John Orlando retired in 2024 from FDNY with 27 years of service.  He was Supervising Fire Marshal of the Lithium-Ion Task Force and Director of Training for the Bureau of Fire Investigation.  He founded Orlando Safety Solutions Inc. and continues teaching, consulting and speaking about lithium-ion battery safety, Fire Service challenges and solutions. He is a member of several Micromobility Battery Standards Committees.

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As Director of Energy Services at Electrify America, Jigar is responsible for the company’s energy portfolio of 1 GW+ in energized charging infrastructure - including leveraging energy storage to manage electricity costs, engaging with utilities and wholesale energy markets on policy matters and rate structures, minimizing Electrify America’s energy carbon footprint, as well as addressing vehicle-grid integration matters.  He plays a key role within the company managing the energy used from over 250 utilities by nearly 5000 individual ultra-fast DC chargers across over 1000 Electrify America public charging stations across the United States and Canada. Jigar was recently recognized as a 40 Under 40 Honoree by the Washington Business Journal for 2023 and named as a Rising Star in the EV Industry by Business Insider for 2022. Jigar has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, with a minor in Business, from Cornell University, and a Master of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University.  Jigar has publications in prominent scientific journals including IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid and Wind Energy Science and has issued patents on topics spanning electric vehicle charging, electric grid congestion, and wind energy control systems.

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Dr. Veronika Wright is the CEO and Founder of Electrification Academy, a B2B knowledge platform advancing electrification by connecting technical insights directly with products and solution providers, and she is also widely known through her personal brand, Electrified Veronika. With a PhD in Technical Physics and industry experience at AVL in Austria, she has worked hands-on in battery simulation, testing, and safety — from cell and module thermal runaway studies to dismantling EV packs for recycling.

Over the past decade, she has led battery safety trainings, advised startups, and collaborated on international initiatives in energy storage, EV safety, and circular economy practices. Her expertise spans electrochemistry, thermal management, battery development, and recycling processes, bridging deep technical knowledge with real-world application.

Through Electrification Academy, Veronika now focuses on connecting knowledge directly with products and solution providers, creating structured workflows that help companies and professionals navigate electrification with clarity. Alongside this, her Electrified Veronika community reaches thousands worldwide with accessible technical insights, thought leadership, and practical perspectives on the future of batteries and electrification.

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Eric Symon is Head of Smart Manufacturing at Panasonic Connect North America. Eric has held executive positions at market-leading software and professional services companies delivering value through digital transformation to customers in manufacturing, aerospace and defense, and retail industries. Eric holds a B.S. from the Pennsylvania State University.

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Laura Wagner is the EV Battery Sustainability and Recycling Manager at General Motors, developing global strategies for collection, circularity, recycling, and tracking of batteries throughout their lifecycle. She recently supported the development of SAE Technical Information Report J3327 on battery traceability and co-chairs the NAATBatt Track & Trace Committee.

Laura spent her early career in purchasing and holds two patents in supply chain solutions. She brings over twenty years of non-profit board experience, including executive positions, and is currently an advisory board member to The Battery Show and a member of the board at NAATBatt International. Laura holds a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, as well as Masters degrees in Manufacturing and Environmental Science from University of Michigan.

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Bob started at Hewlett-Packard in 1984. During his 40 years with HP, Agilent, and now Keysight, Bob has been part of the company’s marketing and R&D organizations for power supplies, electronic loads, power analysers, data acquisition equipment, test systems and test software.  Now, as a solution architect, Bob is responsible to create Keysight’s grid complaince test solutions roadmap and the battery testing solutions roadmap by researching customer and industry trends and developing plans to meet emerging customer needs. 

He was product manager for several generations of power supplies, including the first modular power system introduced by HP in 1989.  He has also managed Agilent’s power supply test systems business, wireless power business, and battery test systems business. 

Bob holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA.

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Herminso, born in Colombia's Andes Mountains, began his journey as a coffee farmer before pursuing a career in science and engineering. He holds two master’s degrees in Physics and Optics, a PhD in Optical Science and Engineering, and advanced leadership and business strategy certifications from Harvard Business School. With over a decade of industry experience and 80+ publications, Herminso serves as a product manager for X-ray quality solutions and global sector marketing leader for 3D X-ray microscopy at ZEISS. In these roles, he has successfully led multiple product launches and driven market growth in X-ray industrial microscopy, advancing applications in additive manufacturing, electronics, and new energy materials. Passionate about engineering and applied physics, he combines technical expertise with creative problem-solving to drive innovation and deliver impactful solutions.

