Speaker Spotlight

Each of our featured speakers is a trailblazer in their field, selected for their ability to provide leading insights and drive meaningful conversations. Their diverse experiences and accomplishments contribute to a more comprehensive and dynamic experience for our audience

#TheBatteryShow

Discover More About Our Speakers

Welcome to our Speaker Spotlight, where we shine a light on the inspiring voices that are shaping the future of the advanced battery and H/EV industries. Learn more about our featured speakers’ accomplishments including white papers, published articles, recorded interviews, reading recommendations, and much more.
Check back weekly for newly featured speakers and their latest work!

Featured Speakers and Their Latest Work

John Warner
Chief Customer Officer
American Battery Solutions, Inc.

Chairman's Welcome Address & Keynote Presentations

Dr. John Warner is a globally recognized expert in lithium-ion battery technology, electrification strategy, and clean mobility innovation. With a career spanning automotive OEMs, five battery tech start-ups, and a successful investor exit via the Komatsu acquisition of American Battery Solutions, John blends hands-on engineering with executive-level foresight.

He is the author of The Handbook of Lithium-Ion Battery Pack Design and Lithium-Ion Chemistries: A Primer, widely used across academic, government, and industrial sectors. John's expertise extends into licensing cutting-edge battery management systems, navigating U.S.–China trade dynamics, and helping shape the future of energy storage across transit, off-road, and industrial vehicle sectors.

When he's not presenting at major industry events like The Battery Show or PlugVolt, John’s working behind the scenes driving sales training, moderating panels on U.S. energy policy, and advising on sustainable battery innovation strategies. An adventurer at heart, he recharges by exploring national parks and tackling off-grid treks — all while staying a step ahead in electrifying the future.

CalStart Podcast from 2025:
American Battery Solutions Tal…–Transition to Zero – Apple Podcasts

GEM Webinar/Podcast The Road to 2030:
GEM Propulsion Batteries Webinar

Pranav Jaswani
Technology Analyst
IDTechEx

Direct Lithium Extraction: Unlocking the True Potential of Lithium Brines

Pranav is a Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, focusing on electric vehicle and energy storage technologies. Pranav graduated from Imperial College London with an MEng in Chemical Engineering. Prior to joining IDTechEx in 2023, he worked as a market intelligence analyst for a leading financial technology company, developing experience in identifying short and medium-term market opportunities.

At IDTechEx, Pranav's work focuses on electric vehicles and battery technology, including authoring reports on Additives for Li-ion Batteries & PFAS-Free Batteries and Direct Lithium Extraction. He continues to attend events to carry out research and present IDTechEx's research findings at conferences.

Paul Charles
Principal
Charles and Associates, LLC

From EV to ESS: Manufacturing, Capacity Allocation & U.S. Localization

Webinar: Grid Law and the AI Data Center
Why Power Availability and Energy Storage Now Define AI Deployment Soteria Battery Innovation Group Recording: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hc7umn6g0rgz8rd756c2j/2.-Grid-Law-the-AI-Data-Center.mp4?rlkey=u35bd3v3zg0zsueu4rxo9jczr
This session introduces “Grid Law,” the concept that power delivery capacity now governs AI deployment velocity more than semiconductor availability. The discussion examines gigawatt scale demand, battery enabled architectures, grid constraints, and time to power bottlenecks affecting hyperscale and AI factory development.
NAATBatt International – ESS & Data Center Community Presentation
Live presentation using the same Grid Law deck, focused on AI load density, tiered battery storage architectures, time to power risk, safety considerations, and infrastructure execution models.
International Keynotes and Industry Leadership
Recent global presentations include keynote participation in Shenzhen and chairing Gigafactory Summits in the United States. LinkedIn activity:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulcharles-energythoughtleader/recent-activity/all/
Industry Interview – Fastmarkets
Discussion covering battery supply chains, infrastructure deployment, and global manufacturing strategy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SosolKGuifQ

John Zhang
Chief Technology Officer and
Chief Science Officer
Celgard LLC

(Solid/Liquid) Lithium Battery Safety and High Energy Density: Contradictory Mechanism and Solutions

In 2026, Dr. Zhengming (John) Zhang continues to advance lithium‑ion battery safety through research, standards leadership, and industry engagement. His latest work builds on the Internal Spot Shorting–Induced Thermal Runaway Mechanism (ISSITRM) and the ongoing global adoption of ceramic‑coated separator (CCS) technology, which is widely used to improve safety and performance in high‑energy lithium‑ion cells.
Dr. Zhang’s thought leadership also reflects his role in establishing production‑level lithium‑ion battery safety standards as a leader of the cell‑level working groups for IEEE P1625 and IEEE P1725, translating scientific understanding into real‑world safety improvements across consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and energy‑storage systems.
He remains an active keynote speaker, panelist, and conference organizer, with more than 60 international battery conferences organized to date, and regularly shares expert perspectives on battery safety, separator innovation, and the future of energy storage.
In recognition of the sustained impact of his work, Dr. Zhang received the 2026 NAATBatt Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring extraordinary contributions to the advancement, safety, and impact of lithium‑ion battery technology.

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