Manufacturing by Informa’s annual event features speakers covering North American battery competitiveness, AI, commercialization and the future of electrification
DETROIT, Oct. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Battery Show and Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo North America, returning to Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan, from October 12-15, has announced five keynotes exploring the challenges and opportunities shaping the battery industry—from building a competitive North American supply chain to scaling manufacturing and commercializing energy storage technologies. The event will bring together industry leaders to discuss practical pathways toward resilient supply chains, reliable production and long-term industry growth.
Tuesday, October 13
The Next Chapter of Battery Materials: Building a Competitive and Resilient North American Graphite Supply Chain: Venkatesh Vasudevan, Vice President, Graphite Materials, ExxonMobil Product Solutions
Vasudevan will examine the evolving battery materials landscape and what it will take to build a resilient and globally competitive North American graphite supply chain. The discussion will include the challenges of scaling domestic production, navigating global supply dependencies, meeting cell manufacturer and OEM requirements, and creating the industrial infrastructure needed to support long-term battery growth.
Looking toward 2030 and beyond, the keynote frames a critical question for the industry: Can North America build a battery materials supply chain that is not only resilient, but globally competitive?
The Future of Battery Manufacturing: Risks and Opportunities in the Age of AI and Cold War Two: Jason Schenker, Economist and President, Prestige Economics
Economist, futurist, and author Jason Schenker will examine how AI, reshoring, geopolitical tensions, critical minerals, tariffs, and supply chain risks are reshaping battery manufacturing and investment.
Attendees will leave with practical insights on where the greatest opportunities and risks are likely to emerge over the next decade.
Wednesday, October 14
Powering the AI Economy: From Energy to Compute: Paul Charles, Principal, Charles and Associates
Inventor and infrastructure strategist Paul Charles will address how AI training and inference affect power requirements, where batteries fit from the server rack to the site, and why cooling and electrical design must keep pace with increasing computing density. The session will explore approaches to faster deployment, the challenges of integrating power and compute, and the opportunities for battery and energy storage suppliers in the growing AI economy.
From Concept to Commercialization: Bridging the Domestic Battery Gap; Ted Miller, Senior Principal Advisor – Battery and Energy Storage, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Miller will offer keen insights on the challenge of global battery electric vehicle demand not reaching anticipated levels while interest in electrified vehicles including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and extended range electric vehicles has continued. In parallel, there has been an unprecedented increase in renewable energy generation and AI data center development. The net result is an increase in energy storage demand.
Whether grid support requires Li-Ion technology akin to that found in electrified vehicles, sodium ion, flow batteries, or other sources of energy storage, advancing the technology from a laboratory concept to a commercial product requires thoughtful scale up and validation. This talk will look into the path forward to bridging the gap.
Thursday, October 15
Looking Back, Moving Forward: The Evolution of the Battery Industry: Robert Galyen Senior Strategic Consultant & Advisor – Retired Chief Technical Officer of CATL at Galyen Energy, and Dr. John Warner, Chief Industry Relations Officer, American Battery Solutions
Industry veterans Galyen and Warner will connect for a closing fireside chat reflecting on the evolution of the battery industry and looking ahead to what comes next. The conversation will include lessons learned, emerging opportunities, and the future of battery innovation and leadership.
“The Battery Show delivers the educational programming this industry needs to advance,” says Suzanne Deffree, Vice President, Manufacturing by Informa. “As the battery, electric vehicle, and energy storage industries evolve at unprecedented speed, our commitment to providing world-class educational content ensures that professionals stay ahead of the curve. Through expert-led conference sessions, technical presentations, and industry panels, we empower attendees with the knowledge and insights they need to drive innovation, solve complex challenges, and shape the future of energy storage and electrification.”
To learn more about all education at the event, including conference seminars, show floor presentations, and roundtables, visit: https://www.thebatteryshow.com/
About The Battery Show by Informa:
The Battery Show is the largest and most comprehensive advanced battery technology event, co-located with Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo, the only trade show and conference exclusively dedicated to advanced battery and the electric and hybrid vehicle drivetrain. Visitors to our shows can discover and demo the latest products, technology, and solutions from nearly a thousand suppliers, network with tens of thousands of attendees and access a breadth of education across multiple tracks and technical sessions. The Battery Show is organized by Manufacturing by Informa and includes The Battery Show Europe, The Battery Show North America, The Battery Show India and The Battery Show Asia. Listed media partners include Informa Market’s Battery Technology and DesignNews. For more information, please visit https://manufacturing.informamarkets.com/
About Manufacturing by Informa:
Manufacturing by Informa is the leading B2B event producer, publisher, and digital media business for the world’s $3-trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the manufacturing market and leverage our proprietary 1.3-million-name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe. The Manufacturing portfolio is organized by Informa Markets, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), the world’s leading exhibitions organizer that brings a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.
Media Contact
Manufacturing by Informa
pr.ime@informa.com
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