HORIBA Launches Commercialization of Vehicle Thermal Management System Evaluation Equipment

HORIBA, Ltd. (Headquarters: Minami-ku, Kyoto; President and Representative Director: Masayuki Adachi; hereinafter, 'HORIBA') is commencing the full-scale commercialization of its 'Vehicle Thermal Management System Evaluation Equipment' (hereinafter, 'the equipment').

Vehicle thermal management refers to the technology of controlling and managing temperatures by circulating heat between systems such as motors and batteries, as well as vehicle cabin air conditioning. As energy efficiency becomes increasingly critical for achieving a decarbonized society, this technology is gaining significant attention in the automotive industry, particularly for electric vehicles (EVs), where it contributes to extended cruising range and longer battery lifespan.

This equipment is designed to evaluate advanced thermal management systems required for electric and hybrid vehicles. It simulates the heat generated by components like batteries and motors, enabling tests to be conducted in a laboratory environment under a wide range of temperature conditions from -30°C to 50°C and various driving conditions. By using this equipment instead of relying solely on prototype vehicles, developers can achieve front-loading, thereby reducing development time and the number of required prototypes, ultimately leading to cost reductions.

Concurrently with the full-scale commercialization, HORIBA has partially renovated its 'E-LAB' automotive testing facility within the 'HORIBA BIWAKO E-HARBOR' R&D and production site (Otsu, Shiga Prefecture) and installed the equipment this May. This allows customers to experience the latest 'Vehicle Thermal Management System Evaluation Equipment' and enables HORIBA to engage in new solution development combined with existing battery evaluation facilities.

[Background of Development]
In the automotive industry, the widespread adoption of EVs and hybrid vehicles has made thermal management essential for improving safety, comfort, and performance. However, this has also highlighted challenges, such as the need for complex technology development to utilize heat effectively across various components like batteries and cabin air conditioning, which consumes significant time and cost in preparing prototype vehicles.
Against this background, HORIBA developed this equipment by combining the thermal management expertise cultivated by HORIBA MIRA (UK) with HORIBA's integration technology. Through the provision of this equipment, HORIBA aims to contribute to solving challenges at automotive development sites and driving technological innovation.

[Key Features of the Equipment]
1. Comprehensive Thermal Management Evaluation Replicating In-Vehicle and External Environments
By combining 'emulators' that simulate heat from batteries, motors, inverters, and cabin air conditioning, with an 'environmental chamber' that replicates temperatures from cold regions (-30°C) to high-temperature regions (50°C), tests can be conducted that comprehensively replicate the thermal environment inside and outside the vehicle. By recreating temperature changes and heat transfer states similar to those in actual vehicles, the thermal management functions—complex in electric vehicles—can be evaluated from the early stages of development, even before all components are available.
This contributes to cost reduction through front-loading, enabling shorter development periods and fewer prototype vehicles.

2. Realizing Test Automation with 'STARS Automation'
HORIBA’s vehicle development test automation system, 'STARS Automation,' which automates tests for various components such as vehicles, chassis dynamometers, and engines, has been applied to this equipment. This enables integrated control of evaluation equipment and vehicle thermal management systems, allowing for automated testing. By centralizing measurement, control, data acquisition, and safety monitoring, and monitoring the heat transfer between components and air conditioning behavior in real-time, it supports the development of optimal thermal management systems that lead to improved vehicle performance.

3. Service Provision Utilizing the Equipment at 'E-LAB'
This equipment has been introduced to the 'E-LAB' automotive development test facility within 'HORIBA BIWAKO E-HARBOR.' Customers considering the introduction of the equipment can experience it through trials, or receive training, enabling them to gain hands-on experience with the latest thermal management evaluation facilities. Furthermore, HORIBA is committed to developing new solutions utilizing this equipment.