2026 Tutorials*





Monday, 18 May 2026 10:00 – 11:30

TUT1: Battery Safety and Abuse Tolerance

10:00 Battery Safety and Abuse Tolerance Validation
Shmuel De-Leon, CEO, Shmuel De-Leon Energy Ltd.

Batteries have become daily use components for many applications. New growing segments like EV and grid storage batteries extend the traditional ordinary battery applications. In the race for energy density, we shouldn't forget safety. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 battery safety case. Unfortunately, we face daily safety events with injuries and severe damage. This workshop focuses on portable, stationary, and automotive battery safety along the battery cycle life (acceptance, testing, assembly, use, transportation, and disposal). This training incorporates Shmuel De-Leon’s and other experiences on battery safety, representing over 26 years of work in the field. The motivation behind the training is to provide attendees with the knowledge needed to safely handle the batteries in their organization, and to support reduction in safety events.

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY:

Photo of Shmuel De-Leon, CEO, Shmuel De-Leon Energy Ltd.
Shmuel De-Leon, CEO, Shmuel De-Leon Energy Ltd.
Shmuel De-Leon, Founder and CEO of Shmuel De-Leon Energy Ltd., is a leading international expert in the business of energy storage. Prior to founding the company, for over 21 years, Shmuel held various positions as an energy storage, electronic engineering, and quality control team manager. Shmuel holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Tel Aviv University, and an M.B.A. in Quality Control and Reliability Engineering from the Technion Institute in Haifa, as well as an Electronic Technician's diploma.

TUT2: Cathode Active Materials: The Strategic Core of Performance, Cost, and Sustainability

10:00 Cathode Active Materials: The Strategic Core of Performance, Cost, and Sustainability
Tom Van Bellinghen, Founder, Lithink

Cathode active materials (CAM) occupy a pivotal position in lithium-ion battery systems, as they are the single most influential component across all three core design criteria: performance, cost, and CO₂ footprint. The cathode dictates key electrochemical properties such as energy density and cycle life, while also representing the largest share of cell-level costs and embedded emissions due to its energy- and resource-intensive production. As a result, the choice of CAM is not just a technical decision—it is a strategic lever for advancing battery technology and meeting sustainability targets. Overlaying this technical importance is a complex and often fragile global supply landscape, where many of the industry’s most pressing sustainability challenges converge. The CAM supply chain is shaped by geopolitical risk, regional resource concentration (notably for lithium, nickel, and cobalt), and critical ESG concerns around responsible mining, ethical labor practices, and environmental impact. Addressing these challenges is essential for building resilient, scalable, and truly sustainable battery systems. Understanding cathode materials—both from a technical and a supply-chain perspective—is therefore essential for anyone working to advance next-generation battery technologies or scale-up sustainable energy storage solutions.

TOPICS TO BE COVERED:

  • Cathode history
  • Cathode chemistry families
    o LCO
    o NMC
    o NCA
    o LFP
    o Next Gen (Mn-rich, disordered rock salts,…)
  • CAM quality
    o 4M changes
    o Raw Material qualifications
    o LiabilityRelationship between pCAM and CAM properties
  • CAM IP landcape
  • CAM supply chains & ESG matters
  • Key CAM contractual topics

Participants will understand why:

  • pCAM and CAM are not commodities that can be simply interchanged in a cell.
  • The choice of cathode chemistry directly impacts not only energy density and cycle life, but also the overall cost structure and COâ‚‚ footprint of the battery.
  • Supply chain risks (geopolitical, ESG, and resource concentration) must be considered alongside technical performance when evaluating CAM options.
  • Careful reflection is needed when entering long term CAM supply contracts.

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY:

Photo of Tom Van Bellinghen, Founder, Lithink
Tom Van Bellinghen, Founder, Lithink
Tom Van Bellinghen founded Lithink in mid 2024 with a clear mission to provide strategic go-to-market advice in the battery field. Tapping into 15 years of experience in the battery field, Lithink’s focus is on supply chains, ESG matters, closed-loop flows, pCAM, CAM & battery quality, cross-border administrative processes involving metal hedging and complex negotiations. Tom Van Bellinghen joined Umicore in 2009 as the Marketing & Sales Director responsible for Umicore’s Rechargeable Battery Materials business. Under his leadership, the business expanded significantly, becoming a multi-billion dollar enterprise. As the industry shifted its focus from portable electronics to automotive applications, Tom pioneered a direct touch model between original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and cathode manufacturers. This approach enhanced transparency, cost-efficiency, and sustainability within the battery ecosystem. Starting in 2019, Tom shifted his attention to managing relationships with automotive OEMs, effectively positioning Umicore as the leading cathode supplier. One of his notable achievements was the successful closure of a joint venture contract between Umicore and Volkswagen (Ionway, 3B$ investment).

