Electrification is experiencing major growth across the globe. While adoption spans applications from micro-mobility to fleet management, the electric and hybrid vehicle segment is leading the charge – in 2010, there were only 17,000 electric vehicles on the road, a number that has grown to 7.2 million today. A primary driver of this compounding growth is the rapid advancement of the lithium-ion battery, and while Tesla and other leading companies continue to increase battery capacity and lower battery costs, these developments, in turn, generate a slew of new challenges including recycling, design, thermal management, and manufacturing.

In response, Informa Markets – Engineering, the producers of The Battery Show and Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo, has announced The Battery Show  & EV Tech Digital Days, a global, interactive virtual exhibition and conference scheduled for November 10-12, 2020.

The all-new online event will bring the industry 80-plus advanced battery and EV/HEV sessions and technical training via eight tracks, more than 20 of which are dedicated solely to topics surrounding advanced battery production in the European region, featuring speakers from world-renowned brands such as Panasonic, Ford, GM, and many more. Live and on-demand content spans keynotes, tech forum, and educational sessions, and affords access to some of the top industry suppliers, 1:1 networking, virtual product showcase, and even the larger advanced battery and EV/HEV tech community from The Battery Show Europe. Registration is available here.  

Related:Boosting Drive Distance of Electric Vehicles

Design News spoke with Jenny McCall, Event Director of The Battery Show & EV Tech Digital Days, who shared details on what attendees can expect; made session recommendations; and offered suggestions on how to prepare for the plethora of virtual networking opportunities that could lead to the next breakthrough advancement.

Design News: Who should attend the event and what can attendees expect?                                                                                                                                         

Jenny McCall: The comprehensive and educational conference coupled with the quality and breadth of the 100+ exhibitors – Henkel, Bosch Rexroth, Eaton, Trumpf, East Penn Manufacturing, among other leading brands – attracts top industry suppliers, manufacturers, engineers, and purchasers from across the globe. We’re proud to feature top-tier education, technical training, and a deep bench of expert speakers across the three-day event. The conference and exhibition cater to all touchpoints in the industry, whether you’re a buyer seeking a new vendor relationship via the vast virtual expo floor or a c-suite executive interested in tactical business solutions for today’s various challenges.    

Related:We're on the Road to Somewhere: GM Maps its Electric Vehicle Future

Due to the virtual nature, we are able to connect the community on a global scale, thus, the depth of the conference’s educational content is unmatched, with a healthy selection of content addressing timely challenges surrounding the pandemic.

DN: Do you have any suggestions on can’t-miss presentations for attendees?

JM: When mapping out your schedule, I highly recommend joining the three keynotes headlining each day of the event. The first day features Ford Motor Company addressing the fast-moving state of electrification, followed by day two wherein Volvo Trucks North America will present the Volvo Truck North America’s road to electromobility including the most recent advances with their VNR Electric truck model and the Volvo LIGHTS project. The last day of the event will wrap with a Leaders Debate moderated by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The debate panel composed of CATL, Freyr, and Northvolt Zwei will address battery production in Europe.

Excitingly, we are also offering free hour-long Lunch & Learns from Bosch Rexroth, bdtronic, and Carl Zeiss in addition to industry-leading webinars produced by Henkel, Heraeus, HORIBA, Liebherr Automation, Maccor, PPG, and Thermo Fisher. Also, note that these sessions will be available on-demand until the end of the 2020 calendar year.

DN: The event boasts a strong global presence. What content can attendees expect from The Battery Show Europe community? 

JM: This is a global industry that relies on cross-national business relationships to continue advancement, especially as the rate of adoption varies from region to region. This industry is constantly learning from one another. As such, The Battery Show Digital Days hosts a full day of European market intelligence featuring 20-plus dedicated sessions covering topics from EV market forecasts and technologies to the latest in battery materials like lead-acid, adhesives, and nickel metal hydride, safety, production, and emerging applications, including industrial and automotive. A few highlights include:    

DN: What type of networking opportunities will there be?  

JM: Building new and nurturing existing relationships is the cornerstone of this industry. A central reason The Battery Show Digital Days attracts world-renowned exhibitors and buyers is the sophisticated algorithm-driven matchmaking service. The platform is easy to navigate. I’ve outlined a few networking opportunities attendees can take advantage of throughout the three-day event:

DN: Is there anything you would like to add?

JM: The event is hosted on Swapcard, a state-of-the-art virtual platform that connects buyers and sellers in a meaningful and productive way, and while intuitive, virtual events are new for all of us. I encourage attendees to familiarize themselves with the platform (demo available here) in advance of the event so they can dedicate their time to training and networking.