Key Insights from The Battery Show 2024 from EMS
A few weeks ago, EMS had the pleasure of being one of the many exhibitors at The Battery and EV Expo in Detroit, Michigan.
The 14th annual Battery Show North America was held in Hunting Place and boasted historic numbers, highlighting the importance of upgrading venues from last year’s event which had also record numbers of exhibitors and attendees.
The Battery Show 2024 saw 21,000 professionals, 1,250 exhibitors (the most since the show launched in 2010), and over 200 keynote speakers, discussing a range of interesting topics.
While there were many important topics, one seemed to stand out from the crowd: The future of the battery industry.
The battery industry has been a growth industry for decades, with each year bringing a larger increase than the year before. As the demand for battery-hungry things like electric vehicles, drones, personal electronics, and energy storage solutions continues to grow, so will the battery industry.
Governments around the world, from the U.S. to the EU and China, are setting aggressive targets for EV adoption and sustainable energy solutions, further driving the battery industry’s growth.
The global battery market is expected to grow at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 16.45% from 2024 to 2032, reaching a staggering 424 billion by 2030, fourfold the market total in 2021.
So much of the future depends on adopting sustainable, scalable battery solutions equal to the hungry power that fuels innovation.Â
Being an exhibitor at the Battery Show for several years has given us here at EMS a unique, deep-dive look into the industry and where it’s headed.Â
Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) were popular topics at The Battery Show, ranging from keynote speeches at the Battery Theater to business lunches in the bustling cafeteria. Battery technology innovations are driving more efficient, sustainable, and scalable EVs and increasing the potential of energy storage systems, which are desperately needed if the battery industry wants to continue to grow.
By 2030, the global electric vehicle market is projected to reach over $820 billion, propelled by increased environmental regulations, consumer demand, and advancements in battery technology. Batteries are at the heart of EVs. As the battery industry improves, so too does the potential of what EVs can do.
Just in the last several years, we’ve seen how battery technology innovations have helped create EVs with faster charger time and longer ranges at a cheaper price point. These continued improvements have primed EVs for mass adoption worldwide, fueled by independent demand and the growing demand from governments pushing progressive regulations.
Energy storage systems are an integral support we need if the battery industry is expected to continue to grow.
With several favorable government policies like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) mandating the integration of energy storage resources into the grid, ESS are experiencing an accelerated market expansion. Technological advancements, like what we see with lithium-ion batteries, have led to a drastic reduction in cost with an equally drastic increase in performance.
Innovations in the EV space can take many forms- from better ways to mine materials to using AI to ensure the most streamlined manufacturing processes. With such a large market, seemingly disconnected innovations all come together to create drastic changes in price (lower) and quality (higher).
This is a self-propelling prophecy of sorts. As EVs improve, offering faster charge times, longer ranges, and more affordable costs, more people go from gas and hybrids to EVs, furthering more developments and capabilities.
Thermal management is one of the biggest engineering challenges in EV battery design and innovation. As battery packs become more energy-dense, controlling temperatures becomes both more complicated and vital.
At the Battery Show, there were numerous discussions about managing heat in EV battery systems, including liquid cooling methods, phase-change materials, and integrated cooling channels. These thermal management solutions will continue driving battery technologies, paving the way for continued advancements.
Growing the battery industry depends wholly on expanding energy-storing systems and the grid. With a grid that can handle increasing amounts of energy demand, there is nothing preventing battery innovations.
But should there be a lacking foundation, battery innovations will be wasted. New ESS and grid solutions were essential topics of discussion at the battery show, underlining their importance for the future of the battery industry.
One major discussion at the Battery Show 2024 was sustainability in EV and Energy Storage Systems. Obviously, a big advantage of the battery industry is that it’s more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels. But that isn’t always the case- sometimes, how we collect and transport battery materials produces excessive waste.
If the battery industry is expected to grow, we need to find more sustainable ways to produce, manufacture, and transport battery and battery materials.