TUT3: Technology Innovation in The Chinese Battery Industry

10:00 In-Depth Analysis of the Chinese xEV Battery Industry
Mark Lu, PhD, Senior Industrial Analyst, Industrial Economics & Knowledge Center, Industrial Technology Research Institute

As the world’s biggest EDV market, the Chinese xEV industry has become the most important pioneering target. However, specially planned economy, localised regulations, and multiple business models exist and make international companies’ decision-making more difficult. Therefore, this tutorial will try to provide a whole picture of the Chinese EDV battery market, including policies and regulations, future forecasts, competitive analysis, battery technology strategies, upstream supply chain, and positioning for foreign enterprises.

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY:

Photo of Mark Lu, PhD, Senior Industrial Analyst, Industrial Economics & Knowledge Center, Industrial Technology Research Institute
Mark Lu, PhD, Senior Industrial Analyst, Industrial Economics & Knowledge Center, Industrial Technology Research Institute
Mr. Lu graduated from Department of Business Administration in National Cheng-chi University, Taiwan, and continued to acquire an MBA degree from National Sun Yat-sen University. His first job concerned with the optical film in China for two years, then came back Taiwan to serve Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) as an analyst in Industry, Science and Technology International Strategy Center (ISTI) until now. As a certified industrial analyst of the biggest think-tank in Taiwan, he is responsible for the research about Taiwan battery-related industry, including material, cell, pack and related applications. Not only handling the official government statistics about Taiwan battery industry, sometimes he also plays a role to provide consulting suggestions for Taiwan government and firms. From 2010 to June 2020, he served as the secretary-general of the Taiwan Battery Association.

Monday, 18 May 2026 13:00 – 14:30

TUT4: Solid-State Batteries

13:00 Solid-State Batteries: Solid Electrolytes, Electrode Interfaces, and Full Cells
Juergen Janek, PhD, Professor, Solid-State Ionics & Electrochemistry, Justus Liebig University, Giessen

This tutorial will give an overview of the status of solid-state battery development. The scientific basis for solid-state batteries will be explained in detail. The different types of solid electrolytes (oxides, sulfides, polymers) will be introduced, and recent trends will be highlighted.

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY:

Photo of Juergen Janek, PhD, Professor, Solid-State Ionics & Electrochemistry, Justus Liebig University, Giessen
Juergen Janek, PhD, Professor, Solid-State Ionics & Electrochemistry, Justus Liebig University, Giessen
Jürgen Janek has a chair for Physical Chemistry at Justus Liebig University in Giessen (JLU), is director of the JLU Center for Materials Research and Scientific Director of the BELLA lab at KIT, Karlsruhe. He was visiting professor at Seoul National University (South Korea), Tohoku University (Sendai, Japan), and D´Aix-Marseille (France), and he was awarded with an honorary doctorate from TU Delft (Netherlands). He holds numerous patents, has published more than 400 peer-reviewed papers and got numerous awards. His research interests focus on the physical chemistry of inorganic solids, solid state ionics, and reactivity, specifically on the properties of mixed ionic-electronic conductors, defect chemistry of ionic materials, kinetics of solid-state reactions, and solid-solid interfaces. In recent years, his research is focused strongly to the chemistry of battery materials, solid electrolytes, and solid-state batteries and operando studies of batteries. He is scientific coordinator of the German Cluster of Competence for Solid State Batteries FESTBATT funded by BMBF (Federal Ministry for Education and Research) and member of the DFG Cluster of Excellence POLIS at Ulm/Karlsruhe.

TUT5: Battery Recycling: Market and Methods

13:00 Battery Recycling: Market and Methods
Steve Sloop, PhD, President, OnTo Technology LLC

By 2030 the original lithium-ion battery manufacturing industry is on course to reach $120 billion worldwide. However, with so many uncertainties, the recycling market has projections of $14 to $40 billion. Recycling must be economically sustainable with future $10/kg cathodes, can it achieve such a goal? A supportive recycling industry will be expected to (1) operate with end-of-life batteries as an asset (2) produce cost-competitive elements, electrodes, or electrode precursor materials, (3) safely address large-scale throughputs, and (4) accommodate low cobalt or no cobalt cathode formulations. This tutorial will comprehensively address technologies of pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, hybrid approaches, and direct recycling. The instructor will introduce these and discuss them in light of cost goals and market realities.

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY:

Photo of Steve Sloop, PhD, President, OnTo Technology LLC
Steve Sloop, PhD, President, OnTo Technology LLC
Steve Sloop has pioneered comprehensive methods to improve safety and efficiency in recycling lithium-ion batteries and materials. These include deactivation of lithium-ion batteries to eliminate hazards in transportation and storage; electrolyte extraction; electrode harvesting and separation; and cathode-healingâ„¢, which is a direct method to reintroduce lithium, structure, and performance to scrap electrodes.

