TSU Substitutes Import Equipment for an AVTOVAZ Supplier

The rig, developed at TSU, is an automated system that simulates real-world refuelling conditions for vehicle fuel tanks while collecting comprehensive statistical data on all critical performance parameters.

“Essentially, it functions as a laboratory-scale refuelling simulator that enables safe, controlled testing of fuel tanks with gasoline under laboratory conditions and a comprehensive study of its characteristics,” explains Andrey Afanasyev, the project's lead author and engineer at the TSU Research and Educational Center Energy-Efficient and Low-Emission Internal Combustion Engines and Thermal Installations. “The rig allows us to evaluate the fuel tank's performance under various vehicle operating conditions and also check the product's compliance with environmental safety requirements.”

DIPO manufactures fuel systems for vehicles meeting Euro-6 emission standards* and supplies fuel tanks to AVTOVAZ and AGR, having previously served Toyota, Renault, Nissan, Ford, and Hyundai in the Russian market. The company was founded in 2012 as a joint venture between France's Plastic Omnium and Russia's DSK.

In 2022, DIPO ceased receiving support for testing its products in Europe and focused on extensive localization, including development of critical in-house testing capabilities.

Company representatives emphasized that this represents the first and only facility of its kind in Russia, which will significantly enhance product development quality while reducing time and development costs for new products.

“We have prior experience collaborating with Togliatti State University: they possess excellent facilities and highly qualified specialists who have previously conducted research for our company. Furthermore, several of our employees are currently pursuing master's degrees at the university,” notes Sergey Kolchugin, Technical Expert at DIPO. “Thanks to our collaboration with TSU, we now have a unique tool for quality control of our products. This new facility exemplifies how academic research can effectively address real-world industrial challenges.”

The work was carried out as part of the federal Priority 2030 program (Youth and Children national project). This unique testing equipment will enable cutting-edge research in polymer materials and fuel systems, contributing to the development of the Russian automotive industry and strengthening the country's technological sovereignty.