Another huge addition to the sustainability of EVs and ESS is our ability to efficiently recycle batteries and their materials. With new, innovative ways to recycle materials, we’re equipped for the future growth of the battery industry. Every year, we make every aspect of the battery industry more sustainable, and these discussions are a bigger reason for this.
The discussions at the Battery Show also highlighted real-world case studies of how EVs and energy storage systems are being implemented across industries. From electric buses reducing emissions in urban areas to large-scale ESS installations stabilizing grids during peak demand, the future of energy storage is not just theoretical—it’s happening now. Engineers and manufacturers must continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with battery technology to meet the growing demands of an electrified world.
A frequently discussed topic at The Battery Show, whether on the stage, at booths, or on the floor, was AI’s current and future role within the battery industry.
AI already has many uses, from creating better shipping processes to finding improvements for gathering materials. Still, every year, there are more and more innovations in what AI can do to help grow the battery industry.Â
If the battery industry is expected to continue its meteoric rise, AI will have to play a bigger role- whether it’s improving charging methods, discovering more efficient manufacturing processes, or improving how we recycle and reuse low-supply materials.
Drones and personal electronics are both rapidly growing markets.
With these technologies becoming increasingly central to daily life and specialized fields, advancements in battery technology are necessary to meet the rising needs.
Energy efficiency, longevity, and durability need to keep expanding to meet the needs of these growth markets.
At the Battery Show, EMS had several exciting conversations about how our thermal management solutions can be used to improve the effectiveness of battery systems in drones and personal electronics.
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With the global demand for batteries continuing to surge, particularly in sectors like electric vehicles, grid storage, and consumer electronics, gigafactories are transforming the battery industry. These large-scale production facilities are essential for meeting the growing need for high-performance batteries, reducing production costs, and driving innovations that impact the future of energy storage.
A big topic we had at The Battery Show was how gigafactories are necessary for growing the battery industry and how we can make gigafactories even better- whether it’s using better materials in designing these gargantuan manufacturing powerhouses, finding renewable sources of energy to power them, or the best way scale production while decreasing costs.
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With the global demand for batteries continuing to surge in sectors like electric vehicles, grid storage, and consumer electronics, gigafactories are necessary to meet production and manufacturing needs.
Gigafactories are the only manufacturing hubs with the capability and capacity to produce high-quantity goods at a much cheaper price.
Keeping the price point low is integral for growth, with more individuals, companies, and governments seeking out battery-powered goods and EVs.
The reliance on long-distance supply chains is a problem with the growing battery industry.
By having local gigafactories, businesses can reduce transportation costs and minimize environmental impact.
Localizing gigafactories is especially important in protecting against geopolitical factors and global supply chain challenges.
Gigafactories provide a centralized hub of innovation, pushing the technological boundaries in battery composition and manufacturing.
With gigafactories, we have committed professionals, businesses, and innovators working around the clock to find the pinnacle of battery design, product distribution, and energy storage systems.
AI-fueled technologies are being used more and more to increase quality control, monitor equipment health, and optimize manufacturing schedules.
AI can detect errors, predict possible equipment failures, and optimize production schedules by analyzing real-time data from manufacturing processes.
This minimizes waste, improves efficiency, and ensures that each battery produced meets rigorous standards, ultimately driving down costs and improving the reliability of batteries produced at scale.
A large concern with the growing number of gigafactories is the increase in their carbon footprint.
While batteries are touted as a green solution, the environmental impact of mining raw materials, producing battery materials, shipping goods, and creating a robust energy storage system can all add to pollution and waste.
Luckily, more green, environmentally friendly gigafactories are being made than ever before.
These factories use sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint, focusing on recycling, efficiency, and renewable resources.
These initiatives help address the environmental concerns associated with large-scale battery production and align with global sustainability goals.
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The Battery Industry is primed to become one of the biggest markets in the world. As the demand for high-quality, innovative battery solutions rises, EMS will continue providing expert clad metals that can do more than any single metal, helping propel the battery industry forward with less expensive, high-conductive battery materials.
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