TUT6: Improving the Energy Density of Batteries with Silicon-Based Anodes

13:00 Improving the Energy Density of Batteries with Silicon-Based Anodes
Dee Strand, PhD, CSO, R&D, Wildcat Discovery Technologies, Inc.

The key challenges in the use of silicon-based anodes, as well as progress in the implementation of silicon and what can we expect in the future. The latest improvements in other battery components are required to maximise the benefit of silicon-based anodes.

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY:

Photo of Dee Strand, PhD, CSO, R&D, Wildcat Discovery Technologies, Inc.
Dee Strand, PhD, CSO, R&D, Wildcat Discovery Technologies, Inc.
Dr. Dee Strand is Chief Scientific Officer at Wildcat Discovery Technologies. Dr. Strand has over twenty years of experience in materials research, development, and commercialization, primarily in the areas of energy storage and electronic applications. Prior to joining Wildcat in 2013, Dr. Strand served as a Research Fellow at Dow Chemical, where she was the technical lead in Dow Energy Materials, as well as the Principal Investigator on external research programs with universities and national labs on battery materials. Dr. Strand also has extensive experience in patent analysis and technical due diligence of new technologies. Dr. Strand completed her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, under the supervision of Professor John Schrag. Her Ph.D. research focused on rheology and birefringence of polymeric solutions.

TUT7: The Rechargeable Battery Market: Value Chain and Main Trends

13:00 The Rechargeable Battery Market: Value Chain and Main Trends
Fabrice Renard, Senior Advisor, Avicenne Energy

ABOUT THIS TUTORIAL:

This tutorial will present the 10-year automotive market forecasts from Avicenne and other analysts (micro/Hybrid/P-HEV/EV). Other coverage will include car makers’ strategies and advanced energy storage (advanced lead acid/supercap/NiMH/LIB). Additionally, LIB design for P-HEV & EV markets (cylindrical, prismatic, pouch/wounded, stacked, Z fold cells) and LIB cell, module, and pack cost structure will be discussed.

TOPICS TO BE COVERED:
  • The rechargeable battery market in 2024
  • Battery market by application
  • Electronic devices, xEV, e-bikes, power tools
  • Stationary applications
  • Raw material for lithium-ion battery supply chain
  • Battery market forecasts, 2026-2036
  • Focus on xEV market
  • OEM supply chain
  • xEV forecasts
  • Impact of Li-ion batteries on lead acid battery market
  • Conclusions

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY:

Photo of Fabrice Renard, Senior Advisor, Avicenne Energy
Fabrice Renard, Senior Advisor, Avicenne Energy
With more than 25 years of experience in business consultancy and management of chemical and advanced materials business in Belgium, Morocco, and China, Fabrice gained strong experience on strategy, M&A, manufacturing, marketing, finance, and innovation on high-growth new technology business. Prior joining AVICENNE in 2019, Fabrice was Chief Innovation Officer of the Prayon group. Over 10 years, he was in charge of the global R&D and innovation strategy based on sustainable major trends and declined on nutrition, water, precision farming, rare elements recovery, and energy. One of his core focus was the development of cathode materials. In this field, he earned a strong expertise on the battery value chain and served as COO of Belife, a joint venture with Umicore and as a director of Prayon Pulead Technology, a Chinese-based LFP manufacturer. He holds a master's in chemical engineering, a postgraduate diploma in business administration, an executive degree in tax law, and an executive master's in management.

Monday, 18 May 2026 15:00 – 16:30

TUT8: Cell and Pack Design for xEVs

15:00 Cell & Pack Design for xEVs
Kevin Konecky, Vice President, Battery Systems Engineering, Spiro

This tutorial will give an overview of battery systems design. An overall product development process will be discussed for a typical system. Design aspects of each individual subsystem will be explored with cost impacts of different design choices. Testing, validation, and designing for safety will be other key areas of discussion.

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY:

Photo of Kevin Konecky, Vice President, Battery Systems Engineering, Spiro
Kevin Konecky, Vice President, Battery Systems Engineering, Spiro
Mr. Konecky brings over 20 years of xEV experience to his work, having worked on multiple complex designs for battery system development, charging system integration, and high-voltage powertrain integration. He is skilled in new product design and development, product testing, product safety, integration of multiple sub-systems for vehicles, new product launches and has expanded his skillset beyond batteries into power electronics. His experience in batteries includes multiple technologies (Li-ion, NiMH, UltraCapacitors, Lead-Acid). Mr. Konecky has worked for multiple OEM and Tier 1 battery suppliers (GM, Fisker, Byton, Cobasys, EnerDel, Lockheed Martin) and has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University (Potsdam, NY) and MS from Purdue (IUPUI - Indianapolis, IN).

