Teaching and Research Area Mechatronics in Mobile Propulsion of RWTH Aachen University

What Teaching and Research Area Mechatronics in Mobile Propulsion of RWTH Aachen University does

The Teaching and Research Area Mechatronics in Mobile Propulsion is an academic research department within RWTH Aachen University, a public university (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts) in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It was established in 2021 under the leadership of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jakob Andert and is structurally affiliated with the Chair of Thermodynamics of Mobile Energy Conversion Systems (TME) under Prof. Stefan Pischinger. The department conducts interdisciplinary research combining mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and information technology for mobile propulsion systems, covering combustion engines, electric drives, battery management, power electronics, automated driving, and connected vehicles.

Its core technology platform is the Center for Mobile Propulsion (CMP), a research infrastructure integrating 12 engine test benches (up to 600 kW), a battery laboratory (150-300 kW peak, 0-700 V), a 271 kW e-machine test bench, a transmission test cell, a chassis dynamometer (-30 to +50°C), a 160,000-liter fuel farm, and a real-time bus network enabling simultaneous operation across laboratories in a complete Powertrain-in-the-Loop context. The Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) Laboratory bridges simulation with physical test benches for real-time validation of battery management systems, autonomous driving functions, electric traction machines, and internal combustion engines. The portfolio also includes the Fuel Science Center and the Aldenhoven Testing Center (ATC) outdoor track.

The department does not operate a commercial business model. It is funded through public research grants (EU Horizon Europe, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/DFG, Wissenschaftsrat, FVV, ZIM, EFRE state programs) and industry partnerships within funded consortia. Revenue flows from research project grants rather than product sales. Active funded projects include XL-Connect (advanced charging/V2G), ESCALATE (heavy-duty zero-emission powertrains), LOCIM (induction motor loss control), MATRICS (AI-based thermal management), ZoneRaptor (zonal architecture with VEMAC), HiVEP (800V+ powertrains), OnBASYS (sodium-ion battery BMS), and Hy-Nets4all (automated driving validation with dSPACE and DENSO). Customers and partners include automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers (dSPACE, DENSO, VEMAC), Fraunhofer institutes, and international universities.

Name

Teaching and Research Area Mechatronics in Mobile Propulsion of RWTH Aachen University

Legal name

Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen

Website

https://mmp.rwth-aachen.de

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Chair of Mechatronics in Mobile Propulsion is a 49-person academic research department at RWTH Aachen University that operates the Center for Mobile Propulsion (CMP) and HiL Laboratory to study electrified powertrains, battery systems, and automated vehicles for automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and public funding bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Engineering Research

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Transmission and Power Train Parts Manufacturing (33635), Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336)

SIC

Engines & Turbines (3510)

akta.pro primary industry

Chassis Mechatronics & Active Dynamics (Active Suspension/Steer-by-Wire/Brake-by-Wire Hardware) (IMACAIAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hybrid Powertrain Integration Manufacturing (ICE-HEV/PHEV modules) (IMACAHAJ), Truck & Commercial Vehicle Powertrain Manufacturing (Diesel/CNG/Hydrogen/Hybrid) (IMACABAJ), Mechatronics Systems & Integration (EDAOAHAB)

Keywords

• Mechatronics research
• Mobile propulsion systems
• Automotive powertrain research
• Hardware-in-the-loop testing
• Electric vehicle research

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Teaching and Research Area Mechatronics in Mobile Propulsion is an academic department at RWTH Aachen University that conducts interdisciplinary research and teaching on mechatronic systems for mobile propulsion. Its core offering comprises access to networked research infrastructure (HiL laboratory, CMP, engine, battery, e-machine, transmission test benches, chassis dynamometer, ATC outdoor track), contracted research collaborations in funded projects on electrified powertrains, battery management, automated driving, and AI-based control, plus university lectures and thesis supervision.

Product overview

Teaching and Research Area Mechatronics in Mobile Propulsion at RWTH Aachen University operates as a research-focused academic unit offering a comprehensive portfolio of testing infrastructure and research projects. The portfolio consists of the Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) Laboratory and the Center for Mobile Propulsion (CMP) with its component test benches (Battery Laboratory, E-Machine Test Bench, Transmission Test Cell, Engine Test Benches, Chassis Dynamometer, Fuel Farm, Realtime Network), supplemented by affiliated facilities including the Fuel Science Center (FSC) and Aldenhoven Testing Center (ATC). Research activities are organized through competence centers (Automated & Connected Vehicles) and funded research projects including XL-Connect, ESCALATE, LOCIM, MATRICS, ZoneRaptor, HiVEP, and OnBASYS. The infrastructure enables full-chain research from single actuators to interconnected powertrains in networked vehicles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Center for Mobile Propulsion (CMP): Research center within CMP focused on electrified powertrains, component test benches for batteries, electric motors, transmissions, combustion engines and powertrains.
• Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) Laboratory

