About

The Advanced Vehicle Research Center (AVRC) was established in 2001 in North Carolina by Dick Dell as an independent company to service the rapidly growing automotive testing industry. The automotive industry is going through unprecedented change as more investment in research and development is being done due to the rising cost of fuel and the need for energy independence.  Additional factors include increasing federal regulations, safety improvements and new technologies. Demand for testing services has steadily increased, especially in the military sector and from off-road component manufacturers.  

Starting with a grant from the US Department of Energy, the AVRC has done research on many types of alternative fuels and systems. Most recently, the AVRC has led the Southeast region in plug-in hybrid conversions. Our future focus will be in the rapidly growing area of plug-in hybrid and full electric vehicles.

In 2008 Dick Dell established the AVRC Virginia LLC to take advantage of an economic development opportunity offered by the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County in Southside Virginia to the AVRC. A land grant was made to AVRC Virginia LLC to build a new facility in Virginia that will be focused on research and development of many types of alternative fuels and energy applications for automotive fleet conversion activity. While the team sees the legacy fleet as the biggest opportunity for development, the electric, hybrid, hydrogen, fuel cell and natural gas conversions will be the primary area of focus for conversion contracts. The new facility will also have testing equipment for engine bio-fuels and emissions testing. The adjacent track area will be used as an off-road test facility, to accommodate requests from military and off-road manufacturers.  It will also be used to test electric, hybrid, flex-fuel and autonomous robotic vehicles for government and military contracts.

Our new facility in Virginia will be focused on research and development of many types of alternative fuels and energy applications for a variety of vehicles for automotive, ground robotic and UAVs. While we see the legacy fleet as the biggest opportunity for a small research and development activity, we will build the electric and hybrid sector as our primary area of expertise. Our new facility will also have testing equipment for engine bio-fuels and emissions testing. The new building, at 16,000 square feet, exceeds our immediate needs, but will be required over the next five years as we grow, based on our current projections. We have also identified unused space that can be leased out to tenants who might have an interest in collaboration and strategic partnerships.  

The adjacent track area will be used as an off-road test facility, to accommodate requests from military and off-road manufacturers.  It will also be used to test our electric, hybrid and autonomous robotic vehicles. AVRC is interested in servicing military and military subcontractors for the Military Off-Road Testing Site (MORTS).
With the capability to evaluate and develop vehicles for almost any usage conditions worldwide in terms of energy usage, refinement, safety/emissions and homologation to any world standard, the AVRC is an ideal partner for the military and service vehicle industries.

The site will be built for the rigorous testing of all sizes of vehicle with a wide range of surfaces, laboratories for safety, power train and component testing, as well as a dedicated VCA office to help ensure fast, efficient type approval. AVRC specialist expertise and resources are focused on both testing programs and design & build work to upgrade new or existing vehicles, evaluate vehicle capability and investigate in-service failures. Complementing these will be driver and service training and a hospitality business that will allow customers to use selected areas of the facilities for demonstrations and exhibitions. Within the high-security complex will be a selection of dedicated hospitality units with VIP viewing areas designed to allow confidential demonstrations of specific areas of capability.

AVRC broke ground for the new Virginia facility on November 24th, 2008. You can see the event at this link-
http://www.avrc.com/presentations/City_Update_AVRC_Groundbreaking.wmv

An overview of AVRC programs and activities can be downloaded at the following link- http://www.avrc.com/presentations/AVRC_accomplishments.ppt

For more information about the new facility, including leasing opportunities, go here- http://www.avrc.com/presentations/AVRC_Virginia.doc