Advances in Automotive Power Applications


OEM demand drives innovation for advanced lithium batteries for automotive applications. Discover what components drive this innovation through accelerated discussion of R&D advancements that strengthen international cooperation in battery development. This conference track will address the critical issues facing application developers, design engineers and system engineers as they work to overcome barriers to bringing products to market as well as improve the capabilities of existing products. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from the key industry organizations from around the globe on their strategies to finding success and how they are conquering the challenges of commercialization.

Final Agenda

Monday, March 20

7:00 am 4:00 pm Tutorial* Registration Open

7:008:00 am Morning Coffee

8:004:00 Pre-Conference Tutorials*

12:301:30 pm Luncheon Presentation (Sponsorship Opportunity Available) or Enjoy Lunch on Your Own

1:302:00 Networking Refreshment Break

* Separate registration required for Tutorials.


Tuesday, March 21

7:30 am Registration and Morning Coffee

Battery Safety Testing & Regulation

8:30 Organizer’s Opening Remarks

Craig Wohlers, Executive Director, Conferences, Cambridge EnerTech

8:35 Chairperson’s Remarks

Ted J. Miller, Manager, Energy Storage and Materials Strategy and Research, Ford Motor Company

8:40 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Progress in Battery Safety Performance Simulation

Ted_MillerTed Miller, Manager, Energy Storage and Materials Strategy and Research, Ford Motor Company

Advanced automotive batteries are the critical enabling technology for vehicle electrification. Ford has undertaken development of a battery safety simulation tool. This is a first-of-its-kind multi-physics (combined mechanical, electrical, electrochemical, and thermal) CAE tool to predict battery response to a range of abuse conditions including crush due to crash and/or battery regulatory tests, short circuit, overcharge, and thermal ramp. An update on development progress and results from the alpha version of the prototype tool will be presented.

9:10 U.S. Department of Energy Electric Vehicle Battery Research Pathways and Key Results

Brian Cunningham, Engineer, Vehicle Technologies Office, Energy Storage R&D, U.S. Department of Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy set key technical targets necessary to enable Electric Vehicles (EV) to be as affordable as gasoline vehicles by 2022. A focus of this effort is the development of more cost-effective, longer lasting, and more abuse-tolerant EV batteries. VTO’s battery R&D effort includes multiple activities, ranging from battery materials research to battery cell and pack development and testing. This paper will highlight the current battery R&D pathways supported by VTO and key technical results from 2016.

9:40 International Compliance for Li-Ion Batteries

Cindy_MillsapsCynthia Millsaps, President and CEO, Quality, Energy Assurance LLC

International compliance for Li-ion batteries is not as straight forward as some other product categories. We will discuss transportation, mandatory and voluntary testing and certification requirements. It will include Marks of conformity that are needed as well as look at common issues that arise during the process.

10:10 Networking Coffee Break

OEM Application-Driven Development

10:45 Toyota’s Vision for Vehicle Electrification

Michael_LordMichael Lord, Executive Engineer, Product Regulatory Affairs, Toyota Motors North America

The presentation will introduce the audience to Toyota’s 2050 Environmental Challenge which includes goals for both zero vehicle emissions and zero life cycle emissions. For full electric drive, Toyota is currently focused on the launch of the Mirai Fuel Cell Vehicle and believes that fuel cell vehicles have the greatest potential for use as general purpose household cars and large vehicles.

11:15 Blue Solutions, a Major Development Driver for the Bolloré Group

Didier_MarginedesDidier Marginedes, Senior Vice President, Director, BlueSolutions® – Groupe BOLLORÉ

Blue Solutions is a subsidiary of the Bolloré Group for the development of its electricity storage activity solutions. These solutions addressed the markets of the urban mobility (carsharing, buses, trams) as well as the stationary applications. It has proven with Autolib (4000 EV cars in carsharing) for Paris and other projects in cities like Lyon, Bordeaux, Indianapolis, Turin and recently Singapore the qualities of its global solution.

 11:45 Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery Separators with Functional Coatings for High Energy Density Automotive Application

Kelvin Wu, Director, Marketing, SEMCORP

Lithium-ion batteries for EDVs demand both high performance and high safety standards. This presentation will discuss tailor-making advanced separators with precise control over pore size, structure, and dimensional strength. It will examine the advanced coating technologies SEMCORP developed to meet the high safety standards for high-energy density chemistry, as well as their impact on cell performance. It will provide an overview of SEMCORP’s world-class separator giga-factories, which has 1.3B m2 in total film capacity.

Kelvin Wu, Director, SEMCORP, China

12:15 pm Experimental and Theoretical Developments Necessary for the Use of Silicon Electrodes in Traction Battery Systems

Mark_VerbruggeMark Verbrugge, Ph.D., Director, Chemical and Materials Systems Laboratory, General Motors

We have developed a method to operate lithium-silicon (Li-Si) thick-film electrodes in a manner consistent with traction applications. Key to the operating strategy is the voltage control of the electrode. A modified hysteresis model, based in part on our earlier approach to treat NiMH (nickel metal hydride) cells, is shown to represent well the constant-current cycling data, and open questions associated with needed improvements in modeling Li-Si hysteresis and related low-current phenomena are highlighted.

