2021 saw AVL start operations at the Battery Innovation
Center (BIC) at the Graz headquarters. The 1,600-square-
meter center of excellence for batteries will provide the best
possible support for the automotive industry as it transitions
to e-mobility. Alongside the functional development of new,
high-voltage batteries for electric vehicles, the focus is on
establishing, implementing, and validating new, highly efficient
production processes. A range of simulation tools allows
these to be adjusted flexibly to new requirements and enables
early customer implementation in large-scale series.
In order to support on-site mobility requirements as efficiently
as possible, AVL opened a further office in San Sebastián,
Spain, in addition to the existing three subsidiaries. The office
in the Basque region began operations in July 2022 and is
located in the technological and economical ecosystem of
Gipuzkoa Science and Technology Park. The expertise of the
AVL Group, combined with the Basque economic, technologi-
cal, and innovation network, provides the ideal framework for
future growth in the sector.
As well as the Battery Innovation Center, the AVL Hydrogen
and Fuel Cell Test Center – one of the largest and most cut-
ting-edge test sites for fuel cells and electrolysis systems in
The 2020s
the world – was also officially opened in September 2022. The
new center at the headquarters in Graz has a maximum ca-
pacity of up to 20 high-performance testbeds and strengthens
the pioneering role in the extensive development of fuel cells
and innovative technologies for the production of hydrogen.
On October 27, 2022, AVL opened another competence center:
the AVL Mobility and Sensor Test Center in Roding, Germany –
a unique indoor laboratory for verifying and validating sensors
for driver assistance systems. In the 1,600-square-meter test
area, safety-related functions can be tested in adverse weath-
er conditions, regardless of actual outdoor conditions, thus
ensuring that the vehicles are safe in semi-autonomous mode.
In 2023, AVL Canada established two new research and devel-
opment sites in Montreal and the Toronto-Windsor corridor.
This expansion allows AVL to develop and provide state-
of-the-art fuel cell technologies, and also boosts technical
support and business expertise in Canada.
In the same year, AVL Schrick expanded to Mlada Boleslav
(CZ) to support local development activities within their newly
opened engineering center.
“The demand for electrical energy is growing
continuously, while at the same time we are faced with
the challenge of reducing CO2 emissions. Hydrogen and
fuel cell technology offers promising solutions. At AVL,
we develop this technology and use our test capabilities
to bring it to market maturity. We established ourselves
as the leading company in this future technology a
number of years ago, and we are now strengthening
that position with our new test center.”
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