by an electric motor with shunt characteristics such as a three phase asynchronous motor which ultimately can also be operated in generator mode which is connected to a test bench computer and the engine control device edc the messages or signals actually sent during practical operation of the transmission control device are likewise simulated by the test bench computer itself or by additional smaller computers such as pc i and pc ii and sent to the control device edc by means of a network such as ethernet which simulates the network can which is used in practice messages and signals from the control device edc are also sent by means of the network ethernet for the purpose of superordinate evaluation by the test bench computer within the scope of the invention the described test bench is of particular importance in particular for the u201c dynamic u201d mode of operation cycle therefore the dynamic behaviour of the drive motor usually a diesel engine can be examined the processes which are to be simulated in which the dynamic behaviour is relevant include in particular start up processes upshifting operations and downshifting operations and a change from overrun operation to traction operation the aim of the simulated processes during trial or test operation is to obtain.