A battery testing apparatus includes a battery cycler configured to position a battery cell in a cell pocket defined by a baseplate. The apparatus additionally includes a thermal control device configured to regulate thermal energy in the cell pocket, a baseplate thermistor for detecting baseplate temperature, and thermal control device thermistor for detecting thermal control device temperature. The apparatus also includes a printed circuit board (PCB) in electric communication with the thermal control device thermistor. An electronic microcontroller, in electric communication with the baseplate thermistor and the PCB, is configured to regulate operation of the thermal control device based on data from the baseplate thermistor and the thermal control device thermistor. A main controller, in electronic communication with the microcontroller, is programmed to establish set values for baseplate temperature and battery cell reference current or voltage and regulate electrical input to the battery cell in accordance with the reference values.