EV, cleantech and mobility
Greaves Electric Vehicle Test Engineer Interview: Rounds, Questions and Preparation
For Vehicle Test Engineer roles at companies like Greaves Electric
What the job involves
A Vehicle Test Engineer in the EV and cleantech sector plans and executes tests on electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and light vehicles to validate performance, range, safety, and durability. Day to day work includes instrumenting vehicles with sensors, running road and lab tests, analysing data, logging defects, and working with design and production teams to fix issues. At companies like Greaves Electric, the role supports new model development and homologation for the Indian market.
Role and Technical Knowledge
- 1
What are the key differences between testing an electric vehicle and a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle?
Cover differences in powertrain, absence of exhaust and transmission, focus on battery thermal management, electrical safety, regenerative braking, and noise vibration harshness characteristics.
- 2
Explain the function of a battery management system and what parameters you would monitor during a vehicle test.
Mention cell voltage, pack current, state of charge, state of health, temperature, and isolation resistance. Explain how these affect range, safety, and performance.
- 3
What is CAN bus and why is it important in EV testing?
Describe CAN as a communication protocol for electronic control units. Explain how test engineers use CAN logs to read motor controller, BMS, and vehicle data for validation.
- 4
Which Indian or international standards are relevant for electric vehicle testing?
Mention AIS 038, AIS 156 for battery safety, CMVR, and ISO 6469 for EV safety. Show awareness of homologation requirements in India.
Practical Scenarios and Problem Solving
- 5
During a range test, the vehicle delivers 20 percent less range than expected. How would you investigate?
Outline a structured approach: check test conditions, tyre pressure, load, ambient temperature, battery state of health, driving cycle, and compare against baseline data. Suggest instrumenting for current and voltage logs.
- 6
You notice a sudden rise in motor temperature during a durability test. What steps would you take?
Describe immediate safety actions, then check cooling system, load profile, sensor calibration, and motor current. Recommend stopping the test, logging data, and escalating to design team.
- 7
How would you plan a test schedule for a new electric scooter model with limited prototypes and tight deadlines?
Show prioritisation of safety critical and homologation tests, parallel testing where possible, use of lab and road tests, and clear documentation for traceability.
- 8
What data would you capture to validate regenerative braking performance?
Mention vehicle speed, brake pressure, motor current, battery current, state of charge, and energy recovered. Explain how to compare with friction braking only.
Behavioural and Teamwork
- 9
Describe a time you worked in a team to solve a technical problem during a college project.
Use STAR format. Highlight your specific contribution, how you communicated, and what you learned about collaboration.
- 10
Tell me about a time you had to learn a new tool or concept quickly for a project.
Show curiosity and self learning. Mention resources used, time taken, and how you applied the new skill to deliver results.
- 11
How would you handle a situation where a design engineer disagrees with your test findings?
Emphasise data backed communication, respect for other viewpoints, willingness to re test, and focus on vehicle safety and performance.
- 12
Give an example of a mistake you made in a project and how you corrected it.
Be honest, show ownership, explain the corrective action, and state what you changed in your process to avoid repetition.
HR and Career Motivation
- 13
Why do you want to work as a vehicle test engineer in the electric vehicle sector?
Connect personal interest in clean mobility, sustainability, and hands on testing. Mention desire to contribute to India's EV transition.
- 14
Are you comfortable with field testing, travel, and occasional shift work?
Answer honestly and positively. Show awareness that vehicle testing often happens at proving grounds, on road, and in labs beyond regular hours.
- 15
Where do you see yourself in three years in this role?
Show ambition to deepen technical expertise in EV testing, take ownership of test protocols, and possibly lead small test projects or mentor juniors.
- 16
What do you know about our company and its products?
Research the company's EV portfolio, recent launches, and market position. Mention specific models or technologies that interest you and why.
Ready to try it for real?
Take a timed test or talk through a mock interview for this role, then see your scores.
This is practice material for Vehicle Test Engineer roles, written with AI. It is not a list of questions Greaves Electric or any other company has asked.