Clint O'Conner is a co-founder of True Balancing LLC.  For the past eight years he has been living, eating, sleeping and breathing battery management technologies.

Clint's background is in managing development of new technologies and products across a broad spectrum of industries including consumer electronics, automotive, medical and aerospace.  He has a BA cum laude from Harvard University in Applied Mathematics/Economics.

Paul Charles is a senior executive, global consultant, and recognized thought-leader in clean technologies, data center infrastructure, and the end-to-end battery ecosystem. He co-founded American Battery Factory (ABF) — the first network of safe, green, rapid-construction, modular gigafactories dedicated to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic cells — and served as its founding CEO and President. A pioneer in early-warning systems for thermal runaway, Paul has more than 30 years of cross-sector leadership experience spanning energy, nanotechnology, advanced manufacturing, finance, real estate development, mining, healthcare, and technology. Today he advises global investment firms and leads an international advisory practice that supports commercialization across the battery value chain, from standing up cell, module, and pack production lines to mapping lithium supply chains in North America and advancing lithium carbonate processing. He is also a recognized data center expert, delivering his ⚡ Build Faster: A 100% Turnkey Data Center Solution platform to accelerate hyperscale and modular deployments integrating AI, energy storage, and resiliency. His expertise extends from raw materials to end-use markets including energy storage, eMobility, and advanced aviation (eVTOL/UAV). Paul began his career pioneering computing peripherals in Switzerland, Silicon Valley, and Arizona, and holds a Finance, Accounting, and Economics degree from Brigham Young University.

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Bob Lee leads LG Energy Solution’s North American operations and global strategy, driving the company’s rapid expansion across the EV battery space. With more than 30 years of industry experience, he’s held executive roles at Continental AG, SK Continental Emotion, and led the LG–Honda joint venture. A seasoned strategist and entrepreneur, Bob also brings consulting and startup expertise, with degrees from MIT Sloan and Brown University.

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LG Energy Solution diversifies U.S. product lineup with large format cylindrical cells 

During my recent keynote at the Battery Show in Detroit, Michigan, I noted LG Energy Solution’s commitment to excel in all three EV battery cell form factors – pouch, prismatic, and cylindrical.  In this article, I’d like to focus on cylindrical cells and their increasingly important role in our product portfolio.

Our company has more than 20 years of cylindrical cell expertise. We’ve produced 1865 and 2170 series cylindrical cells for many industries, from mobile devices like wireless earbuds, power tools and cordless vacuums to vehicles ranging from e-bikes and e-scooters to EVs. We’re the leader in global cylindrical cell market share.

Cylindrical cells are useful because they pack the highest amount of energy of any of the cell form factors into a small, sturdy physical package.  In addition, cylindrical cells offer standard physical dimensions and performance characteristics so wide ranging customers can apply to their products without customization.

While the cylindrical cells that we make can be as small as 0.958 g, our latest products encompass larger, far more energetic and powerful designs. With their larger electrodes, our 46-Series batteries give customers great energy density – in general, around five times that of 2170 cells – at a lower cost. Bigger cylindrical batteries open up the format to applications like robotics and aerospace.

A key feature of our large cylindrical cells is their “tabless” design. Instead of using metal connectors or “tabs” to carry current, our 46-Series batteries will draw current directly from their electrodes, creating multiple channels for electrical flow. This allows our batteries to charge faster, last longer and provide higher energy and power output. 

The 46-Series batteries also benefit from advances in chemistry. The cells combine high energy density NCMA (nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminum) cathodes with efficient silicon anodes that are more energy dense and charge faster than graphite anodes. Our cathodes contain a proprietary crystal blend that resists micro cracks, making them safer and longer lasting. Our silicon anode design has a longer lifespan and lower expansion rates than either silicon monoxide (SiO) or silicon carbon (Si/C) anodes thanks to their carbon coating.  

While the diameter of our large cylindrical cells is set at 46 mm, we will offer these cells with various heights, like 80, 95 and 120 mm. All three varieties – 4680, 4695 and 46120 -- will feature our patented Cell Assembly Structure (CAS). 

CAS enhances the structural rigidity of our large cylindrical cells, enabling them to better withstand impacts, vibrations and shocks. It also improves their cooling properties by dispersing and releasing heat, leading to better safety and longevity. CAS also maximizes space efficiency within our cell packs, enabling higher energy density in a smaller footprint. 

