TÜV SÜD Celebrates Two Years of EV Battery Safety Lab

TÜV SÜD Celebrates Two Years of Advancing EV Battery Safety at Auburn Hills Lab

Auburn Hills, MI – August 5th, 2025 – TÜV SÜD America proudly marks the second anniversary of its state-of-the-art electric vehicle (EV) battery abuse testing laboratory in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Since opening its doors in 2023, the lab has played a vital role in accelerating battery safety, performance, and regulatory compliance across North America’s rapidly evolving e-mobility landscape. Part of TÜV SÜD’s integrated North American battery testing network—including facilities in Plymouth, MI; Newmarket, Ontario; and New Brighton, MN —the Auburn Hills lab specializes in mechanical abuse, vibration, and environmental testing of battery cells, modules, and packs. It has quickly become a trusted partner for OEMs and suppliers seeking fast, reliable, and actionable testing solutions.

“We switch gears constantly in this industry.” says Ray Fish, Account Executive at TÜV SÜD America. “Products often behave in ways that customers don’t expect. Designs change and priorities shift. But that’s what keeps it exciting. Our team is built to be flexible and react rapidly. Our flexibility is what helps our customers stay on track.”

Driving Early Detection to Build Safer Batteries

At Auburn Hills, TÜV SÜD engineers have helped manufacturers identify issues such as cracked brackets under vibration or seal failures during thermal cycling—critical insights that have helped improve EV battery durability and safety. The lab supports full compliance with key global standards, including UNECE R100, UL 2580, SAE J2464, and ISO 12405, offering end-to-end support from prototyping through homologation. TÜV SÜD’s collaborative approach spans its North American network: Auburn Hills teams frequently work with Newmarket’s cell validation experts, Plymouth’s high-voltage EMC testing specialists, and New Brighton’s compliance engineers to deliver fast, integrated results.

Q&A With Ray Fish, Account Executive – TÜV SÜD America, Auburn Hills

Meet Ray Fish
Account Executive – TÜV SÜD America, Auburn Hills, MI

Ray has been with TÜV SÜD since 2006 and brings over 30 years of industry experience in environmental, vibration, battery abuse, and regulatory testing. He is a key resource for customers navigating UNECE R100 homologation and EV battery compliance from prototype development through production. 

What makes the Auburn Hills lab unique in the EV testing landscape?

One of TÜV SÜD’s key strengths lies in its ability to identify component failures before EV batteries reach the road. From detecting cracked brackets during vibration testing to uncovering seal failures under thermal cycling, TÜV SÜD’s expert engineers provide actionable insights that drive design improvements. “We’re not just running tests,” Ray notes, “we’re helping build safer vehicles by catching failures early and supporting redesigns that improve durability and safety.”

What trends are you seeing in customer needs?

While lithium-ion remains the dominant battery technology, TÜV SÜD is proactively expanding its testing capabilities to support emerging energy storage solutions, including hydrogen fuel cells and stationary energy storage systems (ESS). “We’ve seen growing interest in hydrogen for several years,” Ray says. “Europe is already testing these technologies extensively, and we expect demand to rise rapidly in North America.”

What do clients value most about working with TÜV SÜD?

TÜV SÜD stands apart not only because of its advanced testing infrastructure but also due to its highly experienced technical teams and customer-centric service. “Some of the newer labs might have the equipment, but they’re still learning how to use it,” Ray explains. “Our people have decades of hands-on experience. Even when customers go elsewhere based on capacity, they still turn to us for expert guidance.”

Partnering for the Future of EV Safety

As TÜV SÜD looks ahead, the Auburn Hills lab remains a critical hub for innovation and excellence in EV battery testing. With a proven track record in abuse, environmental, and regulatory testing—and ongoing investment in emerging technologies like hydrogen—TÜV SÜD is committed to helping manufacturers bring safer, more compliant electric vehicles to market, faster.

Learn more about TÜV SÜD’s EV battery testing services or contact us today.