2025 Agenda

The morning will start with a shared plenary session with attendees of the Battery Show South, Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo and Energy Storage Summit. Sessions will include detail on the state of the industry, cost of raw materials and the direction of travel for manufacturing and R&D. These plenary sessions will be led by CxO speakers before allowing the audience to break down into four detailed streams of content. There will be a short morning break, allowing for networking with attendees and exhibitors.

• Adapting to federal policy changes, alternative funding sources, and strategies to navigate regulatory shifts to strengthen resilience of the industry
• Public and private sector roles in deploying fast-charging networks and workplace charging
• Changes in land use, parking, and urban design due to a shift from gasoline vehicles to EVs
• Opportunities for autonomous EVs in ridesharing, public transit, and logistics
• Potential regulatory changes to support EV and autonomous vehicle adoption, including updates to traffic laws and road usage
• Implementing universal plug and charge

The U.S. electric grid is confronting several critical challenges, including an increasing electricity demand, aging power infrastructure, and insufficient investment over the past decade. These issues are impeding progress and discouraging the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). This session will answer the big question around upgrading the grid:

• How to modernize the U.S. power grid to match the demand from EV adoption and meeting the needs of high-density EV charging, rapid chargers and wireless charging
• Investment and collaboration opportunities to increase funding and foster effective partnerships between utility companies, local governments, and the private sector for grid upgrades.
• The role of smart grids, energy storage, and grid modernization in managing increased electricity demand and supporting EV charging infrastructure

The uptake of EVs will present new challenges and opportunities for metropolitan transportation planning agencies. In this session, ARC will present their Regional Transportation Electrification Plan, which outlines a strategic approach for the Atlanta region to effectively address EV challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

• Overview of the Regional Transportation Electrification Plan and its objectives.
• Strategies for addressing EV challenges specific to the Atlanta region.
• Opportunities for leveraging existing resources and initiatives to advance EV adoption.

This session is designed for OEMs and charging networks to hear directly from fleet managers. It will explore the pressures commercial fleet managers face and assess the impact that EVs could have on operations.

• A typical day in the life of a commercial vehicle – utilization and route planning
• The skills challenge – getting staff on board with charging cycles and maintenance and encouraging staff acceptance
• Managing downtime for charging
• Cost concerns in transitioning to electric
• Real-world Scenarios: The moderator presents a few common “day in the life” scenarios (e.g., unexpected vehicle breakdown, high-priority delivery requiring immediate deployment) and asks the panelists to discuss how they would handle these situations with both ICE vehicles and EVs.

• Why EV infrastructure is becoming essential for a wide range of facilities, from convention centers to retail spaces and logistics hubs.
• Leveraging EV infrastructure to create new revenue opportunities: partnerships with charging providers, attracting visitors, and enhancing tenant and guest experiences.
• Understanding the potential for increased property and facility value driven by EV readiness and sustainability credentials.
• Addressing key challenges such as upfront capital investment, effective use of space, and managing energy demands in dynamic environments.

In urban areas, the limited feasibility of installing home chargers often shifts the demand for EV charging to public locations like malls, parking facilities, hotels, and entertainment venues. This session will focus on the perspective of U.S. utilities in addressing these challenges. Utility leaders will discuss their role in supporting the deployment of EV charging infrastructure at these high-traffic locations, balancing grid demands, ensuring reliability, and collaborating with property owners to meet the needs of EV users. Attendees will gain key insights into how utilities can drive innovation, maintain safety, and enable cost-effective solutions to expand charging networks while supporting broader electrification goals.

The transition to an electric future requires significant investment in EV charging infrastructure, and identifying sustainable, scalable financing options is key. This panel brings together experts with different financial offerings to explore green financing, leasing models, public-private partnerships, and commercial loan structures. Panelists will also share perspectives on managing risks, maximizing return on investment, and identifying which financing structures are best suited for various project types and scales.

• The role of government financing in supporting EV infrastructure and driving down upfront capital requirements
• Overview of leasing models and the rising trend of Charging-as-a-Service (CaaS)
• How infrastructure funds evaluate EV charging projects, with a focus on long-term ROI, risk management, and impact metrics
• Commercial loan structures for EV charging infrastructure, including interest rates, loan terms, and conditions

Deploying new electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure is essential for increasing access and reliability across the country, supporting light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles on highways, interstates, and major roadways. Despite these efforts, range anxiety remains a significant concern for EV owners. This panel will dissect the underlying issues affecting EV charging infrastructure and explore strategies to mitigate these concerns.

• Analysing current issues with EV charging infrastructure accessibility and reliability, and their impact on range anxiety.
• Addressing fears related to EV range for long trips and debunking common misconceptions that contribute to range anxiety.
• Exploring specific concerns about EV range for long-distance, work-related journeys and identifying potential solutions.

This presentation is reserved for sponsors. To enquire about presenting during this time slot, please contact Paul Collinson at paul.collinson@informa.com 

The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) brings immense potential for improving air quality and public health, but equitable access to EV charging remains a key challenge. Charging infrastructure is often concentrated in affluent urban areas, leaving rural regions, smaller cities, and underserved communities with limited access. This session will highlight how the EV industry can collaborate with local communities to expand charging networks while delivering the wider benefits of cleaner air for all.

• Building meaningful partnerships with communities to improve charging availability in low-income and underserved areas.
• Exploring public and private sector initiatives to bridge the charging gap and foster equitable access.
• Emphasizing the broader societal benefits of cleaner air, reduced emissions, and enhanced quality of life through inclusive EV adoption.

The shortage of accessible, reliable, and user-friendly EV chargers contributes to range anxiety and remains a significant concern for those hesitant to adopt electric vehicles. According to a recent AAA report, 56% of respondents identified unreliable charging stations as their primary obstacle to making the switch. The takeaway is clear—we must enhance the EV charging experience.

• Putting accessibility at the heart of planning and bearing in mind user abilities and the location of chargers to enable lone customers to feel safe
• Ensuring chargers are easy to locate, operate, and maintain can significantly improve user confidence and encourage more people to transition to electric vehicles
• Planning to avoid poorly maintained stations, electrical faults and vandalism, promoting a safer experience for all users
• Simplifying payment processes, standardizing connectors, and offering real-time availability updates can make the charging process more convenient and less stressful.

Heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs) such as trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles represent a critical frontier in the transition to a cleaner transportation sector. This session will explore how infrastructure must evolve to accommodate their unique needs and ensure seamless integration into the U.S. market. Industry experts will discuss challenges and opportunities in creating the charging networks, grid upgrades, and innovative solutions required to support heavy-duty EV adoption.

• Practical insights on site selection, zoning, and designing for megawatt charging systems.
• Lessons on forecasting demand and building scalable solutions to match fleet growth.
• Strategies for collaborating with utility companies to secure power capacity and ensure grid reliability.
• Case studies on integrating energy storage, smart charging, and dynamic load management to reduce costs and downtime.
• How to build public-private partnerships to accelerate deployment.
• Examples of successful collaborations and funding models that drive heavy-duty EV infrastructure projects.

This session will tackle the critical challenges related to the workforce and skills gap in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. We’ll explore the shortage of qualified technicians and discuss strategies to address this growing issue.

• Assessing the lack of trained technicians for EV maintenance and repairs.
• Addressing the vocational trades decline and how reduced interest in vocational trades is contributing to the skills shortage.
• Retraining an aging workforce and increasing employee engagement