Auto Pilots

A December conference for those in automotive, EV, and battery industries

One thing about globalization we're all learning simultaneously is that it merges technologies. In this particular case, it merges the technologies that apply to certain aspects of the industrial world: automotive, electrical, mechanical, supply chain and logistical, manufacturing and end-user. These intersections will be on full display at the 25th annual Advanced Automotive Battery Conference, set to take place December 8-11 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

The preliminary registration deadline for this event, considered one of the best in networking for automotive energy storage, is tomorrow, 8/15. Take a look at the bold strokes below--including keynote speakers, major topics, and the association's history, and consider if this show is a good idea for your company. Booking by the 8/15 deadline will save you $600.

AABC was founded twenty five years ago "to review the status of automotive battery technology and provide informed glimpses into the future," per an email sent to Electrical Apparatus. Suffice to say that battery technology as it relates to automobiles has come a long way in that time period.

The program will uncover the underlying technical and business issues that will impact the pace and path of vehicle electrification worldwide. Join the association and its cohorts to network with chief battery technologists from leading automotive OEMs, who will share their development trends and projected battery needs, as well as their key suppliers who will present their latest offerings and roadmaps for the future.

PLENARY KEYNOTE SESSION:

How GM Is Driving Battery Development and Enabling an All-EV Future

Kurt Kelty, Vice President, Battery Cell & Pack, General Motors

GM has established a foundation to accelerate the investment in—and development of—battery technology with a robust supply chain to support its growth over the next decade. In this talk, Kurt will discuss GM’s strategies for investing in new technologies and how its in-house capabilities enhance those efforts, with an overview and rationale behind key investments made to date.

ADDITIONAL SESSIONS:

How Redwood Materials Is Building a Sustainable Battery Supply Chain

Colin Campbell, CTO, Redwood Materials

In this talk, Colin will discuss Redwood’s technology and commercial strategy, highlighting the company’s Nevada campus which today is recycling the equivalent of 250,000 EVs worth of material a year and manufacturing cathode active material in the US for the first time.

The Road to Profitable Electrification of Transportation Driven by Innovations in Electrochemistry

Donald Sadoway, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Materials Chemistry, MIT, CSO & Co-Founder, Pure Lithium

Electrification of transportation hinges on innovation in battery chemistry, not only on the vehicle. Installation of charging points would be accelerated by stationary storage onsite. Power generation by intermittent renewables requires massive stationary storage. These are three different use cases, each optimally satisfied by a different battery chemistry, all of them beyond lithium-ion, priced no more than legacy technology. In the narratives of all these emerging technologies there are lessons more broadly applicable to innovation: posing the right question, engaging young minds (not experts), establishing a creative culture, and inventing inventors while inventing technology.

Advancing Battery and EV Technologies: Strategies for Widespread EV Adoption and the Post-Chasm Era

Jeong Hun Seo, PhD, Head of Battery Engineering Design, Hyundai Motor Company

This presentation outlines Hyundai Motor Company’s integrated strategies to accelerate EV adoption in the post-chasm era, balancing cost, performance, safety, and sustainability. Key areas include the adoption of low-cost chemistries (LFP, mid-nickel, sodium-ion, manganese-rich), process innovations such as dry electrode manufacturing and closed-loop recycling, and advancements in charging infrastructure. Safety measures incorporate proactive defect detection, AI/ML diagnostics, and structural fire suppression in compliance with global standards. Hyundai will also present its dedicated EV platform integrating battery and vehicle systems to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and enable sustainable mobility for mass adoption.