AVL ThermalLab™

Advanced Thermal Testing Lab for E-Mobility Systems

Optimize the thermal performance of batteries, e-motors, and power electronics with AVL ThermalLab™. Our state-of-the-art thermal testing lab ensures reliable and efficient thermal management for electric vehicles.

AVL ThermalLab Setup

As electrification advances, the need for efficient thermal testing and advanced vehicle thermal management systems (VTMS) grows. These systems play a crucial role in optimizing passenger comfort, extending driving range, and ensuring the durability of key components such as batteries, e-motors, and fuel cells. Effective thermal regulation is essential to maintain performance, safety, and long-term reliability in electric vehicles.

Modern electrified powertrains present complex thermal challenges due to fluctuating operating temperatures across different components. An optimized VTMS, supported by precise thermal testing, ensures efficient heat management, minimizes energy loss, and enhances vehicle efficiency and longevity. By addressing the specific thermal needs of batteries, e-motors, and power electronics, manufacturers can improve overall performance and accelerate innovation in e-mobility.

A highly efficient vehicle thermal management system (VTMS) is essential for maximizing energy efficiency and prolonging the lifespan of critical powertrain components. However, developing and optimizing VTMS solutions requires extensive calibration and testing, which can significantly increase development costs and extend project timelines.

To overcome these challenges, AVL ThermalLab™ provides an advanced thermal testing environment designed to accelerate VTMS development. Offering unmatched flexibility, it allows testing of either the complete thermal management system or individual components under real-world conditions. Our ThermalLab streamlines the calibration and validation process, enabling faster development cycles, optimized system performance, and reduced costs.

ThermalLab Setup
Enhanced Efficiency

Streamline the development and testing of VTMS components to achieve optimal energy efficiency throughout the vehicle.

Cost Reduction

Reduce development costs by minimizing the need for extensive and expensive testing procedures.

Thorough Analysis

Analysis of the VTMS components and architecture for range and cabin comfort on the testbed.

Flexible Testing

Choose between testing the entire VTMS or focusing on specific components, providing tailored solutions for various development needs.

The AVL ThermalLab™ enables precise testing of complete thermal systems and individual components under realistic, emulated environments – independent from vehicle prototypes and weather conditions. With highly dynamic conditioning systems, it accurately simulates driving and environmental conditions, reducing development time and costs. The ThermalLab ensures that your VTMS is optimized for peak performance and efficiency.

System and Subsystem Testing

Using model-based testing, the ThermalLab optimizes the entire VTMS under dynamic conditions. The Unit Under Test (UUT) is the complete VTMS, includes powertrain coolant circuits, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and thermal management control units. Integrated into an emulated vehicle and a fully simulated environment, comprehensive testing can be performed in the lab more efficiently and cost-effectively than traditional road or wind tunnel testing.

Component Testing

Even without a complete VTMS, individual thermal components can be optimized using our ThermalLab model-based approach. The UUT is embedded in an emulated vehicle, while a hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) simulation replicates the rest of the thermal system and its environment. This allows components to be tested in different driving cycles, ensuring proper subsystem functionality and enabling pre-calibration of actuators on the testbed.

動画ファイル
Modular Test System Design

Modular test system design enables solutions that accurately reflect customer use cases.

No Prototype Vehicles

No prototype vehicles required for the optimization of the entire VTMS.

Independent Development 

Development is disengaged from weather conditions and regions.

Flexible Testing

Possibility of testing various VTMS concepts with different propulsion systems.

Climatic Chamber Battery Pack Testing

Climatic Chambers

Batteries, fuel cells and electric drives must operate safely and reliably in any environment. This means that they can be exposed to extremes of temperature and humidity that are difficult to replicate on a test track or in real-world road tests.Therefore, we have developed our climatic chambers. Our solutions safely and reliably simulate a wide range of harsh environmental conditions, providing high flexibility while minimizing system downtime. Their distinctive application-based design with pre-defined interfaces ensures seamless integration into existing testbeds.

→ More on Climatic Chambers

Overview of the AVL conditioning systems

Conditioning Systems

Gaseous and liquid media have a significant impact on the behavior of the UUT. Conditioning systems bring these media into a selectable and predefined range. Stable environmental conditions are essential to perform tests with high precision and reproducibility. These environments are conveniently and reliably provided by conditioned media. Our conditioning systems are characterized by their modular design, excellent functional expandability and compactness, making them mobile and versatile on the testbed.

→ More on Conditioning Systems

Peter Priesching

With the AVL ThermalLab, we bring real-world conditions into the test lab – precisely, efficiently, and under controlled environments. This accelerates the development and validation of battery systems and fuel cells to a whole new level."

– Peter Priesching, Global Product Manager, ThermalLabs

AVL E-Mobility Testing Solutions – Brochure

From battery to full vehicle, from products, to test systems to whole test facilites learn how we can support your testing needs.

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AVL Thermal Testing Solutions – Brochure

Keep Cool, Drive Further.

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AVL ThermalLab™ – Solution Sheet

Testing battery electric vehicles under realistic conditions.

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Thermal Test System with virtual vehicle
熱試験システム

車両の温度管理システムは、車両全体のエネルギー効率性と、バッテリーやインバーターなどの推進システム内のあらゆるコンポーネントの耐久性に大きな影響を及ぼします。高効率システムは、車両レベルでのキャリブレーションと試験に長い時間を要するため、開発に要するコストと時間に大きな影響を与えます。

Climatic Chamber Battery Pack Testing
AVL Climatic Chamber

バッテリーパック、モジュールおよびセル、燃料電池、e-モーターおよびe-アクスルに関する各ソリューションは、いかなる環境においても安全かつ確実に動作しなければなりません。この環境には、極端な温度や湿度が含まれます。こうした極端な温度や湿度は、試験コースや路上走行時での実際の試験シナリオでは再現できません。そのためAVLは、モジュール式のAVL Climate Chamberを開発しました。

Overview of the AVL conditioning systems
調整システム

Thermal conditions and environment of Units Under Test have strong impacts on real results in driving. For this reason, the thermal simulation must be as exact as possible – which can be achieved via deployment of high performing media conditioning systems.

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Testbed.CONNECT™でテストベンチでのシミュレーションを実現

A powerful open execution platform that connects simulation models to the testbed.

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