A hardware in the loop (HIL) simulation is a cost and time effective method to develop a simulation environment of an electric vehicle's powertrain. Control algorithms can be programmed into a digital signal processor and tested with real-time simulations of electrical machines and power electronic converters, eliminating the need for developing real prototypes. Consequently, this project aims to develop a simulation environment for electric vehicle research by implementing a HIL simulation of an EV powertrain computer model and an external hardware controller. The proposed HIL simulation runs in real time the transmission, inverter, and PMSM models of an EV powertrain inside an OP5700 simulator. On the other hand, the controller algorithm is executed from a TI LaunchXL-F28379D board. The controller samples current and rotor position signals from the motor model through the analog outputs of the simulator, and generates a PWM signal as a command to the inverter computer model. In addition, a software in the loop (SIL) simulation is implemented, running the controller algorithm in the real-time simulator's CPU to test the control strategy before moving on to the hardware implementation. The powertrain specifications are based on the released information of a battery-electric vehicle on the market. The HIL controller's FOC algorithm is based on MTPA and flux-weakening strategies from the reviewed literature. The simulation results show the expected behaviour from the inverter's phase voltages, stator currents and the output torque of the simulated electric motor model. Finally, the response of the developed SIL and HIL simulations to a reference drive cycle is analysed, and the results validate the implemented controller algorithm and powertrain model.