Cambridge EnerTech’s

AI for Energy Storage

Optimizing Future Energy Storage Systems with Artificial Intelligence

March 24 - 25, 2026 ALL TIMES EDT



The global energy landscape is undergoing unprecedented transformation, marked by a surge in renewable energy integration, the rapid electrification of transportation, and escalating demands for sustainable and efficient power solutions. Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of this evolution, offering transformative capabilities to optimize every facet of energy. As a pivotal part of Cambridge EnerTech's 43rd Annual International Battery Seminar, this specialized "AI for Energy Storage" program is designed to showcase the latest breakthroughs in AI applications specifically for battery technologies and the broader energy sector. We invite researchers and industry leaders to collaborate and accelerate the development and widespread deployment of intelligent energy solutions.

Monday, March 23

7:00 amRegistration Open and Morning Coffee

4:45 pmClose of Day

Tuesday, March 24

7:00 amRegistration Open and Morning Coffee

8:05 amOrganizer's Remarks

R&D FOR AI BATTERY DEVELOPMENT

8:10 am

Chairperson's Remarks

Eli Leland, PhD, CTO and Co-Founder, Voltaiq

8:15 am

How Machine Learning Prediction Continues to Accelerate Battery Development

Venkat Viswanathan, Associate Professor, University of Michigan and Co-Founder, Aionics

We will discuss how new computational approaches enabled by high-performance computing and machine learning algorithms are accelerating the traditional materials design and commercialization process for battery materials

8:45 am

AI in Battery Technology: From Laboratory Testing to Field Applications

Weihan Li, Junior Professor, RWTH Aachen University

In this talk, I will share insights from the Center for Ageing, Reliability, and Lifetime Prediction of Electrochemical and Power Electronic Systems (CARL) at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, with a focus on Europe's approach to the digitalization of battery technology with AI. By integrating physics-based models with machine learning, our research is advancing intelligent, data-driven strategies for battery testing and real-world field applications. This talk will offer a unique perspective on how AI and digitalization are shaping the future of energy storage systems, with an emphasis on reliability, performance, and sustainability.

9:15 am

Characterization and Design of Battery Electrodes with Generative AI

Isaac Squires, CEO, Polaron

The development of next-generation batteries is bottlenecked by slow, manual scientific workflows. This presentation explores how AI can fundamentally transform how we characterize, design, and optimize battery materials. Drawing on real industrial case studies, we’ll demonstrate how Polaron’s platform combines automated characterization, AI reconstruction, and intelligent design tools to deliver faster insights and higher-performing products—closing the loop between idea, lab, and factory.

9:45 amGrand Opening Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

AI FOR BESS

10:30 am

Battery Intelligence Approach for Large-Scale BESS

Wenjiao Huang, Principal Battery Research Data Scientist, Fluence

This presentation will explore the current state of battery intelligence in large-scale energy storage systems. As transmission-connection energy storage systems regularly top 1 GWh, grids worldwide depend more than ever on reliable performance. Battery intelligence is key: from controls that adapt to state-of-health, to dynamic degradation prediction, to multifaceted balance, and state-of-charge management, to mitigating cyber threats.

11:00 am

Reducing Battery Mass and Cost Through Hybrid Batteries

Ricardo P de Castro, PhD, Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of California Merced

Electrified vehicle missions (cars, drones, etc) require high power, high energy, low cost, low degradation, etc. It is difficult to select a single battery chemistry that fulfills all requirements. We present an optimization-based framework for sizing hybrid battery systems.

11:30 am

Using AI to Maximize BESS Performance and Longevity

Craig Mauel, Manager ESS Services, Saft

Saft is pleased to present, the Intensium Sight (I-Sight) technology: a new, powerful hardware and software tool. I-Sight is an AI-powered cloud platform for energy storage system monitoring and optimization. I-Sight integrates with Saft’s CUBE Battery Management System to deliver predictive maintenance, real-time analytics, and secure data management. With seamless integration, digital twin capabilities, and automated performance tracking, I-Sight enhances system availability, safeguards asset economics, and supports scalable, future-proof energy storage architectures.

