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5G network drive testing using electric vehicles

A comprehensive guide

The landscape of mobile network testing is evolving rapidly with the emergence of electric vehicles (EVs) as testing platforms. This guide presents a comprehensive approach to conducting 5G network drive testing using EVs, addressing both the unique challenges and opportunities this combination presents. As cities increasingly implement stricter environmental regulations and testing requirements become more complex, EVs offer not just a solution to access restrictions but also advanced capabilities that can enhance the testing process itself.

Selecting the right electric vehicle for network testing

The selection of an appropriate EV for network testing requires careful consideration of multiple factors, with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability emerging as a game-changing feature. V2L technology, available in select models like the Ford F-150 Lightning with its 9.6kW Pro Power Onboard system or the Hyundai IONIQ 5 with 3.6kW V2L capability, transforms the testing vehicle from a simple transport platform into a mobile power station for testing equipment. The emergence of V2L capability has revolutionized power management for testing equipment. Traditional testing setups required complex auxiliary battery systems, but V2L-equipped vehicles can directly power testing equipment with stable, clean power output. The Ford F-150 Lightning’s 9.6kW system, for instance, can easily handle full testing

setups including multiple scanners, computers, and auxiliary equipment without the need for additional power systems. When choosing an EV for network testing, the testing environment should be your primary consideration. Urban environments, with their increasing number of Low Emission Zones and restricted access areas, demand vehicles that prioritize maneuverability and compliance with local regulations. Compact EVs with V2L capability like the Kia Nero excel in these scenarios, offering a good balance of range and agility. For rural and highway testing, where range anxiety becomes a real concern, long-range vehicles like Ford F-150 its Pro Power Onboard system proves invaluable. This vehicle can cover extensive testing routes while maintaining stable power for equipment operation.

Power management and equipment configuration Power management in EV-based testing operations requires a fundamental shift in thinking compared to traditional testing setups. V2L-equipped vehicles eliminate the need for separate auxiliary battery systems, simplifying the testing setup while providing more reliable power. High-power V2L systems, theoretically offering between 7-11.5kW, can support comprehensive testing configurations including multiple scanners, computers, and climate control systems for sensitive equipment. Testing equipment should be configured with careful consideration of power requirements and physical placement within the vehicle. A typical 5G testing setup draws between 400-600W continuously, including scanner systems (150-200W), data collection computers (150-250W), and climate control for equipment (100-150W). Modern EVs with V2L capability can easily handle these loads while maintaining stable power output. Equipment mounting in EVs requires careful consideration, with particular attention to both testing authenticity and equipment protection. While the availability of frunk (front trunk) space in many EVs offers additional storage options, testing devices often need to be positioned to replicate real-world usage scenarios. Specifically, devices should be mounted to simulate typical subscriber behavior - such as a passenger holding and interacting with a device - rather than being placed in positions (like the vehicle roof) that might yield artificially optimized results but don’t reflect realistic user conditions. Temperature management is a critical concern in testing setups. Equipment racks should be shock- mounted to protect sensitive testing gear, and proper ventilation must be maintained to prevent overheating. The interior mounting of testing devices not only better simulates real-world conditions but also allows for more effective cooling through the vehicle’s climate control system. When planning the mounting configuration, proper weight distribution remains crucial for vehicle handling and safety, while ensuring all equipment remains accessible for monitoring and adjustment during testing sessions.

Environmental impact of EVs’ usage for network testing: carbon emissions analysis Network drive testing operations have significant environmental impacts that can be substantially reduced through EV adoption. Based on data from the International Energy Agency (IEA, 2023) and the EPA’s vehicle emissions database, we can quantify these benefits: Traditional drive testing vehicle emissions (average based on observations of NT projects performed using TEMS™ solutions): • Average daily testing distance: 200 km • Annual testing days: 250 (typical working year) • Fuel consumption while driving: 10L/100km • Idle fuel consumption: 2L/hour (EPA Idle Fuel Consumption Database, 2023) • Diesel CO2 emissions: 2.68 kg CO2 per liter (EPA Emissions Factors, 2023) EV testing emissions (varies by region): • Energy consumption: 20 kWh/100km (based on real-world EV fleet data) • Grid electricity CO2 intensity (2023 data from respective agencies): • European Union: 0.231 kg CO2/kWh (European Environment Agency) • United States: 0.386 kg CO2/kWh (EPA eGRID) Annual CO2 reduction potential: • EU operations: 13,673 kg CO2 (83.7% reduction) • US operations: 11,891 kg CO2 (72.8% reduction)