12:30 Session Break

12:40 Networking Luncheon (All Are Welcome)



1:40 Networking Refreshment Break

OEM Application-Driven Development (Cont.)

2:10 Chairperson’s Remarks

Mark Verbrugge, Ph.D., Director, Chemical and Materials Systems Laboratory, General Motors

2:15 Advancing Battery Technology for Mercedes-Benz Applications

Tobias_GlossmanTobias Glossman, Senior Engineer, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America

Advanced battery technology is a key component for electric transportation solutions today. The market’s demand for higher energy content, faster charging, and other parameters is high and solutions are not easy to find. This presentation points out some areas that hold opportunities for improvement and discusses some approaches to the challenge. Battery chemistry, cell system, and thermal management are some of the areas that will be considered.

2:45 Research and Development towards Future Automotive Li-Ion Cells

Odysseas_PaschosOdysseas Paschos, Ph.D., Research Battery Technology, BMW, Germany

The BMW Group has shown a strong commitment to sustainable mobility, which has also been reflected to various research topics that aim on identifying key potential technologies that can be used for future lithium-ion batteries. Candidate technologies have been proposed during the last years with several of them having a potential to improve the current state-of-the-art. This presentation will discuss which requirements need to be fulfilled in order to achieve future automotive Li-ion cells with optimized parameters for vehicle applications.

 Enevate3:15 Ultrafast Charging Silicon-Dominant Anode and Li-ion Cell Technology for EV Applications

Benjamin Park, Ph.D., Founder & CTO, Enevate Corporation

Unlike conventional graphite-dominant silicon technologies which typically involve adding silicon-containing additives to graphite, silicon-dominant technologies in Li-ion batteries offer many benefits for electric vehicles including high energy density, ultrafast charge, wide temperature operation, and safety. Data showing upwards of 4C ultrafast charging and low temperature performance will be shown along with an analysis of technology benefits for EV applications. In addition, safety advantages of silicon-dominant cells will be discussed.

3:45 Grand Opening Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

4:30 Large Pouch MP NCM EV Cells for EV/PHEV, Bus and Car Applications

Tony Li, Ph.D., Director R&D, Zhuhai Coslight, China

Compared with other types of Li-ion batteries, pouch type Li-ion batteries have the advantage of size flexibility, high specific energy density, better safety and good pack space utilization for electric vehicle applications. This format is the choice of top brands like the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt. Zhuhai Coslight's mainstream MP NCM EV cell can achieve >3000 cycle life with 200Wh/kg gravimetric energy density, further increased to 255 Wh/kg by the end of 2017 through new chemistry introduction. A long term R&D strategy is steadily pushing forward and targets 300Wh/kg energy density by 2020.

5:00 Advanced Automotive and Storage Lead Batteries and the New ILA/ALABC Program

Boris_MonahovBoris Monahov, Ph.D., Program Manager, Advanced Lead-Acid Battery Consortium (ALABC) – a program of the International Lead Association (ILA)

Alistair Davidson, Ph.D., Director, Products and Sustainability, International Lead Association

The new R&D program of ILA/ALABC is focused on basic science studies for revealing new ways of substantial battery enhancement for low emission vehicles and for advanced energy storage systems. All three active materials as well as cell design will be subject of optimization so that lead batteries continue being the power source of choice in traditional and emerging new niches. Advanced lead batteries offer more power and much longer cycle life but continue keeping the lowest cost level and production CO2 footprint, plus the highest recycling rate.

5:30 Transition to Breakout Discussions

5:35 Interactive Breakout Discussion Groups

Participants choose a specific breakout discussion group to join. Each group has a moderator to ensure focused discussions around key issues within the topic. This format allows participants to meet potential collaborators, share examples from their work, vet ideas with peers, and be part of a group problem-solving endeavor. The discussions provide an informal exchange of ideas and are not meant to be a corporate or specific product discussion.

TABLE 1: Battery History from Bangkok to Lithium-Ion

Shep_WolskyShep Wolsky, Ph.D., Founder, International Battery Seminar & Exhibit


TABLE 2: Understanding the Impact of Electrolyte on Battery Performance

Sam_JaffeSam Jaffe, Managing Director, Cairn ERA, Cairn Energy Research Advisors


TABLE 3: Improving Li-Ion Energy Density and Cell Safety & Stability

Carl_ThoemmesCarl Thoemmes, Vice President, Sales, Silatronix, Inc.


TABLE 4: Cell Manufacturing

Raf_GoossensRaf Goossens, Ph.D., CEO, Global Corporate Management, PEC


TABLE 5: The Patent Landscape across the Battery Industry: Patent Acquisition, Enforcement, and Licensing Strategies

Howard L. Lim, Associate, Intellectual Property, Vinson & Elkins LLP

TABLE 6: Voluntary or Mandatory or Someplace in Between…What Do I Really Have to Do to Ship My Small Li-Ion Battery Globally?

Cindy_MillsapsCynthia Millsaps, President and CEO, Energy Assurance LLC


TABLE 7: Lithium Battery Transportation Regulations; What Are Hurdles, Research and Development Areas?

