NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE TEST TRACK , INDORE:-

NATRAX is one of the state-of-the-art automotive testing and certification centre under NATRiP, a flagship project of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Govt of India planned under the Automotive Mission Plan launched by Government of India.It is located near the vibrant industrial township of Pithampur. (Dist. Dhar), which is 50km from the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh i.e. Indore, situated on NH-3 By-Pass Road (Indore – Mumbai). The center has been developed in approx. 3,000 acres of land.

The National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) in Indore is the Asia's longest high speed track. The ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises inaugurated at 11.3 KM world- class High Speed Track [HST], it will be used to measure the maximum speed capabilities of high-end cars such as BMW, Mercedes, Audi, etc. and other categories of vehicles. It was inaugurated on 29 June 2021|12:00 p.m IST by the Union Minister of heavy industries Prakash Javadedkar.

It Spread across more than 3000 acres, it is also the 5th longest speed track in the world. It can test up to 250 kmph of neutral speed and up to 375 kmph of maximum speed on curbs with no limit on the straight patch. The centre has multiple test capabilities like measurements of acceleration, constant speed fuel consumption, high speed durability testing etc..The track has no longitudinal slope, which helps to improve the accuracy, while measuring the performance.

According to the government, that Natrax is a one-stop solution for all sorts of high-speed performance tests for the widest categories of vehicles. The track can be used for testing two-wheelers to supercars and even heavy vehicles like trucks and tractors.

The largest high-speed test track in Asia allows automakers to test their vehicles on parameters like top speed, acceleration, fuel consumption, assessing vehicle dynamics, high-speed handling, high-speed durability, vehicle stability during lane changing, etc. The test track will also support emission tests through real driving conditions. The Natrax comprises 16 metre wide, and has 14 types of tracks, including braking track, wet pad, sustainability track, handling track, and more.

· NATRAX INDORE FACILITIES:-

The following are the facilities at the NATRAX Indoor centres are listed below:-

1- Vehicles dynamics lab [centre of excellence].

2- R&D tracks [Proving Ground].

3- NVH [testing on tracks].

4- Fatigue [Testing on tracks].

5- Powertrain Lab.

· PHENOMENAL TEST TRACKS FACILITY:-

The phenomenal test tracks facilities are tabulated in given below:-

Fig -1 Home –Natrax Automotive Test

Tracks [NATRAX]

Fig -2 NATRAX track inaugurated in

MP’s Pithampur.

· MULTI FRICTION BRAKING TRACK :-

In multi friction braking track the asphalt , basalt, ceramic polished concrete is used. The coefficient of friction varies from 0.15 0.9 and aqua planning upto 8mm.

Fig -3 multi friction braking tracking

· GRADIENT TRACK :-

The Gradient track or the Hill track is used to test the torque capacity of a vehicle and also to determine the Gradability of the test vehicle and the efficiency of parking brake on a slope.