Route planning and field test team monitoring Whether you use EVs or petrol/hybrid cars, remains the need to remotely manage the field test team, including distributing standardized work orders, testing routines and drive routes. Route planning for EV-based testing requires a multi-faceted approach that balances several critical factors. While managing vehicle range and charging requirements is essential, the primary focus must remain on meeting specific testing objectives. Testing routes need to satisfy various criteria including coverage of predetermined percentages of cell site areas, incorporation of both primary and secondary roads, and data collection during peak usage hours. These testing requirements often take precedence over vehicle efficiency considerations. Within these testing parameters, vehicle management becomes an important secondary consideration. Routes should be optimized to utilize approximately 80% of the vehicle’s range between charging stops to maintain a safety margin. This approach must be balanced with the requirement to test charging station locations thoroughly, as these represent critical infrastructure points for both vehicle operations and network usage patterns. The complexity of these route planning requirements necessitates sophisticated management tools. A centralized back-office solution like TEMS Cloud provides the flexibility needed to accommodate diverse testing scenarios and customer requirements. Through this platform, testing teams can remotely configure and distribute work orders that specify not just what to test, but precisely where to drive - a critical capability that can be customized to meet varying customer needs and use cases. The system’s real-time visibility and comprehensive alarm capabilities ensure that operational issues can be identified and addressed quickly, maintaining testing efficiency while adhering to required coverage and testing parameters.

Test cases around charging stations Charging station testing

Network testing at charging stations should follow a comprehensive protocol that accounts for various usage patterns. Peak usage typically occurs during evening hours and weekends, when multiple vehicles may be charging simultaneously while occupants engage in various online activities. Testing should verify that the network can handle multiple simultaneous HD video streams, large file transfers, and video conferencing sessions while maintaining acceptable performance metrics. For continuous monitoring and rapid response to network issues at charging stations, TEMS Sense integrated with TEMS Cloud provides an optimal solution. TEMS Sense enables 24/7 automated testing at and around charging stations, with results visible in near-real-time through TEMS Cloud.

Charging stations have emerged as critical testing locations, representing unique network usage patterns that require special attention. The need for robust network coverage at charging stations is supported by recent studies. According to the Electric Vehicle Council (2023), the average charging session duration is 31.5 minutes for DC fast charging and 142 minutes for Level 2 charging. During these sessions, users typically consume: • Video streaming: 45% of data usage • Web browsing: 25% • Video calls: 15% • Other applications: 15% This usage pattern creates an ideal scenario for testing network capacity and performance under real-world conditions.

This continuous monitoring allows operators to quickly identify and respond to various network issues that could impact user experience, such as: • Consistently low throughput during streaming or web-browsing sessions • Call setup failures or quality degradation • Unexpected handovers that might disrupt service • Performance variations during peak usage periods The combination of TEMS products enables proactive network optimization, ensuring that charging station locations maintain the high-quality network performance required for extensive user engagement during charging sessions. Real-time visibility of network performance allows operators to take immediate action when issues are detected, maintaining service quality in these critical locations. Charging station network benchmarking framework Charging stations require a specialized benchmarking framework that accounts for their unique usage patterns. For basic coverage, networks should deliver minimum download speeds of 100 Mbps per user, upload speeds of 20 Mbps, and latency under 50ms with 99.9% availability. However, optimal performance targets should aim higher: 250 Mbps download, 50 Mbps upload, and latency under 20ms with 99.99% availability. These benchmarks ensure a smooth experience for all users, whether they’re streaming movies, participating in video calls, or handling large file transfers during their charging session.

