UL Solutions launches advanced battery testing center in Europe

Electrical standards provider UL Solutions Inc. has announced the opening of its Europe Advanced Battery Testing Laboratory in Aachen, Germany. The facility will test batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs) and large-scale energy storage systems.

Built from the ground up, the lab is designed to support both early-stage research and development and final product evaluations. It offers comprehensive testing to ensure batteries meet critical safety and performance standards.

“Our new location in Germany provides us with access to the region’s deep engineering talent and places us close to many of our key European customers,” said Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO of UL Solutions. “We are meeting our customers where they are, helping the automotive and power sectors safely innovate in a world increasingly reliant on battery storage.”

The Aachen facility replaces a smaller site acquired through UL Solutions’ 2024 purchase of BatterieIngenieure, a battery testing and simulation firm. This acquisition has significantly expanded UL Solutions’ capabilities in testing, advanced simulation and failure analysis.

A key focus of the new lab will be battery lifespan prediction — an essential factor for both manufacturers and end users. The facility will also conducts a wide range of rigorous tests to evaluate battery resilience under extreme conditions, including misuse, off-gassing, and thermal runaway — a dangerous thermal chain reaction that can cause overheating, fires, or explosions.

These assessments will help manufacturers prove compliance with safety and performance standards set by UL Standards & Engagement, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the United Nations, and other global regulatory bodies.

The facility is UL Solutions’ first in the EU solely focused on comprehensive battery testing services and adds to its global network of testing facilities focused on battery technologies. These include:

• North America Advanced Battery Laboratory, Auburn Hills, Michigan
• Advanced Battery Testing Laboratory in Northbrook, Illinois
• EV Charging Test Laboratories in Fremont, California; Northbrook, Illinois, and Frankfurt, Germany
• UL Solutions E-Mobility and Energy Laboratory in Changzhou, China
• Advanced Battery Testing and Engineering Laboratory in Pyeongtaek, South Korea
• CHAdeMO EV–Quick Charger Matching Center in Ise, Mie, Japan
• EV and Micromobility Laboratory in Luzhu, Taiwan