As electrification continues to transform the automotive sector, developers are under increasing pressure to validate systems that must operate reliably across a broad spectrum of conditions. The rapid expansion of electric mobility is driven by technological advances, global CO₂ reduction goals and supportive regulatory frameworks. Charging infrastructures are scaling, vehicle architectures are evolving, and OEMs are compressing development timelines. With this acceleration come engineering challenges that differ fundamentally from those of combustion engine platforms, ranging from high-voltage safety to the integration of complex power electronics.
At the center of these challenges lies thermal management. Batteries, power electronics and electric motors are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Their efficiency, durability and safety depend on precisely regulated heat flows. Cabin climate control also becomes a strategic efficiency factor because electric vehicles do not generate waste heat from an internal combustion engine. Alternative heating concepts must therefore maintain comfort while preserving driving range. As a result, testing technology for thermal management components has become a pivotal enabler for innovation across the EV sector.
Poppe + Potthoff Maschinenbau, a Germany-based company, develops modular test benches designed to reproduce thermal and hydraulic conditions encountered in electric vehicle applications. The systems are built to support comprehensive testing methodologies that address efficiency, reliability and safety requirements. Integrated measurement and control technologies allow detailed analysis during development and validation processes.
The growing demand for robust thermal management testing
The shift toward electric vehicles has elevated thermal management to a defining performance factor. Batteries must remain within a narrow thermal window to ensure longevity and safety. Inverters and power electronics require cooling to maintain efficiency. High-performance traction motors generate significant heat during dynamic loads. At the same time, growing variability increases the overall validation workload. Each cooling circuit comes with its own media requirements and operating patterns that must be reproduced with high fidelity. Test systems therefore need not only faster reconfiguration but also precise calibration to the functional profile of each module. This reinforces the importance of modular test architectures capable of covering multiple cooling variants within a single infrastructure, thereby shortening development timelines and improving overall test efficiency.
Testing these systems under controlled conditions is crucial to validate long-term functionality. Components such as hose assemblies, valves, cooling plates, heat exchangers, electric pumps, pressure vessels and entire cooling loops must tolerate thousands of load cycles, temperature shifts and flow variations over the typical 10- to 15-year service life of an electric vehicle.
Poppe + Potthoff Maschinenbau’s portfolio addresses this need with dedicated solutions for dynamic pressure cycling, static pressure holding, flow measurement, burst pressure testing and functional testing of live components. These test benches replicate the thermal, mechanical and electrical stresses that occur during daily operation, enabling engineers to detect weak points early and optimize materials, joining processes and overall system architecture.
Dynamic pressure cycling: simulating lifetime stress in accelerated time
A central application is the simulation of pressure fluctuations in cooling and heating circuits. Components are placed inside the test chamber and exposed to load profiles that mirror real driving conditions. Depending on the system, the test medium is circulated at temperatures between -40°C and +140°C. Water-glycol mixtures such as Glysantin G40, G44 or G48 are commonly used.
Cooling circuits are tested between -40°C and +20°C, while heating circuits undergo thermal cycling from +20°C up to +140°C. Many components must withstand more than 100,000 load changes during their lifetime, and these conditions can be reproduced in the laboratory within only a few weeks. The system’s programmable pressure waveforms, either sinusoidal or trapezoidal, run at frequencies between 0.2Hz and 2Hz or higher. Flow rates range from 1 to 50 liters per minute at pressures between 0.2 and 12 bar or more. This level of control makes it possible to test plastics, metals, composites and sealing materials under consistent and reproducible conditions.
Test standards evolve continuously. Poppe + Potthoff test benches can be configured to meet specifications such as MBN 10306, VW 8000, GS 95024 3 1 and GMW 14193. Climate chamber integration enables combined environmental and functional stress testing, including tests with overpressure and underpressure, if required.
Identifying weak points and optimizing system design
Material transitions such as weld seams, press fits and adhesive bonds often represent sources of fatigue. By exposing components to realistic pressure and temperature cycles, engineers can identify early-stage cracking, swelling, deformation and leakage. These insights help refine design choices, improve production quality and stabilize system performance long before large-scale manufacturing begins. Throughout the test, inlet and outlet temperatures, flow rates, pressure drops, current and voltage for active components and ambient conditions are measured continuously. Thermal sensors placed on the test object highlight areas of energy loss or potential overheating, contributing valuable information for further optimization.
Accelerated durability testing for long-term reliability
Long-term tests generally run for 20 to 30 days, depending on the chosen load frequency. Ambient and media temperatures vary according to the test specification, and all key parameters are logged continuously. This accelerated method simulates several years of operation within a matter of weeks. It reveals aging behavior, degradation patterns and the effects of repeated thermal and mechanical stress on component performance. The data supports predictive maintenance approaches, extended warranty assessments and material qualification.
Functional testing under realistic electrical loads
Efficiency is a decisive performance factor in electric vehicles, since every watt drawn by thermal management components affects vehicle range. Poppe + Potthoff Maschinenbau therefore offers functional test benches that evaluate performance and energy consumption under low- and high-voltage conditions.
Cooling and heating units, control valves and pumps can be operated at voltages between 0 and 24V DC or up to 1,500V DC and 150A to simulate onboard battery or traction battery operation. Tests are carried out across a thermal spectrum from -40°C to +100°C, with optional climate chamber integration extending the ambient range to +140°C. Comparing measurements before and after a durability test shows how components degrade over time. These insights are essential for planning service intervals, improving efficiency and safeguarding long-term system stability.
Safety, usability and digital integration
Safety is an integral part of every system. Test chambers are built from welded stainless steel and equipped with high-strength laminated safety glass. A closed medium circuit prevents the formation of hazardous vapors. Operation is streamlined through recipe management, which enables predefined test sequences to be selected via PC or handheld scanner. National Instruments’ LabView platform provides comprehensive data visualization and acquisition. All test data is stored automatically and can be exported for further analysis. The open software architecture makes it possible to integrate additional sensors and custom data channels whenever needed.
Enabling the next generation of electric mobility
As electrification advances, precise and adaptable testing solutions are essential for validating new concepts and ensuring safe, efficient and durable electric vehicles. By reproducing the interaction of temperature, pressure, flow and electrical load, the test setups provide engineers with data that can support the design and assessment of components across the full service life of an electric vehicle. This contributes to a more detailed understanding of thermal management behavior within modern electric mobility.
