U.S.-based UL Solutions has opened a new battery testing laboratory in Aachen, Germany, as it expands its capabilities in evaluating electric vehicle (EV) and large-scale energy storage batteries for safety and performance compliance. The facility, named the Europe Advanced Battery Testing Laboratory, is UL Solutions’ first European lab dedicated solely to battery testing.
The Illinois-based safety science company said the new lab aims to support growing demand for battery validation during both the R&D phase and final product assessments. “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.”
Aachen, home to RWTH Aachen University’s Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM), is considered a hub for battery innovation. Startups such as Cylib, which focuses on battery recycling, and Voltfang, active in second-life energy storage, are also based in the region.
The new laboratory replaces a smaller leased facility that UL Solutions acquired through its 2024 purchase of BatterieIngenieure, an Aachen-based battery testing and simulation firm. The acquisition expanded UL’s capabilities in advanced simulations, failure analysis, and battery life estimation—the latter seen as a crucial metric for both manufacturers and end users.
The Aachen site will provide specialised testing for a range of battery hazards, including thermal runaway, a dangerous reaction that can cause rapid increases in temperature and pressure, potentially leading to fires or explosions. The lab’s opening marks a significant milestone for UL Solutions as it reinforces its position in the European battery safety certification market, amid accelerating global electrification trends.