Products and services

• Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) Laboratory A laboratory linking simulation and physical test benches through real-time systems, supporting comprehensive testing and validation of battery management systems, autonomous driving, electric traction machines, and internal combustion engines. Used by industry and academic research partners commissioning mechatronic powertrain and ADAS development work.
• Center for Mobile Propulsion (CMP) A research center at RWTH Aachen University for electrified powertrain research, integrating component test benches for batteries, electric motors, fuel cells, transmissions, combustion engines, and powertrains with real-time networking capabilities. Available to industry and research partners collaborating on electrified powertrain development.
• Engine Test Benches (12 facilities up to 600 kW) Twelve test benches for researching passenger car, commercial vehicle, and Range Extender engines up to 600 kW, with conditioning capabilities for reproducible thermodynamic test environments. Used by OEMs and Tier 1/2 suppliers for engine and powertrain validation.
• Battery Laboratory (CMP) A facility at the Center for Mobile Propulsion for testing battery cells, modules, and complete vehicle high-voltage batteries under variable thermal conditions in a secure environment with pyro bubble extinguishing devices. Used for battery safety, BMS research, and EIS-based diagnostics collaborations.
• E-Machine Test Bench Test bench for electric motors and generators including traction motors and Range Extender applications, equipped with three-phase asynchronous load machine, measurement technology, power analyzer, flexible IPU, and coolant supply. Supports electric drive development for automotive and mobility industry partners.
• Transmission Test Cell Variable test bench using modular platform to investigate engine-transmission combinations with different input/output e-machines for dynamic cycles and automatic/manual gear testing under variable thermal conditions. Used by powertrain development partners in industry.
• Chassis Dynamometer Vehicle roller test bench with conditioning range from -30 to +50°C, 48-inch single roller for max 250 km/h, Euro 5/6 and SULEV exhaust gas measurement equipment for certification-compliant measurements. Used for whole-vehicle emissions, range, and powertrain validation.
• Fuel Farm (Kraftstoffsystem) Fuel supply system with up to 160,000 liters in 15 underground tanks, storage for 150 drums of various fuel types, and CNG/LPG supply capabilities. Supports research on conventional and alternative fuels including Power-to-X products.
• CMP Real-Time Network (Echtzeitvernetzung) Real-time capable bus system networking all laboratory facilities enabling simultaneous operation in the overall system including grid integration (Powertrain-in-the-Loop, In-the-Loop-House). Used to validate interactions between powertrain components and external energy systems.
• Fuel Science Center (FSC) Research center offering over 1,000 m² of laboratory space for detailed investigations of novel fuels under real combustion conditions, including high-pressure visualization chambers, single cylinder research engines, optical engines, Rapid Compression Machine, and shock tube facilities. Supports fuel and combustion research collaborations.
• Aldenhoven Testing Center (ATC) Testing facility providing defined boundary conditions on a closed test track for research on mechatronic components for combustion engines, hybrid powertrains, electric drives, and fuel cells and their use in real vehicles. Operated in coordination with the chair for mechatronics research.
• Automated & Connected Vehicles Competence Center Research competence area covering trajectory planning, environment perception and sensor data fusion, scenario-based systems engineering, testing methods for automated driving validation, simulator-based algorithm training and testing, Vehicle-in-the-Loop testing, and automotive Ethernet communication validation. Offers research services for OEMs, Tier 1/2 suppliers, and public-funding consortia developing automated driving functions.
• XL-Connect Research Project Funded collaborative research service optimizing the entire EV charging chain from energy provision to end consumer, developing on-demand charging solutions using V1G/V2G/V2X technologies. Delivered to public funding consortia and industry partners.
• ESCALATE Research Project Funded collaborative research service developing highly efficient zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle powertrains (up to 10% efficiency improvement for 800 km range, 500+ km daily operation) through modularity, scalability, and digital twin technologies. Delivered to public funding consortia and heavy-duty vehicle industry partners.
• LOCIM Research Project Funded collaborative research service validating a cost-effective solution for managing bidirectional energy conversion by operating asynchronous machines to match electrical power to battery charge acceptance. Delivered to industry partners developing EV charging systems.
• MATRICS Research Project Funded collaborative research service delivering MIMO and AI-based robust integrated control strategies for thermal management of zero-emission vehicles, using machine learning approaches including Model Predictive Control and Reinforcement Learning. Delivered to research consortia and EV manufacturers.
• ZoneRaptor Research Project Funded collaborative research service developing Rapid-Control-Prototyping control unit using zonal architecture, including a specialized HiL test bench for testing Zone Control Units under realistic and extreme conditions for battery-electric vehicles. Delivered with VEMAC and other partners.
• HiVEP Research Project Funded collaborative research service developing innovative powertrain architectures above 800V targeting the C-segment market with ultra-efficient powertrains through innovative power electronics and e-machine designs. Delivered to industry partners pursuing fast-charging EV technologies.
• OnBASYS Research Project Funded collaborative research service developing a safe and efficient battery energy storage system (BESS) using sodium-ion cells with on-board BMS via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for real-time monitoring. Delivered with ACCURE, Albert Seine, Fraunhofer FFB, and ISEA.
• Hy-Nets4all Research Project Funded collaborative research service delivering a development and validation environment for automated driving functions for electrified vehicles, coupling detailed vehicle simulation with traffic flow simulation including V2X communication. Delivered with dSPACE, DENSO, and Universität Paderborn.

