In 2016, AVL agreed to enter a partnership with Greenlight
Innovation Corp., one of the world’s leading providers of test
and production systems for hydrogen fuel cells, electrolyzers,
batteries, and energy storage devices. In May 2018, AVL
announced the opening of a research and development center
for fuel cell technology in Vancouver. The investment in this
new R&D center was intended to strengthen the leading role of
AVL in the provision of engineering solutions for next-genera-
tion propulsion systems.
On May 31, 2017, AVL opened the world-leading center of
excellence for research and development of innovative pro-
pulsion systems, together with Graz University of Technology
(TU Graz). The AVL-TU Graz Transmission Center is anchored
in the Expertise Mobility & Production field, one of five strate-
gic research areas at TU Graz.
In 2018, AVL opened an expanded battery lab in Graz after
eleven months of reconstruction. The test center covers an
area of around 700 square meters, featuring four testbeds that
can cover battery developments up to 1200 V. It is regarded as
one of the most modern centers for electric and thermal bat-
tery testing in Europe. It also allows test execution with larger
batteries, from electric buses or trucks. The expansion of the
center sees AVL continue to drive large-scale series produc-
tion for batteries. Back in 2012, AVL developed and realized
the first 800 V electric vehicle (BEV) “AVL CoupE”, which was
regarded as the concept car for battery technologies for large-
scale series BEV.
2019 saw AVL work with ZalaZONE to establish the joint ven-
ture “AVL ZalaZONE Proving Ground Ltd.” Operated by AVL, the
250-hectare vehicle testing site to the west of Zalaegerszeg,
Hungary, was conceived specially for the development and
validation of autonomous and electric vehicles. It also enables
the execution of dynamic and durability tests for conventional
vehicles. AVL ZalaZONE provides complete testing solutions
with engineering services, technical equipment, workshops
and ofÏces for testing staff, AB Dynamics EuroNCAP equip-
ment for ADAS tests, HD mapping, and test drivers.
2012
Foundation of AVL Commercial Driveline &
Tractor Engineering GmbH
AVL Commercial Driveline & Tractor Engineering GmbH was
established in Steyr, Austria, in 2012. Comprehensive engineer-
ing experience, paired with the use of efÏcient development,
simulation, and testing tools, form the basis for innovative
solutions in tractor technology, for example.
2017
AVL End of Line Testing Systems S.r.l.
Located in Turin, Italy, AVL End of Line Testing Systems S.r.l.
has been focusing on the production of measurement and
control devices, drawing instruments, counters for electricity,
gas, water, and other fluids, and analytical precision scales
since 2017.
2018
Foundation of AVL Fuel Cell Canada Inc.
2018 saw the establishment of AVL Fuel Cell Canada Inc.
Based in Vancouver, Canada, the company is a global center
of expertise for state-of-the-art proton-exchange membrane
fuel cell development and covers all applications, including
automotive, heavy-load, and marine.
2019
Foundation of AVL Maroc SARL AU
In 2019, AVL LMM S.A.S. founded AVL Maroc SARL AU in
Rabat, in order to establish a strong engineering center to look
after customer projects jointly between France and Morocco. In
total, roughly 500 employees are working to further develop the
respective markets of AVL.
“It is a long journey from the development of challenging system
solutions to their industrial implementation, and one which we will
be embarking on in the area of transmission system electrifcation
in an even closer partnership with TU Graz. This allows us to ensure
that AVL can continue to expand its leading international position in
research and development of state-of-the-art propulsion solutions.”
Helmut List
75 YEARS AND BEYOND
2010 saw AVL open a battery lab in China, the AVL List
Technical Center (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. This was followed by
the AVL List Technical Center (Tianjin) Co. Ltd. as a second
Chinese center in 2016. The aim was to streamline the engine
development process to match the increasing demands from
the Chinese automotive industry for a shorter product devel-
opment cycle. This also allowed Chinese and foreign suppliers
to be included at an earlier stage of development. This was
the first technical center for engine development run by a
private company in China. To this day, the involvement of AVL
strengthens the long-lasting relationship with China, which can
be traced back to 1926, when AVL founder Hans List lived and
worked at Tongji University.
In 2014, AVL acquired a majority stake in qpunkt, which was
founded in 2008 and at the time employed 150 people in Hart
near Graz and at four other locations. qpunkt was well-known
for specializing in thermal management, flow technology, and
acoustics. The company focused on the use of physical and
virtual methods, as well as the corresponding instrumentation,
to develop innovative solutions related to thermal manage-
ment. The addition of the subsidiary Epzwo made it possible
to cover the entire V-process, from thermal management
development to SOP. In 2018, qpunkt was completely integrat-
ed into the AVL Group as the Thermal Management & HVAC
product line and operates globally within AVL’s worldwide
network.
The 2010s
2010
Foundation of AVL Engineering & Test Systems Türkiye
The steep development curve in the Turkish automotive
industry included the delivery of test systems in the 1980s and
AVL Instrumentation and Test Systems therefore decided to
become active in the region in 2010. The company has since
grown steadily, with 50 engineers now providing engineering,
after-sales, and project management services locally and
globally.
2012
Foundation of AVL SET GmbH
(formerly SET Power Systems GmbH)
2012 saw the company now known as AVL SET (then SET
Power Systems GmbH) established as a “Member of the AVL
Group”, in a joint venture with AVL List GmbH. The company is
located in Wangen im Allgäu, Germany. The aim was to provide
customers in the development area of the automotive industry
with power Hardware-in-the-Loop test systems. A completely
new methodology was developed for the market, to test
propulsion inverters using e-machine emulation technology.
Continuous technological advances and the resulting need for
innovation in the area of power electronics for electro propul-
sion systems continues to demand swift and agile growth from
AVL SET.
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