Fasteners – such as nuts, bolts, screws and rivets – are essential structural components of vehicles, and their failure can have severe repercussions for driver safety. Many of these metallic items are also unavoidably exposed to harsh operating conditions, meaning they are liable to corrode over time.

Today, in his remarks at General Motors in Detroit, U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette announced $139 million in federal funding for 55 projects across the country that will support new and innovative advanced vehicle technologies. Six of these innovative projects will be led by teams in Michigan.

If you’re not sure how to inspect components for E-mobility applications, there are a range of tools at the ready. As the world of electric vehicles continues to expand, technologies such as computed tomography, coordinate measuring machines, and microscopes all provide part of the puzzle.

Whether you are working on an unmanned aerial vehicle or drone, a car, or an entirely new way to get around, such as a hoverboard, testing is a must. (Yes, hoverboards need testing too.) Physical evaluation testing is required in an increasing number of industries, including electronics.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 803 vehicle recalls in 2014—and that’s just the automotive industry.