12:00 pm

Accelerating Electrical Interconnections with AI

John Glassmire, Vice President of Digital Enablement and Transformation, Hitachi Energy

Increasing electrification—data centers, e-mobility, and industrial—are straining traditional electric grid access approaches. Growing load and generation interconnection queues drive the need for AI-enabled business models and processes to deliver speed-to-power. From energy hubs that unlock BESS value with optimized multi-asset data techniques, to AI-enabled transmission planning accelerating interconnection queues, this talk will cut through the AI-buzz and provide grounded approaches to solve challenges on both sides of the utility meter.

12:30 pmNetworking Luncheon

1:15 pmDessert Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

ADVANCING AI FOR BATTERY APPLICATIONS

1:45 pm

Chairperson's Remarks

Alejandro Franco, PhD, Professor, Université de Picardie Jules Verne

1:50 pm

Battery AI: Hype vs. Reality, and Real-World Use Cases

Eli Leland, PhD, CTO and Co-Founder, Voltaiq

As an MIT study recently highlighted, the hype around AI has failed to materialize measurable returns, with a 95% failure rate. We’ll review a range of the battery industry's ambitious claims and aspirations around AI applications, including proof-of-concepts that are failing to deliver. We’ll then lay out the data building blocks needed to enable scalable AI. Finally we’ll show real-world battery AI delivering measurable returns in production with customers.

2:20 pm

How Rivian Is Using AI to Make EV Charging Smarter

Yash Gupta, Data Scientist, Rivian

Electric vehicles are emerging as a pivotal solution for decarbonizing the transportation sector, the largest contributor to US emissions. Over 70% of EV owners charge immediately after reaching home, missing times when electricity is cheaper and the grid is cleaner, even when their vehicles are already plugged in during these optimal hours. This represents a significant opportunity for OEMs like Rivian to unlock substantial cost savings and emission reductions from EV charging at scale. This presentation explores how Rivian is leveraging AI to transform EVs from potential grid liabilities into intelligent energy assets that benefit owners, utilities, and the environment.

3:20 pmRefreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

PLENARY KEYNOTE

3:50 pm Shep Wolsky Battery Innovator of the Year Award Presentation and

Chairperson's Remarks

Craig Wohlers, General Manager, Cambridge EnerTech

3:55 pm

LFP Cells Are Boring—Why Should I Care?

Jeff Dahn, FRSC, PhD, Professor of Physics and Atmospheric Science & NSERC/Tesla Canada Industrial Research Chair, Dalhousie University

LFP Li-ion cells are now the most common cells in energy storage products and EVs.  They are inexpensive and since they are relatively safe, they can be made in large-Ah-capacity cells, reducing cost and complexity in battery modules and packs. Even though they are not “sexy,” boring old LFP will dominate in many applications for years to come. However, the high-temperature lifetime of LFP cells is poor, which means they require temperature control in many applications to attain an acceptable lifetime. I will explain why the high-temperature lifetime is poor and discuss some strategies to improve it. I will explain how to make LFP cells exciting, including strategies to dramatically increase their energy density.

4:15 pm

Delivering Advanced Battery Technologies for EV Range and Value

George Cintra, Director, Battery R&D, General Motors

General Motors is building an electrification powerhouse, having launched a dozen EVs into the market, ranging from the Equinox EV to the Cadillac Escalade IQ. General Motors is pioneering next-generation battery and manufacturing technologies, such as prismatic cells with LMR cathodes. Mr. Cintra will provide an update on GM’s battery research & development activities, tools and innovations to deliver longer range, lower costs, and faster charging batteries for EV customers.

4:35 pm

Today’s EV Reality and the Path Forward

Tim DeBastos, Managing Director, North American Battery Development, LG Energy Solution

LG Energy Solution is the leading lithium-ion battery manufacturer, working with the top OEMs globally in transforming the automobile industry. The market for EVs is expanding rapidly, driven by both consumer demand and regulatory incentives. In North America, there are unprecedented levels of investment to support EVs, by both OEMs and battery manufacturers. This presentation will discuss market growth projections, announced expansion plans, and the challenges ahead.

4:55 pm

Panasonic Energy: Driving Battery Technology Innovation for Sustainable Growth

Masato Fujikawa, Director, Energy R&D Center, Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Energy has been at the forefront of battery technology development, driving the growth of BEVs and AI. To meet increasing market demand, we are expanding our production capacity in North America and strengthening strategic partnerships. These initiatives will contribute both to the realization of a sustainable society and to our business growth. This presentation will highlight the innovative activities within our battery business from a technological perspective.

