ELBC is back: same conference, new setting

From my first ELBC in Prague back in 1998 I’ve seen the event grow and change over time, along with the industry.  For me it’s a unique conference which every two years brings together so many friends and colleagues as well as many that are new to the lead battery industry.  With ELBC we strive to provide this special community with the very best global forum for exchanging technical progress on lead battery technology – I passionately believe this is how ELBC can best serve the industry, and it has remained a constant focus over the years.

But 2020 is no normal year, so ELBC has had to adapt, and we are going virtual for the first time.  As a result we have worked harder than ever to retain as many of the event’s benefits as possible for both delegates and exhibitors.

In these unprecedented times there is so much to discuss about how the future will look for lead batteries.  Governments around the world are investing in a green recovery, but what does this really mean for lead batteries? How will our traditional markets bounce back? How is the industry itself adapting to the changes taking place?  Delegates will hear the views of leading market experts including CRU and Avicenne Energy as well as company executives such as Dong Li (founder of Leoch International) and a keynote address from Mark Wallace, newly appointed President and CEO of Clarios.

For the technical program we are planning a novel approach aimed at stimulating the scientific discussions so valued by many at ELBC.  30+ speakers are being asked to pre-record their technical presentations for delegates to watch on demand before the live event starts.  Then over two days we are planning six panel sessions with these speakers from around the world coming together live to discuss their research findings with each other and the many hundreds of delegates joining online who are keen to hear the debate and take part.

And we are very excited about our exhibition, where delegates will be able to wander through our virtual exhibition hall, visit booths and even talk live to the exhibitors on their stands!

This has always been an event run by the industry and for the industry, and both myself and my colleagues at ILA and CBI look forward to bringing together once again the lead battery industry worldwide, and all those connected to it, to reflect on where we are today and how we can ensure a strong and sustainable future in the ‘new normal’. 

Article originally published by Batteries and Energy Storage Technology magazine, p.89, on 21.07.2020.