By Menahem Anderman
June 4, 2019 | Governments across the globe and international automakers alike have become more optimistic about the future of electrified transportation. Consequently, the technological development needed to support vehicle electrification must keep pace with rising expectations—batteries with enhanced performance, durability, abuse tolerance, and lower cost are indeed crucial to the viability of each of the hybrid/electric-vehicle powertrains.
The Advanced Automotive Battery Conference—AABC—was founded to review the status of automotive battery technology and provide informed glimpses into its future. We started in 2001 when 42V systems and FC vehicles were relatively “hot”; in the following 10 years we covered the development of high-voltage HEV battery packs, initially with NiMH and later with Li Ion, and early EV and PHEV battery development. The first half of the current decade saw the arrival of compliance EVs and PHEVs, and the transition of HEV batteries to Li Ion. Since 2016 the focus has shifted to long-range EV packs, and more recently to fast charge, raw material supply, and the exploration of battery technologies beyond Li Ion.
The AABC 2019 program will uncover the underlying technical and business issues that will impact the pace and path of vehicle electrification worldwide. The Lithium-ion battery is the main candidate for most xEV applications. Yet, for each of them, some fundamental questions remain:
- What are their specific anode, cathode, and electrolyte chemistries?
- Which cell design?
- Which pack design?
- Which suppliers?
- At what cost?
- In what volume for each category?
These questions will be addressed at AABC 2019, where chief battery technologists will present their development trends and projected battery needs, and key suppliers will present their latest offerings and roadmaps for the future.
Central to AABC is the plenary session were international experts will discuss materials, battery, and vehicle sales growth. The diagram below describes the process. Materials development leads to better cell technology, which supports better battery pack technology. Vehicle architecture is where technology, market, and governmental policies ‘meet’ to provide the most effective solutions for customers. Vehicle sales create the xEV market, which in turn supports the battery and materials market.
Want to hear more? Join us at AABC, June 24 to 27, in San Diego.
Menahem Anderman is the conference chairman for the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference.