So why haven’t these cells been deployed commercially yet? It’s largely because they’ve been difficult to manufacture with consistently high quality. But we’re proud to announce that we have conquered those challenges, and 46-Series batteries will go into production at our Ochang, Republic of Korea cell plant, followed by an all-new facility in Queen Creek, Arizona that aims to start production next year.

We’ve invested more than $3 billion in our Queen Creek facility and will begin manufacturing 4680 and 4695 cells starting next year with plans to supply several automakers. 

Our 46 series are an exciting evolution in cylindrical cells. These powerful, sturdy and safe batteries are an ideal choice for a wide range of customers and vehicles, and we’re proud to enhance the unrivaled diversity of LG Energy Solution’s North American cell-making footprint.  Regardless of which form factor a customer prioritizes, LG Energy Solution has the technical and manufacturing capabilities to meet their needs. 

Tuesday, October 7 • 10-10:30 a.m.

Iola is the Head of Research at Rho Motion and has been with the company since its inception. Her work spans across the battery demand sectors, from electric vehicle to stationary storage forecasting, managing the team’s view of battery demand and chemistry, and considering the influence of key variables from legislation to OEM strategy and technology roadmaps.  Rho Motion, headquartered in London, offers the most comprehensive and well-informed forecasts and analysis for the energy transition. The company was acquired by Benchmark Mineral Group in 2024, establishing the first dedicated end-to-end data and market intelligence firm covering the energy transition from mine to grid.

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Thursday, October 9 • 2:30- 3 p.m.

Dr Aaron Wade is the Business Development Lead for Gaussion. He has spent close to a decade in the lithium-ion battery industry, initially through his PhD with the Faraday Institution, based at University College London, where he researched NMC particle cracking using X-ray Computed Tomography. This led to 15+ academic publications and commercial activities from his research. Post PhD, Aaron joined CRU as the Head of Battery Costs, modelling production costs for battery production and their use, focussed on Chinese companies, advising global OEMs and governments. Aaron is a Project Director for the Volta Foundation, running European networking events and a co-author of the 2023 and 2024 Battery Reports.

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Tuesday, October 7 • 4- 4:20 p.m.

Dr. Ikramul Hasan has been actively engaged in Li-ion battery research since 2020. He holds a PhD in Nanoscience and Nanoengineering from Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Istanbul, Turkey. Prior to his doctoral studies, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from IUT, Dhaka, Bangladesh, and a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from ITU, Turkey.

Currently, Dr. Hasan serves as the Director of Battery Development at OMI's Battery Innovation Center, where he leads the Cell Chemistry Commercialization and Battery Pack Design teams. His expertise spans both academic research and industrial applications in the battery field.

His professional and research highlights include:

• Hands-on experience in a European cell manufacturing company.
• Extensive work on Li-ion battery material synthesis and characterization.
• Optimization of electrode materials for improved performance.
• In-depth knowledge of cell prototyping and performance testing.
• Proficiency in instrumental characterization techniques.
• A PhD thesis focused on "Advanced Anode Active Materials for Next-Generation Li-ion Batteries."
  
  Dr. Hasan's blend of academic excellence and industrial experience has positioned him as a leading contributor to battery material innovation, cell development, and next-generation energy storage technologies.

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Wednesday, October 8 • 4- 4:30 p.m.

Brandon Kelly is the Vice President of Cell at Peak Energy, where he leads the development and scaling of advanced battery technologies. With a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and a specialization in energy storage from Colorado State University, Brandon has extensive experience in battery material science, characterization, and product development. Prior to joining Peak Energy, he played a key role at Solid Power, where he spearheaded multi-million-dollar efforts to scale solid-state battery production for automotive applications. Brandon’s work is driven by a passion for building effective development teams and a deep understanding of battery technologies. His expertise includes launching new products, managing large-scale projects, and fostering collaborative, innovative work environments to accelerate the development of hard tech solutions.

Podcast Interview »

Thursday, October 9 • 11:15-11:45 a.m.

Dr. Ang Xiao is the technical lead of AI and quantum applications for chemicals and materials science at SandboxAQ. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Rhode Island and a Graduate Certificate in Data Science from Georgia Tech. Boasting over 20 years in the industrial realm of chemicals and battery materials, his expertise encompasses battery materials, PFAS, fluids, advanced analytical techniques, molecular simulations, and machine learning. Dr. Xiao championed the development of Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) at 3M Company, a prevalent electrolyte salt, additive, and antistatic agent, generating over $200 million in sales over the last decade. He published 40 papers and 14 patent applications in the field of materials, AI and simulations with over 2,000 citations.