The Automobile – The Transition from Energy Guzzler to Power Supplier

Innovative automobile batteries are getting ready to leave the research labs to become components of modern vehicles. During the worldwide introduction of lithium-ion batteries in hybrid cars, the European automotive industry is preparing to take over global leadership.

New mild-hybrid concepts facilitate significant CO2 savings at a perspectively very favorable cost/benefit ratio. Even the well-established lead acid starter battery is undergoing massive innovation to meet the challenges of growing electrical facilitation, energy management, and stop/start functionality as a low-cost commodity.

In Europe, plug-in hybrids and battery-driven vehicles are increasingly viewed as interesting options to substitute crude oil as a primary energy source and at the same time, reduce CO2 emission.

Electro-mobility brings about challenges for electric power grid regulation, and also offers the opportunity of utilizing millions of traction batteries as a buffer for the stabilization of the grid, especially for the increasing share of renewable and fluctuating power generators as well.

Current developments, trends and perspectives will be presented during a 2-Day Technical Conference taking place on January 20th to 21st 2009, in the Haus der Technik in Essen. For the first time in the German-speaking region, this conference offers a forum to the developers of batteries, battery material, energy management and storage system solutions. An additional emphasis is also placed on networking these activities with the electric utilities.

This symposium will present and document the state-of-the-art in all fields found in the value-added chain, and at the same time, facilitate communication between industries and economic areas not interacting at this time. Renowned international scientists and engineers will be attending the conference in Essen, to discuss the technical innovation and visionary possibilities of utilizating this novel battery concept in vehicles and other applications.

For more information, please contact Haus der Technik – Ms. Sabine Gebauer
++49 (0) 201/1803-344 Fax ++49 (0) 201/1803-346, information@hdt-essen.de