5:15 pm

New Science Frontiers in Battery Technologies

Shirley Meng, PhD, The Liew Family Professor, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago

At Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA), an Energy Innovation Hub funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, we focus on energy storage materials beyond lithium ion. ESRA aims to enable transformative discoveries in sodium electrochemistry, an abundant and sustainable energy solution, we hope to lay the scientific foundations for breakthroughs in energy storage technologies enabled by sodium chemistry and train the next-generation battery workforce to ensure U.S. scientific and economic leadership. In this talk, I will discuss a few new perspectives for energy storage materials including new solvation architecture designs for liquid electrolytes and new superionic conductors in soft or hard materials. With recent advances in photon and electron characterization tools and computational methods, we can explore ionic mobility, charge transfer and ion matter interactions in electrochemical system in operando. Let us leverage the modern machine learning and artificial intelligence, powered by our materials acceleration platform and correlative characterization to enable the discovery of new phenomena in the next frontiers of battery technologies.

5:35 pmReception in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

6:35 pmClose of Day

Wednesday, March 25

7:30 amRegistration Open and Morning Coffee

AI FOR BATTERY MANUFACTURING APPLICATIONS

8:55 am

Chairperson's Remarks

Weihan Li, Junior Professor, RWTH Aachen University

9:00 am

EECOPower – A Rapid Battery Testing System for Detection of Defective Cells

Saeid Habibi, PhD, Founder & CEO, EECOMOBILITY; Professor of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University

The automotive industry is experiencing unprecedented recalls for problems with its lithium-ion batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles. Automakers are spending billions of dollars to transition to cleaner and greener battery-powered vehicles, but the new technology has come with an even steeper cost: reputation-damaging vehicle fires, recalls, sudden power loss and problems starting the cars.  The fire incidents are due to the infrequent presence of manufacturing defects and impurities in singular battery cells. Manufacturers cannot find the defects and contaminations during production without conducting exhaustive tests requiring specialized equipment and time-consuming experiments.  EECOMOBILITY has created a Rapid Battery Test system for production lines - EECOPower - that is extremely sensitive and can detect defective cells quickly. Test results from the application of EECOPower for defect detection in battery cell and module manufacturing are presented.

9:30 am

Virtual and Mixed-Reality Platforms for AI-Enhanced Battery Manufacturing

Alejandro Franco, PhD, Professor, Université de Picardie Jules Verne

In this lecture, I will present our research on AI-driven virtual and mixed-reality platforms to enhance decision-making and training for battery manufacturing operators and students. Examples showcase a battery manufacturing metaverse, where geographically dispersed students collaboratively troubleshoot problems, and specific mixed-reality applications for real-time guidance. This work highlights how immersive AI technologies can optimize both operational efficiency and educational outcomes in the battery sector.

10:15 amCoffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)

11:05 am

From Molecules to Market: Multiscale Machine Learning and Informatics for Solid-State Electrolyte Design, Integration, and Scale-Up

Amir Taqieddin, PhD, Principal Scientist, Solid Power

We show how Solid Power integrates multiscale machine learning (ML), informatics, and physics-guided surrogates to design efficient solid-state electrolytes, linking atomistic structure to process conditions and cell metrics. We demonstrate ultra-early predictions, intelligent design of experiments, and robust optimization pipelines that speed materials design, streamline cell integration, and improve manufacturing scale-up to deliver a faster, more effective path to market for solid-state electrolytes.

11:35 am

Scaling AI for Solid-State Battery Manufacturing: From Defect Detection to ML Pipelines

Xiaoyu Wen, Principal Member of Technical Staff, QuantumScape

Next-generation batteries require intelligent, adaptive manufacturing systems to scale ceramic-based architectures and meet demands for high energy density and safety. Innovative developers use AI to optimize processes, enabling high-throughput and predictive analytics. The session will detail how image-based deep learning models detect product defects in ceramic separators. These robust machine learning pipelines are scaled to optimize yields, ensure safety and reliability, and accelerate defect-free solid-state battery manufacturing.

12:35 pmNetworking Luncheon (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)

1:20 pmDessert Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)

1:50 pmClose of Conference Track





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