controllable and adjustable air intake handling systems (CAHU) which control intake air pressure, temperature and humidity, whilst offering multiple fuel types and the most sophisticated emissions measurement and analysis equipment currently available on the open market.
All engine parameters can be controlled and adjusted using our latest generation test cell control systems, and we specialise in engine automated mapping using AVLs industry-standard software packages and their most advanced testing equipment. All of our engine test cells feature the ability to monitor and log multiple temperature pressure and fluid flows as well as supporting full CAN system logging and full control of all engine-related systems.
Our highly configurable test cells can be fitted with multiple dynamometers and high voltage DC battery simulations to provide transient drive cycle testing of 2WD Hybrid powertrains. Multiple acquisition channels of high-speed data acquisition can be specified at sample frequencies of up to 2.0 MHz. Rapid powertrain and exhaust cool-down systems permit delivery of multiple highly repeatable drive cycle emissions tests in a typical 16-hour day.
Our on-site fabrication and rig build capabilities allow rapid configuration and testing specification changes and updates, as well as a bespoke rig or test customisation options.
Exhaust system ageing can be conducted by our test lab in several dedicated test cells, which are set up for ageing Diesel and Gasoline systems. Our expert team of fabricators can also create bespoke exhaust systems, with volumes ranging from one-off systems to production runs of up to 100 systems.
Our European facilities offer fleet testing services through our Germany based partner, KJ Tech. KJ Tech’s expertise is in the disciplines of road testing, validation, aftermarket, powertrain, vehicle dynamics, thermodynamics, mechanical systems, and oil and additives. This includes developing new system components, building prototypes, and developing suitable testing strategies as well as measuring technology.
More than a lab: an engineering partner
Our in-house engineers bring over a century of combined expertise. Whether you’re optimising thermal efficiency, fine-tuning hybrid systems, or validating fuel additives, we act as an extension of your team—offering insights, solutions, and agility throughout the development cycle.
With our proprietary Evolution Test System and automation platforms, every test is designed to be precise, repeatable, and actionable, so your decisions are based on real performance, not just data points.
Related Links
Intertek Milton Keynes - Facilities Overview
Intertek Transportation Technologies based in Milton Keynes UK has over 30 years’ experience in dynamometer based engine performance, emissions and driveline test and development as well as specific expertise in fuel and lubricant testing and exhaust system ageing.
