Methods of investigation of road vehicles in context of immunity to electromagnetic field

The question of testing of vehicles and their subassemblies, especially in the range of electrical and electronic equipment, is very extensive. The scope of the relevant tests becomes wider and the requirements, especially in the range of safety, reliability and comfort, become higher. Of particular significance, are in recent years, tests concerning electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of whole vehicles and their subassemblies. A survey of basic standardized EMC test methods is presented in the paper. Moreover, an alternative test method of vehicle immunity worked out by authors is proposed. The method has been verified by using the open-area partially shielded test site (OAPSTS) model and compared with standardized methods contained in ECE UN Regulation No. 10 and EU Directive 2004/104/EC. Tests of vehicle immunity to electromagnetic field have been performed using the model of OAPSTS and the vehicles: Citroen-Berlingo, Skoda-Octavia and Daewoo-Lanos. Estimation of basic statistical parameters has also been worked out. The obtained results show that the proposed method is reliable and, on the other hand, it is more accessible and less expensive than the standardized methods in which employing of very expensive absorber-lined shielded test chambers is necessary. The present paper extends the results obtained in [6, 7].