• Tuesday 10/12
• Wednesday 10/13
• Thursday 10/14

Program

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Workshops

PEVs 101: Getting Plugged In

This workshop will provide a high level overview of the plug-in electric vehicle value chain--from plug to wheel--providing participants with enough technical knowledge to comfortably navigate this new landscape. Presentations will be made by experts on various charging and electric drive technologies and on the basic challenges currently facing wide-scale PEV adoption. Experts will divide their time between lectures and Q&A opportunities to ensure broad participation. If you are new to the world of electric drive, this workshop will provide the ideal opportunity to establish a solid understanding of the industry.

Standards and “Advanced” Charging

Anyone who has been active in the electric drive industry over the last several years understands the complexity and challenge presented by various layers of technology being overlaid to provide a seamless and effective charging solution. Join a panel of expert, utility and automotive engineers, who will provide the most up-to-date information on what standards have been established, what is currently being worked on and where major gaps exist.

Start it Up: Economic Development and Venture Capital Opportunities

With no clear solution to the many challenges that exist within the electric drive industry, there remain significant opportunities for venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and states looking to attract new businesses. This workshop will bring together notable venture capital investors with economic development professionals and business leaders from across Michigan to discuss the challenges and opportunities available for start-ups. This is a unique opportunity to obtain inside knowledge from and network with major market makers.

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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Vision Panel: The Times, They are A-Changin’

Trends outside the auto industry will drive, and perhaps determine, the success of PEVs. Consumer, technological, societal, and environmental factors are motivating change across the globe. The Vision Panel will discuss the scope of change and the opportunities presented by the rapidly evolving political, societal and business worlds. Panelists, representing a diverse group of “game-changing” organizations, will discuss these trends from angles not conventionally approached.

9:45 – 11:30 a.m.
Industry Panel: From ICE to PEV – Enormous Change, Great Opportunity

With new market forces at work, the PEV paradigm will demand that significant change occur within the utility, automotive supplier, car manufacturer and investor communities. This panel will focus on the scope of change from the stakeholder’s point of view. Senior leaders representing key PEV domains will discuss their visions on creating pathways for the successful implementation of PEVS.

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

Preparing the PEV Workforce

The infusion of PEV technology will require a diffusion of new skills and knowledge throughout the automotive workforce (and beyond). From the engineers who create and deploy the technologies to the service technicians who will maintain and repair the vehicles in the field, nearly everyone will need to demonstrate competency with this new powertrain and the vehicle systems that surround it. In this session, we will explore:

• What types of partnerships exist or will need to exist to accomplish this transition in skills for the PEV workforce?
• How educators, training institutions, and workforce development organizations will respond to the need for advanced skills?
• The available pathways for unemployed automotive engineers and technical workers to upgrade their skills and find new employment opportunities?

Discovering the Lithium Trail

There has been a great deal of hyperbole surrounding Lithium. Some suggest that the PEV would do nothing more than trade foreign oil for foreign lithium. Others suggest lithium is readily available and presents no meaningful barriers. ‘Discovering the lithium trail’ will investigate the entire value chain – from mining and refining to recycling of Lithium.

We’re Building Them – So, Who’s Going to Buy Them?

Last year, the BPI conference looked at the question of When We Build It…Will They Come? This year, several manufacturers are introducing PEV models into the market. The question now becomes ‘So, Who’s Going to Buy Them?’ Possibly the most challenging variable in the business of plugging-in equation is consumer acceptance. Beyond an early price disadvantage, the PEV will also present some different use characteristics. This panel will include representation from the vehicle manufacturers, and consumer research to address near-term (and longer) consumer acceptance of the PEV.

3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

The Smart Start-Up

Innovation is critical to the business of plugging in. There are numerous start-ups, both big and small, looking to move the PEV needle. This session will highlight the challenges, opportunities and business models for starting a PEV-based company. Participants will include executives of successful start-ups, venture capitalists and economic development officials.

Plugged-In and Connected

The motor vehicle industry is currently undergoing two paradigm shifts: electrification of the powertrain and introduction of communications technology to support connectivity, including both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. This fortuitous timing introduces important synergies that benefit both technological advances. Indeed, connectivity will prove far more important for plug-in vehicles than it is for traditional ICE vehicles. Speakers will be drawn from several sectors, including the vehicle industry, connected vehicle technology providers, electric utilities, and departments of transportation.

Launch 2010: Managing Expectations

We are rapidly approaching market introduction of the PEVs by major vehicle manufacturers. Significant effort has gone into advancing the “readiness” of buyers and infrastructure, with varied results. These next 18 months could be an enabler for a longer term success strategy. Yet early stumbles could prove troublesome for all stakeholders. Initial PEV buyers will be some of the most connected consumers ever. They will certainly let the world know about the good, the bad and the ugly of their PEV experiences. This breakout session will address the near-term threats to successful launch, including delays in installation, permits for home charging, consumer dissatisfaction with technology, and local grid issues.

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Thursday, October 14, 2010

8:00 – 9:45 a.m.
Business Panel: Reshaping and Redefining an Industry

There comes a time when stakeholders must get down to the ‘business of plugging in’. The Business panel will dive into the challenge of creating business strategies and products for plugging in. Panelists from key stakeholder segments will discuss the strategies, business models and products critical to the success of the PEV.

10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Reshaping the City – Leading the Local Charge

Plug-in ready or progressive, the evolution of a city that is prepared for wide scale adoption of PEVs will take vision, leadership and action. This panel will include leaders from cities that are spearheading the charge to plug in, their challenges and solutions.

12:00 – 1:15 p.m.
BPI Today – Headlines from The Business of Plugging In

The closing panel will bring together a select group of journalists “assigned” to cover BPI, to summarize the conference and discuss key lessons learned from the event. Offering the perspective of the ‘fourth estate’, the journalists will have the opportunity to draw focus to issues that attendees should reflect upon and share with their respective organizations.

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