Commitment to Sustainability
Beyond its technical capabilities, the Tech Center Steyr is a
showcase of AVL’s sustainability strategy. At its heart is a
holistic energy and heat recovery system, developed together
with APESS® GmbH and Metaplan Energietechnik GmbH. The
concept enables the entire site – including offices, workshops,
and testbeds – to operate completely without fossil fuels (of
course, with the exception of the fuel required to operate an
ICE unit under test).
Three custom-built heat pumps, intelligent hydraulic circuits,
and a compound-loop recovery system enable simultaneous
generation of heating and cooling energy. Waste heat from
the testbeds is fed directly into the hot water system, ensuring
maximum utilization. The intelligent control unit dynamically
selects energy sources to optimize efficiency. Real-world data
confirm the system’s outstanding performance: a COP of
5.89 during the heating season and 41.2 % lower electricity
consumption compared to standard heat pumps.
This pioneering achievement was honored with the ATZlive
Sustainability Award 2025 in the "Mobility Concepts - Business
Models" category, underlining AVL’s role as a benchmark-setter
for sustainable facility design.
Fuel Cell Technology Demonstrator Truck
A highlight of the opening was the first public demonstration
of AVL’s Fuel Cell Demonstrator Truck at the Vienna Motor
Symposium 2025. Hydrogen-based fuel cell systems are wide-
ly regarded as a key technology for achieving clean, efficient
long-haul transportation. The demonstrator, which also re-
ceived a 2025 ATZlive congress award (category: “Technology
- Complete Vehicle”), integrates AVL’s proprietary core tech-
nologies – from fuel cell stacks and system architecture to
advanced thermal management. Features include a high-pow-
er fuel cell system with leading efficiency, a Digital Twin for
predictive fleet operation, and no-flame-out battery technology
for enhanced safety. While not intended for series production,
the truck is a near-market prototype, offering a clear vision of
how zero-emission heavy-duty mobility can become reality.
Automation Solution for Off-Road Vehicles
Alongside fuel cell innovation, AVL is also driving autonomy in
challenging environments. In cooperation with ARTI-Robots
initiated by AVL Creators, AVL has developed a generic auto-
mation solution for off-road vehicles.
Designed for flexibility and scalability, the system can be
integrated into new platforms or retrofitted into existing fleets.
It combines localization, navigation, task planning, teleopera-
tion, and comprehensive safety features in a single package.
Multimodal sensor fusion ensures reliability even under harsh
conditions.
This technology has already been implemented in the AVL
Demonstrator Tractor, where it showcases real-world potential
for agriculture and other off-road applications. By addressing
both labor shortages and efficiency demands, AVL helps in-
dustries such as farming and construction meet the challeng-
es of tomorrow.
Shaping Tomorrow’s Mobility
With its unique combination of engineering expertise, ad-
vanced testing capabilities, and award-winning sustainability
measures, AVL Tech Center Steyr is more than a facility – it
is a driving force behind the transformation of commercial
mobility.
The integration of holistic energy management, zero-emission
propulsion, and intelligent automation sends a clear message:
the road to climate-neutral, efficient, and intelligent transporta-
tion requires not only vision but also infrastructure, innovation,
and the courage to lead by example.
AVL Tech
Center Steyr
• Opened April 2025 in Steyr, Austria
• 15,000 m² hub with around 100 experts
• 6 high-performance testbeds – hydrogen-ready,
up to 14 m vehicles
• Brake emission testing system for Euro 7 compliance
• 5,000 m² proving ground with 8 % and 12 % gradients
• 100 % fossil-free energy concept, COP 5.89
• Innovation showcase: Fuel Cell Demo Truck and Off-
Road Automation
• Award-winning: ATZlive Sustainability Award 2025
Guests of honor, includ-
ing AVL Chairman and
CEO Prof. Helmut List
(fourth from left), cut the
ribbon at the opening
of the AVL Tech Center
in Steyr.
2025