Steve Hwang, Ph.D., Chemist, Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety, US Department of Transportation

TABLE 8: Lithium Battery Transportation; What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You, How to Stay Ahead of the Curve and Be Successful

Thomas_LeechThomas (TJ) Leech, III, CHMM, FedEx Express


TABLE 9: Promoting a Strong U.S. Manufacturing Base for Energy Storage in the U.S.

Susan_BabinecSusan Babinec, Senior Commercialization Advisor, ARPA-E, U.S. Department of Energy


TABLE 10: Thermal Runaway Propagation Prevention and Mitigation Through Passive Vaporizing Heat Sink

Michael Mo, Co-Founder & CEO, KULR Technology

TABLE 11: Silicon Anodes and Cells

Frederic Bonhomme, Ph.D., Senior Director, Research & Engineering, Enevate

Shanghai Energy 6:35 Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing 

7:30 Close of Day

Wednesday, March 22

8:00 am Registration and Morning Coffee

Innovation & Design in Next-Gen Transportation Applications

8:20 Chairperson’s Remarks

Steven J. Visco, Ph.D., CEO and CTO, PolyPlus Battery Company

8:25 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Technology Convergence: Real World Adoption of Vehicle Electrification Strategies

Craig Rigby, Advanced Market & Technology Strategist, Johnson Controls Power Solutions

As we look forward 10-15 years. the drivers of advanced technology will shift beyond a focus solely on vehicle efficiency towards meeting increasing demands from consumers for vehicle safety, connectivity and automation. This talk will discuss the nature of those trends, the influence they have on vehicle electrification and how the convergence of these technologies will help accelerate the adoption of advanced battery technology across a wide range of applications.

8:55 A123’s High Performance Battery Systems Development

Patrick Hurley, Ph.D., CTO, A123 Systems, LLC

A123 is well known as a developer and manufacturer of lithium ion cells based on our proprietary lithium iron phosphate cathode material. 2015-16 has been a year of expansive growth in the development and commercialization of cells, packs and systems, leveraging both LFP and higher energy oxide chemistries. This presentation will share A123’s expanded product portfolio for current transportation application demands, as well as provide a glimpse at technologies which are under development for the extended range full electric vehicles of tomorrow.

9:25 Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

10:10 KEYNOTE PANEL DISCUSSION: Global Trends in Vehicle Electrification and Automotive Battery Technologies

This panel will discuss the current global trends in vehicle electrification and the advances in automotive battery technology. This distinguished group will highlight their participation in the various segments from materials, cell and costs points of view.

Moderator: Mohamed Alamgir, Director of Research, LG Chem Power

Panelists to be Announced

11:10 Luncheon Presentation (Sponsorship Opportunity Available) or Enjoy Lunch on Your Own

Plenary Keynote Program

12:40 pm Opening Remarks

12:45 Battery Innovator Award

12:55 Gigafactory Material Sourcing and Cell Production

kelty kurtKurt Kelty, Senior Director, Cell Supply Chain & Business Development, Tesla Motors

This presentation will examine the status on material sourcing and sustainable material sourcing for the Gigafactory. In addition, the production of cells for energy products manufactured at the Gigafactory including the Powerwall and Powerpack will be discussed.

1:25 Surprising Chemistry in Li-Ion Cells

Jeff DahnJeff Dahn, Ph.D., FRSC, Professor of Physics and Atmospheric Science, NSERC/Tesla Canada Industrial Research Chair, and Canada Research Chair, Dalhousie University

It is important to increase the operating voltage of NMC Li-ion cells to obtain higher energy density. However, the electrolyte reacts with the positive electrode at high voltage. Using simple experiments involving only pouch bags, we show that the products of these reactions are extremely harmful to the positive electrode. This talk demonstrates how these harmful reactions at the positive electrode can be virtually stopped, leading to superb NMC Li-ion cells that can operate at high potential.

1:55 Advances within the BYD EDV Program and Its Technology

Xi ShenXi Shen, Ph.D., Senior Director and General Manager, BYD EDV Batteries, China

WenFeng JiangWenFeng Jiang, Ph.D., R&D General Manager, BYD EDV Batteries, China

The high demand EDV for transportation worldwide has created significant market opportunities for BYD. Since the earlier F3DM and E6, BYD has broadly expanded its EDV business and technology to various fields including public transportation (e6 and E-bus), private transportation (Qin, Tang, etc.) and special transportation (forklift, city logistics vehicle, city cleaning vehicle, etc.) This talk shares the progress of the EDV program.

2:25 Charging Forward: Explosive Global Growth in the Battery Industry – Opportunities and Challenges Ahead

Christina Lampe-OnnerudChristina Lampe-Onnerud, Ph.D., CEO, Founder, Chairman, Cadenza Innovation, LLC; Founder, Boston Power

This talk will highlight insights on the emerging global ecosystem that is rapidly developing complex systems and opening doors to innovators who are teaming up with established battery and non–battery players. The presentation will inspire the audience to stay true to data and yet push the design envelope for high performance, low cost, safe energy storage solutions.

2:55 Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

3:30 End of Conference