Quantifiable outcome

• ESCALATE project targets up to 10% powertrain efficiency improvement for heavy-duty vehicles enabling 800 km range without refueling and 500+ km daily operation under real conditions
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VEMACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVEMAC develops the VeRa ZCU (Zone Control Unit) as a production-ready Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP) control unit from hardware development and basic software to I/O configuration within the ZoneRaptor project. MMP develops the specialized HiL test bench for testing the VeRa ZCU under realistic and extreme conditions for battery-electric vehicle applications.
• ACCURE Battery Intelligence GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in OnBASYS project focused on Online EIS Battery Systems for Stationary Energy Storage. ACCURE contributes to the development of safe and efficient battery energy storage systems using sodium-ion cells with on-board battery management systems.
• Albert Seine GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in OnBASYS, contributing to the development of innovative battery diagnostic methods and sodium-ion battery storage solutions for stationary energy storage.
• Fraunhofer FFBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Recycling and Material Cycles joined as partner in the OnBASYS project for stationary battery energy storage system development and validation.
• ISEA - Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives, RWTH AachenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRWTH Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives collaborates on battery management and power electronics aspects within the OnBASYS project for sodium-ion battery storage systems.
• IFS Stuttgart (Institute of Fluid Power Systems, University of Stuttgart)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFS Stuttgart is a research partner in the MATRICS project (MIMO and AI-based robust integrated control strategies for thermal management of zero-emission vehicles), contributing to thermal management research for electric vehicles.
• University of AlbertaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Alberta collaborates as international research partner in the MATRICS project on thermal management of electric vehicles, contributing AI-based control strategies research alongside RWTH MMP and IFS Stuttgart.
• Universität PaderbornminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Paderborn partners in Hy-Nets4all project, providing traffic flow simulation with V2X communication capabilities and serving as a partner site for the electrified vehicle validation platform using Paderborn as a reference city.
• RWTH Aachen University - TME (Chair of Thermodynamics of Mobile Energy Conversion Systems)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chair of Mechatronics in Mobile Propulsion is structurally associated with TME under Professor Stefan Pischinger. The chairs share infrastructure including the Center for Mobile Propulsion (CMP), and many research topics offer points of intersection between mechatronics and thermodynamics research.
• ATC Aldenhoven Testing CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Aldenhoven Testing Center provides a closed testing environment for mechatronic components and real-world vehicle testing, opened in April 2014. It enables research on combustion engines, hybrid powertrains, electric drives, and fuel cell systems under defined boundary conditions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM): Fraunhofer applied-research institute active in mobility, production, and materials; competes for the same German federal/EFRE project pool and addresses automotive OEMs and Tier-1s across electrification and lightweight design.
• FEV Group GmbH: Large independent engineering services firm specializing in powertrain and vehicle development (ICE, hybrid, BEV, fuel cell); competes for the same industry-sponsored research budgets as the chair and addresses a similar automotive customer base.
• AVL List GmbH: Global powertrain and vehicle engineering company with deep test bench, simulation, and electrified-powertrain capabilities that directly mirror the chair's engine test, e-machine, battery, and HiL infrastructure.
• Bosch GmbH — Mobility Solutions: Global automotive Tier-1 with broad powertrain, ADAS, and battery programs; competes with the chair's research scope at industrial scale and serves many of the same OEM customers.

Direct peers

• fka GmbH (Forschungsgesellschaft Kraftfahrwesen mbH Aachen): Aachen-based automotive research services provider closely affiliated with RWTH; runs powertrain, driver assistance, and vehicle dynamics test programs that overlap directly with the chair's CMP and ADAS/connected-vehicle work.
• Politecnico di Milano — Department of Mechanical Engineering: Large European mechatronics and propulsion research group with strong powertrain, electric drive, and internal combustion engine programs; a leading continental academic peer in mobile propulsion mechatronics.
• Technical University of Munich — Institute of Automotive Technology: TUM's leading automotive research chair covers powertrain, vehicle concepts, and driver assistance with comparable test infrastructure and industry partnerships; a close German university peer for automotive mechatronics.
• University of Stuttgart — Institute of Fluid Power Systems (IFS): Active research partner on the MATRICS thermal-management project; Stuttgart's IFS does mechatronics and fluid-power work for mobile machines and electric vehicles, making it a directly comparable academic peer.
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology — Institute of Vehicle Systems Technology (FAST): KIT's FAST institute conducts automotive powertrain, chassis, and driver assistance research in Germany with strong industry ties; a direct academic peer for mechatronics-in-mobile-propulsion research.

Others

• dSPACE GmbH: Supplier of simulation and prototyping hardware/software for ECU and ADAS development; industry partner in Hy-Nets4all and a complementary ecosystem player whose tools underpin the chair's HiL and RCP programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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Investments

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