Different categories of charging stations require varying approaches to testing. Highway charging stations typically see burst usage patterns with multiple simultaneous users during peak travel times. Urban charging hubs experience more consistent usage throughout business hours but may face higher peak demands. Destination chargers, such as those at hotels or shopping centers, often see extended duration usage with lower simultaneous user counts but consistent bandwidth demands. Documentation and reporting Comprehensive documentation of testing results is crucial for maintaining testing integrity and enabling future optimization. Traditional reporting has focused on standard testing data, but evolving industry needs suggest an opportunity to expand reporting capabilities to align with broader corporate initiatives. Conventional testing reports Reports typically include detailed network performance metrics, testing conditions, and quality of service measurements. For charging station testing specifically, reports document peak usage patterns, concurrent user loads, and service quality metrics. A centralized back-office solution such as TEMS Cloud facilitates the creation of these customized reports with flexible visualizations, data filtering, and additional elements that help operators optimize their networks.

Environmental impact reporting As telecommunications players increasingly embrace environmental responsibility programs, there’s an emerging opportunity to integrate environmental impact metrics into testing reports. While not yet a common requirement, environmental reporting could provide valuable insights for operators’ sustainability initiatives. This might include: • Power consumption patterns during testing • Environmental conditions impact on network performance • Energy efficiency metrics for different testing scenarios • Carbon footprint calculations for testing operations TEMS Cloud ’s flexible reporting capabilities position it well to incorporate such environmental metrics as they become more relevant to operators’ sustainability goals. By anticipating this potential requirement, testing solutions can align with larger corporate environmental programs while maintaining their core focus on network performance validation. This comprehensive approach to reporting ensures that operators have access to both traditional performance metrics and emerging environmental impact data, supporting both technical optimization and broader corporate sustainability objectives. Safety and emergency procedures Safety considerations for EV-based testing operations extend beyond traditional testing safety protocols. Teams must be familiar with EV- specific emergency procedures, including proper handling of high-voltage systems and emergency shutdown protocols. Weather conditions affect EVs differently than traditional vehicles, particularly in terms of range and charging capabilities, and these factors must be incorporated into safety planning. A comprehensive and centralized alarm system delivered with TEMS Cloud could assist the field test teams to address operational issues quickly and reliably.

Future considerations As cities continue to implement stricter environmental regulations and more areas become restricted to zero-emission vehicles, EV-based testing will become increasingly important.

The evolution of V2L technology and improvements in EV range and charging

capabilities will continue to enhance the testing capabilities of these platforms. Testing teams should stay informed about developments in both EV technology and urban access regulations to maintain effective testing capabilities. Conclusion The integration of EVs into network testing operations represents more than just compliance with environmental regulations – it offers new capabilities and opportunities for enhanced testing procedures. As both EV technology and 5G networks continue to evolve, the synergy between these technologies will become increasingly important for effective network testing and optimization. Also, environmental considerations and data-driven decision making are becoming increasingly crucial in network testing operations. The transition to EV-based testing not only complies with emerging regulations but also offers substantial environmental benefits, with potential CO2 reductions of 60-98% depending on regional electricity sources. Organizations that embrace these changes and adapt their testing procedures accordingly will be better positioned to maintain and improve network performance in an evolving technological landscape. Organizations must consider both the technical capabilities and environmental impact when planning their testing operations.

Annexes The following scenarios are theoretical examples designed to illustrate best practices in various testing environments. While based on technical specifications and industry standards, they represent typical rather than actual implementations. Use case 1: Urban low emission zone (LEZ) testing This theoretical scenario demonstrates testing procedures in restricted urban areas where EVs are the only viable option:

Network testing considerations: • Dense urban coverage requirements • High-rise building effects on signal • Multiple carrier testing • Small cell integration testing Operational requirements: • Access permits for restricted zones • Noise level monitoring • Extended testing hours capability • Local regulation compliance • Real-time data upload capacity

Theoretical testing environment: • Location type: Dense urban area with LEZ restrictions

