The NAATBatt annual conference truly was the experience that I needed at this exact point in time to put the ‘puzzle pieces’ together, meet the right people, and approach my next steps with confidence!

*Pestana Solutions was the photographer at the NAATBatt conference.*

About the conference

Last week in Orlando, Florida, NAATBatt International held its 2025 Annual Conference, bringing together industry, academia, and government to share and discuss hot topics in the battery industry.

The event included sports tournaments, NAATBatt committee meetings, networking events, the NAATBatt Executive Dinner, company presentations, panels on topics like AI and “moonshots” in the industry, a women in battery lunch, and awarding Shirley Meng and Kurt Kelty the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Overall, it was the place to be if you’re a leader in the battery industry!

I had the pleasure of being the unofficial NAATBatt photographer at the event, equipped with my Canon R6 Mach ii. All of these pictures were taken either by me or with my camera if I’m in the photo. I look forward to Pestana Solutions supporting future conferences and events with our media services.

The Puzzle of the US Battery Industry

I recently produced a video about the Li-Bridge Industry Report, from which I was inspired to create the visual framework for the US Battery Value Chain Goals (US BVG).

My question has been, since the report was written in 2022, where are we now?

Have we achieved any of the goals? How far do we have to go?
What is going on regarding the Workforce Development council? Does it exist?
Who is really leading this effort and Li-Bridge? Who is ensuring people are on track to knowing and reaching the goals?

It felt like a bunch of puzzle pieces that I’ve been finding through google searches, chats with colleagues, and the report itself, but I was having trouble putting it together and seeing the big picture.

US Battery Value Chain Goals Graphics! One icon for each of the 5 objectives.

Many of my questions were answered…

The U.S. Battery Value Chain (BVG) objectives were a recurring theme throughout the conference—whether speakers realized it or not. Nearly every discussion touched on at least one of these goals, highlighting their relevance across the industry (though, surprisingly, very few people have actually read the Li-Bridge report!).

Below I summarize key take-aways for each goal:

Attract Investment

Many companies are navigating uncertainty in funding as evolving regulations and federal-level pauses create temporary slowdowns. The long-term outlook for the battery industry remains strong, driven by rising global demand. This lull won’t last forever. Securing investment remains a top priority, and the companies that will thrive are those embracing strategic partnerships, joint developments, joint ventures, and innovative business models. These aren’t just pathways to profitability; they’re key to attracting the capital needed to fuel the next wave of battery innovation.

2. Innovation Support

During her Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech, Shirley Meng highlighted the critical need for sustained investment in R&D to drive future advancements. In the ‘Moonshot’ panel, where the “battery race” was likened to the historic “space race,” experts debated the complexities of collaborating with China to build a robust battery value chain. One key takeaway was clear: from new chemistries to improved manufacturing and recycling processes, innovation is essential. We need to reduce energy consumption of the manufacturing process and make cleaner, smaller, safer batteries. However, a major bottleneck remains… pilot-scale production capacity in the U.S. is severely lacking, posing a challenge for scaling these breakthroughs.

I also want to highlight an insightful panel on AI in the battery industry. While it was exciting to hear about AI applications in market predictions, manufacturing, material development, and beyond, the discussion underscored a critical challenge that often gets overlooked: AI is only as good as the data it’s built on. Many companies lack large, clean, and accurate datasets—leading to the classic “garbage in, garbage out” problem. This is why companies aiming to lead in AI-driven battery R&D and quality control need platforms like Micantis, which are designed to manage and optimize large-scale battery testing data.

3. Resource Security

This challenge remains a significant hurdle, with multiple companies showcasing their efforts to address it—from domestic graphite production to the introduction of novel materials and chemistries like COnovate’s eCOphite, as well as advancements in battery recycling. The Li-Bridge Track & Trace committee explored policy approaches for critical minerals, emphasizing that any proposed policies must be both technically feasible and value-added for companies to drive meaningful industry adoption.

The ‘Moonshot’ panel made a bold statement: “Cobalt is gone.” More companies are shifting toward LFP or variations of LMFP (M = transition metal) to cut costs and reduce reliance on China-controlled cobalt. This transition reflects a growing industry push for more sustainable, cost-effective, ethical, and geopolitically secure battery chemistries.

4. Workforce Development

Pestana Solutions is excited to join the Education Committee of NAATBatt! It’s inspiring to see so many efforts dedicated to battery education, spanning K-12, trade schools, community colleges, and universities. With many states funding workforce development programs, the connection between education and industry growth is stronger than ever, influencing where companies choose to build. However, a key challenge remains: the need for a centralized resource to catalog available training programs and identify gaps where new educational initiatives are still needed. There's important work ahead to bridge these gaps and support the industry's future workforce!

A notable shift in educational advocacy is the evolving rhetoric around battery education. Given the current administration’s anti-EV stance, it’s now crucial to frame discussions beyond just EV batteries. Instead, messaging should emphasize broader themes like “energy dominance,” “energy security,” and “education for innovation” to align with policy priorities and ensure continued support for battery workforce development.

5. Public-Private Partnership

Although there isn’t a centralized program management office as outlined in the Li-Bridge report, collaboration between government and industry is happening through SAE committees and Li-Bridge, with significant overlap between the two. I had the pleasure of meeting David Roberts, Director of Li-Bridge, where I shared the U.S. Battery Value Chain (BVG) visual framework and video I created. Excitingly, Li-Bridge has recently launched its LinkedIn page and is gearing up to enhance its communication and organization—great progress for strengthening industry connections!

It was great getting to know Sir Stanley Whittingham (Nobel Laureate for the invention of the lithium-ion battery) and Jim Greenberger, Executive Director of NAATBatt International!

5 Key Takeaways from the NAATBatt 2025 Conference

1. Investment Uncertainty, but Long-Term Growth

Despite regulatory shifts and temporary funding slowdowns, the demand for batteries remains strong. Companies securing strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and innovative business models will be best positioned to attract capital and lead the next wave of battery innovation.

2. Innovation Needs More R&D and Pilot-Scale Capacity

The push for cleaner, smaller, and safer batteries continues, but U.S. pilot-scale production remains a major bottleneck for scaling new technologies. AI in the battery industry holds promise but requires large, high-quality datasets to avoid the “garbage in, garbage out” problem—highlighting the need for better data management platforms like Micantis.

3. Resource Security is Driving Chemistry Shifts

Companies are focusing on domestic graphite production, novel materials and chemistries, and battery recycling to secure resources. A major trend: Cobalt is being phased out, with LFP and LMFP chemistries gaining traction to reduce costs and minimize reliance on China-controlled supply chains.

4. Workforce Development is a Critical Focus

Battery education efforts span K-12, trade schools, community colleges, and universities, with state funding influencing where companies build. However, a centralized database of training programs is still missing, and messaging is shifting from “EV batteries” to broader themes like “energy security” and “education for innovation” to align with policy priorities.

5. Public-Private Partnerships Are Strengthening

While a centralized program management office doesn’t exist, collaboration between government and industry is growing through SAE committees and Li-Bridge. The launch of Li-Bridge’s LinkedIn page signals an effort to enhance communication, providing more structure for industry coordination.

Final Thought: The conference reinforced the U.S. Battery Value Chain Goals across investment, innovation, resource security, workforce development, and public-private partnerships. It’s clear that while progress is being made, significant gaps remain—and industry leaders must stay proactive in shaping the future of U.S. battery manufacturing.

Want to be a part of developing the US Battery Value Chain?

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5 Key Insights from the NAATBatt 2025 Annual Conference