VL’s new AVL Tilting Powertrain TS™ redefines pow-
ertrain testing by combining road gradient, driving
resistance, and ambient temperature simulation in a
single unit. At its core is an innovative dynamic tilting platform
that simulates gradients and lateral inclinations, enabling
uphill, downhill, and cornering maneuvers without ever leaving
the test hall.
Designed for passenger cars through to heavy-duty trucks,
it enables tilt angles of up to ±45° around two axes and tilt
speeds of up to 15°/s. Wheel load units provide peak torques
of up to 7,000 Nm for light-duty vehicles and up to 40,000
Nm for heavy-duty applications. An optional climate chamber
allows testing from -40 °C to +80 °C.
This unique setup multiplies testing options, ensures valid
results, and boosts efficiency by avoiding costly development
loops. By shifting validation to earlier phases, the AVL Tilting
Powertrain TS™ accelerates time to market, reduces costs,
and raises product quality.
New AVL Tilting Powertrain TS™ Is Expanding
the Limits of E-Powertrain Testing
old weather is one of the toughest realities for electric
driving. Tests show range losses of up to 30 % in sub-
zero conditions. The reason lies in physics: BEV power-
trains produce little waste heat, yet batteries, power electron-
ics, and the cabin must all be kept within narrow temperature
limits. Their needs often conflict: batteries require heating in
the cold, electronics demand cooling under load, and passen-
gers expect comfort at all times. As a result, up to one third
of the vehicle’s energy is consumed by thermal conditioning,
making efficient control strategies essential.
AVL ThermalLab™ addresses these challenges by enabling ac-
curate analysis and optimization of vehicle thermal manage-
ment systems without complete prototypes. Real components
– pumps, valves, heat exchangers, cabin heaters – are tested
Is Tackling the Thermal Challenge in BEVs
under realistic conditions. The lab simulates component
temperatures from −25 °C to +90 °C, transient load cycles,
rapid temperature changes, and control function integration.
Entire cooling circuits can be validated in an emulated vehicle
environment for repeatable, efficient testing, where climatic
chambers supply temperatures in the range of −40 °C to
+60 °C and controlled humidity.
Combining physical testing with multiphysics simulation and
virtual calibration lets OEMs validate concepts earlier, reduce
late changes, and cut prototype effort. The benefits are
measurable: lower heating and cooling demand, more winter
range, improved battery durability, fewer warranty claims,
shorter time to market, and progress toward sustainability
targets.
AVL ThermalLab™
Key Benefits
• Real-world simulation: uphill, downhill, and lateral maneu-
vers reproduced in the lab
• Holistic testing: gradients, driving resistances, and climatic
conditions combined
• Early validation: detect issues long before costly vehicle
prototypes
• Higher efficiency: optimize lubrication, thermal manage-
ment, energy use
• Faster to market: shorter development
cycles at lower costs
2025