• Testing duration: Extended daily shifts • Equipment: Compact mobile testing setup • Testing schedule: Daytime and evening coverage Typical testing parameters: • Daily operation window: 14-hour shifts • Coverage area: 40-50 km² per shift • Vehicle requirements: • Compact EV with minimum 250 km range • Maneuverability for urban environment • Low noise profile for residential areas • Power configuration:

Testing implications: • Need for efficient route planning in restricted areas • Importance of quiet operation in residential zones • Value of compact equipment setup • Requirement for regular charging breaks

• Average equipment draw: 2.1kW • Peak power requirement: 3.0kW • Backup power capacity: 1.5kW

Use case 2: Nordics rural highway coverage testing This theoretical scenario illustrates testing considerations for extensive rural coverage in challenging weather conditions:

Operational considerations: • Weather impact on vehicle range (up to 40% reduction)

Theoretical testing environment: • Location type: Rural highway network • Testing scope: Long-distance coverage verification • Duration: Multi-day testing sequences • Weather conditions: Severe winter environment Typical operating parameters: • Daily coverage: 300-400 km • Vehicle requirements: • Long-range EV (400+ km rated range) • All-weather capability • Extended battery thermal management • Temperature range: -15°C to +5°C • Equipment configuration: • Full scanner and monitoring setup • Redundant power systems • Heated equipment enclosures

• Charging station availability in rural areas • Equipment temperature management

• Data backup requirements • Emergency response plans

Testing implications: • Need for extensive route planning • Importance of weather monitoring • Value of thermal management systems • Requirement for backup power systems Points of attention: • Critical impact of temperature on range • Importance of redundant systems • Value of detailed route planning • Need for comprehensive safety protocols

Network testing priorities: • Highway coverage continuity • Handover performance • Emergency service availability • High-speed mobility testing

Use case 3: High-traffic supercharger location testing This theoretical scenario illustrates typical patterns at a busy fast-charging location:

Network design considerations: • Suggested minimum backhaul: 1.5 Gbps • Recommended redundancy: Dual carrier connections • Coverage target: -85 dBm RSRP minimum • Design capacity: 25+ concurrent high-bandwidth users Testing implications: • Need for extended monitoring during peak periods • Importance of redundant testing equipment • Requirement for multiple test devices operating simultaneously • Value of automated testing sequences

Theoretical testing environment: • Location type: Highway-adjacent fast charging station • Testing duration: Multi-week monitoring period • Equipment: Full 5G testing suite with multi-carrier capability • Testing schedule: 24/7 monitoring with focus on peak periods Typical usage patterns: • Weekday peak hours (18:00-20:00): • Estimated concurrent users: 8-12 • Theoretical peak data usage: 1.2TB per hour • Typical session duration: 30-35 minutes • Weekend peak hours (14:00-16:00): • Estimated concurrent users: 15-20 • Theoretical peak data usage: 2.1TB per hour • Typical session duration: 40-45 minutes

Use case 4: Multi-brand charging hub testing This scenario demonstrates testing considerations for a large-scale charging facility:

Theoretical facility profile: • Location type: Urban charging hub • Charging points: Multiple brands and charging speeds • Testing scope: Network capacity and user experience • Duration: Long-term performance monitoring Typical daily patterns: • Average daily charging sessions: 140-150 • Peak concurrent sessions: 15-20 • Network usage distribution: • Video streaming platforms: ~45% of traffic • Web browsing: ~25% of traffic • Video conferencing: ~15% of traffic • Gaming services: ~10% of traffic • Miscellaneous applications: ~5% of traffic

Testing requirements: • Multi-carrier testing capability • Extended duration monitoring • User experience simulation • Capacity stress testing

Operational considerations: • Need for 24/7 monitoring capability

• Equipment placement for optimal coverage • Power management for testing equipment • Data collection and analysis methods

Points of attention: • Importance of testing during various times of day • Need for multiple testing devices to simulate concurrent users • Value of automated testing sequences • Requirement for comprehensive data analysis

These use cases highlight the complexity of testing requirements. They demonstrate how testing teams must consider not only technical requirements but also usage patterns and user behavior when planning their testing approaches.

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