TUT9: Global EV Market Demand: In-Depth Insights, Future Projections and the Impact on the Battery Supply Chain

15:00 Global EV Market Demand: In-Depth Insights, Future Projections, and the Impact on the Battery Supply Chain
Viktor Irle, Co-Founder & Market Analyst, EV Volumes

This interactive tutorial will provide a comprehensive analysis of the latest data and trends in the EV industry. You’ll gain insights into top-selling models, identify the countries and regions leading in EV adoption, and understand what the future holds both in the short- and long- term. Additionally, we will translate these forecasts into actionable insights regarding battery demand, equipping you with a well-rounded understanding of the evolving landscape of electric vehicles. This tutorial is designed to deepen your knowledge and stay ahead in the rapidly changing EV market globally.

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES:

Photo of Rob Price, Global Key Account Manager, EV Volumes
Rob Price, Global Key Account Manager, EV Volumes
As a Global Key Account Manager at EV Volumes, I leverage my background in automotive data and sales to drive strategic partnerships and deliver value to key clients. With a deep understanding of the evolving automotive landscape, particularly in the electric vehicle sector, I am dedicated to providing insights and solutions that empower my clients to stay ahead in a rapidly changing market.
Photo of Viktor Irle, Co-Founder & Market Analyst, EV Volumes
Viktor Irle, Co-Founder & Market Analyst, EV Volumes
Viktor Irle has a M.Sc. in Management & Economics of Innovation from Chalmers University of Technology, where he learnt analyzing emerging markets and market disruptions from new innovations. Being passionate about automobiles and especially electric engines and clean technology, EV-volumes.com is the natural outcome of his set of skills. Viktor is convinced the future automotive history is both electric and autonomous.

TUT10: AI for Battery Applications

15:00 Battery Intelligence: Non-Obvious but Useful Battery Metrics and Analyses
Tal Sholklapper, PhD, CEO & Co-Founder, Voltaiq

In this tutorial, we’ll review these non-obvious but useful battery metrics and analyses through interactive demonstrations and discussion. We'll also explore how they can be applied to day-to-day engineering through advances in data science, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI).

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY:

Photo of Tal Sholklapper, PhD, CEO & Co-Founder, Voltaiq
Tal Sholklapper, PhD, CEO & Co-Founder, Voltaiq
Dr. Tal Sholklapper has an extensive record of success as a cleantech engineer and entrepreneur. Prior to founding Voltaiq, he worked as the lead engineer on a DOE ARPA-E funded project at the CUNY Energy Institute, developing an ultra low-cost grid-scale battery. Before joining CUNY, Dr. Sholklapper co-founded Point Source Power, a low cost fuel-cell startup based on technology he developed while at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley, where he also did his graduate work in Materials Science and Engineering. As a Materials Postdoctoral Fellow at LBNL, he successfully led the transfer of lab-scale technology to industry partners.

TUT11: Critical Minerals and Battery Supply Chains: Challenges, Geopolitics and Sustainable Solutions

15:00 Critical Minerals and Battery Supply Chains: Challenges, Geopolitics, and Sustainable Solutions
Kimberly Berman, Independent Consultant, Pivot Research

This tutorial provides a comprehensive overview of the supply chains for commercial batteries used in the transportation industry. It covers the full battery value chain, the criteria and policies that define critical minerals, and the distinction between abundant and scarce materials. The session will explore China's dominant role in the lithium-ion battery supply chain and emphasise the strategic importance of upstream and midstream development for future growth. Each key battery material will be examined in terms of its availability, extraction methods, and processing into battery-grade form. The tutorial will conclude with a discussion on strategies to "close the loop" and achieve a more sustainable, circular battery supply chain.

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY:

Photo of Kimberly Berman, Independent Consultant, Pivot Research
Kimberly Berman, Independent Consultant, Pivot Research
Kimberly is an independent consultant specializing in energy transition materials and related commodities working with firms such as Avicenne, Positive Materials and the World Bank Group. She has researched, written/co-written, and published numerous major papers and reports on lithium-ion and next-gen battery technologies, alternative fuels, electric vehicles, stationary power storage and the de-globalisation of battery supply chains. Previously, she worked at BMO Capital Markets and developed the firm’s proprietary industry knowledge around energy transition technologies.

Register Early and Save

MONDAY 18 MAY

Pre-Conference Tutorials

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY
19-20 MAY

CHEMISTRY - PART 1

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY
20-21 MAY

CHEMISTRY - PART 2

*All Access or separate registration required