Cambustion launches Powertrain-in-the-Loop testing at Cambridge Hub Dyno

What Cambustion announced

Cambustion has launched a Powertrain in the Loop (PiL) testing platform at its Hub Dyno facility in Cambridge, UK. PiL combines physical powertrain hardware with real-time simulation of subsystems through Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL). The system is intended for automotive OEMs developing electrified vehicles and was validated in a 12-month programme supporting the development of a hybrid supercar.

How PiL works

PiL runs real hardware components in parallel with simulated vehicle subsystems that are represented in real time by Cambustion's HiL capability. Where a physical component is not yet available, the platform provides high-fidelity stand-ins—for example, a 1,100 V, 500 kW battery simulator can replace a physical battery. For powertrains already mounted in a chassis, tests can connect directly to the wheel hubs.

Who benefits and when to use PiL

PiL is aimed at OEMs and suppliers who need to integrate, develop and validate vehicle systems before a full vehicle build is complete. The platform supports:

• Early validation of system functionality and interactions between subsystems.
• Development and optimisation of control strategies at vehicle level while chassis and supporting subsystems are still in build.
• Continued PiL testing alongside prototype vehicle testing once early prototypes are available.

Cambustion's EV powertrain group, CamMotive, offers the same PiL setup for assessing high-voltage systems and electric drives.

Technical capabilities highlighted

• Battery simulation: 1,100 V, 500 kW simulator when a physical battery is absent.
• Dynamometer fidelity: transient reproduction for legislative drive cycles and vehicle dynamics (including torque vectoring).
• Environmental range: test cell temperature control down to -15°C for cold-condition validation.
• Test interfaces: direct wheel-hub connection for powertrains installed in chassis.

Practical impact on development workflow

PiL lets teams sign off vehicle attributes, debug systems, and optimise control strategies in parallel with vehicle build work. Cambustion reported that during their hybrid supercar programme customers continued PiL testing in parallel with prototype vehicle testing, finding the Hub Dyno versatile enough to support both phases.

Bruce Campbell, Director at Cambustion, described PiL as enabling vehicle attributes to be signed off and systems debugged while vehicle build continues in parallel. Once prototypes are available, development may transition to the 4WD Chassis Dyno or continue using Hub Dyno PiL alongside on-road testing.

What this does not claim

The announcement describes capabilities and a 12-month test programme with a hybrid supercar customer. It does not make claims about specific customers beyond that programme, nor about commercial terms, throughput capacity, scheduling or pricing for third-party users.

Bottom line

Cambustion's PiL offering is a combined simulation and hardware test environment designed to accelerate electrified vehicle development by enabling early vehicle-level testing, high-voltage system evaluation, and environmental stress testing before full prototypes are available.