Battery Safety Summit
Next Generation Advancements for Safe and Efficient Energy Storage System Applications
8/12/2026 - August 13, 2026 ALL TIMES CDT
This conference track will present the next-generation advancements in battery safety across materials development, testing methodologies, diagnostics, battery management systems, forensics, and charging technologies. These critical areas address the complex electrochemical, thermal, and mechanical behaviors inherent to energy storage systems. The 16th Annual Battery Safety Summit will convene global industry leaders, researchers, and innovators to showcase the latest R&D breakthroughs and practical strategies for integrating advanced safety solutions, supporting the safe, efficient, and scalable deployment of energy storage systems to meet growing global market demands. Conveniently timed with the 6th Annual Solid-State Battery Summit, also don’t miss your opportunity to gain critical insights into the latest technical, manufacturing, and commercial developments from the major global players advancing safe solid-state and semi-solid-state battery technologies.
Preliminary Agenda

OEM & MANUFACTURING PERSPECTIVES ON BATTERY SAFETY

An Ounce of Prevention: Formation Data Analysis for Defect Detection at Production Scale

Photo of James Salvador, Staff Researcher, Chemical Sciences & Materials Systems Laboratory, General Motors , Staff Researcher , Chemical Sciences & Materials Systems Lab , General Motors Co
James Salvador, Staff Researcher, Chemical Sciences & Materials Systems Laboratory, General Motors , Staff Researcher , Chemical Sciences & Materials Systems Lab , General Motors Co

In gigawatt Li-ion battery plants, cell defects with vanishingly low probability can occur daily. In this talk, we will show automated gas harvesting and analysis hardware solutions for quantification of formation gas—and software solutions for time series formation charge analysis that can enable in situ determination of cell-quality anomalies that could potentially lead to premature failure. These methods leverage existing data streams to improve safety through prevention.

Battery Thermal Propagation Mitigation Strategies across Cell Chemistries & Cell Form Factors

Photo of Bhaskara Boddakayala, Global Technical Expert, Battery Safety & Materials, Cell Vent Management, Ford Motor Company , Global Tech Expert Battery Safety & Materials , Cell Vent Management , Ford Motor Co
Bhaskara Boddakayala, Global Technical Expert, Battery Safety & Materials, Cell Vent Management, Ford Motor Company , Global Tech Expert Battery Safety & Materials , Cell Vent Management , Ford Motor Co
Photo of Sahil Nagpal , High Voltage Battery CVM Systems Engineer , Ford Motor Company
Sahil Nagpal , High Voltage Battery CVM Systems Engineer , Ford Motor Company

Battery thermal propagation represents one of the most critical safety challenges in modern energy-storage systems, particularly as battery-pack energy densities continue to increase across automotive, stationary storage, and consumer applications. This presentation focuses on analysis and examines current solution trends; compares protection strategies at cell, module, and pack levels; and evaluates chemistry-specific approaches to mitigating thermal-runaway propagation.

THERMAL RUNAWAY MITIGATION

Isolating Internal Shorts with Metallized Polymer Current Collectors

Photo of Eric Darcy, PhD, former Battery Technical Discipline Lead, NASA-JSC; Private Consultant, Darcy Batt Consulting, LLC , NASA-JSC Battery Technical Discipline Lead (Retired) , Darcy Batt Consulting, LLC
Eric Darcy, PhD, former Battery Technical Discipline Lead, NASA-JSC; Private Consultant, Darcy Batt Consulting, LLC , NASA-JSC Battery Technical Discipline Lead (Retired) , Darcy Batt Consulting, LLC

Metallized polymer current collectors for the cathode have been demonstrated to consistently (27 of 27 trials) tolerate nail penetration (shallow or deep) in 21700 cell designs that achieve >250 Wh/kg when coupled with isotropic strength polymer separators and a thermally-stable ceramic coating on the anode active material. Only soft shorts develop and thermal runaway is obviated. High-speed radiography, cell OCV and temperature measurements, and post-test CT images of the nail holes reveal insights into the isolating mechanism. These innovative inert cell features can dramatically improve the safety of the vast majority of Li-ion cell chemistries.

Lithium-ion Battery Fire Suppression for Aircraft Cargo-Compartment Fires

Photo of Judy Jeevarajan, PhD, Vice President and Executive Director, Electrochemical Safety Research Institute, UL Research Institutes , Research Director Electrochemical Safety , Electrochemical Safety , UL Research Institutes
Judy Jeevarajan, PhD, Vice President and Executive Director, Electrochemical Safety Research Institute, UL Research Institutes , Research Director Electrochemical Safety , Electrochemical Safety , UL Research Institutes

Lithium-ion batteries used for portable applications are getting significantly large in terms of energy, and pose fire hazards of concern in the cargo compartments of aircraft. Studies have been carried out that include thermal runaway tests on these batteries ranging from a few tens of Wh to about 350 Wh. Suppressants that include Halon 1301, water, and water additives have been tested to characterize the efficacy of suppression.

Thermal Runaway Risks in Flooded Electric Vehicles: Insights from Submersion Testing and Diagnostics

Photo of Tanvir Tanim, Battery R&D Engineer and Group Lead, Energy Storage Technology Group, Idaho National Laboratory , Battery R&D Engineer and Group Lead , Energy Storage Technology Group , Idaho National Laboratory
Tanvir Tanim, Battery R&D Engineer and Group Lead, Energy Storage Technology Group, Idaho National Laboratory , Battery R&D Engineer and Group Lead , Energy Storage Technology Group , Idaho National Laboratory

Electric vehicle (EV) battery packs pose safety risks during saltwater submersion, as seen in recent hurricane-related incidents leading to thermal runaway. This study examines pack vulnerabilities through teardowns and full-scale immersion tests, identifying failure modes such as seal weaknesses, component degradation, and pathways to thermal runaway. Results show current immersion standards do not ensure safety under prolonged flooding. Early diagnostic signals were also identified, offering potential early warnings before failure. These findings support improved pack design, early-warning systems, updated standards, and emergency response strategies for saltwater-flooded EVs.

Fail-Safe Design of Behind-the-Meter Battery Energy Storage Systems

Photo of Chuanbo Yang, PhD, Senior Engineer, Energy Storage, Energy Conversion & Storage Systems Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory , Sr Engineer Energy Storage , Energy Conversion & Storage Systems Ctr , National Laboratory of the Rockies
Chuanbo Yang, PhD, Senior Engineer, Energy Storage, Energy Conversion & Storage Systems Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory , Sr Engineer Energy Storage , Energy Conversion & Storage Systems Ctr , National Laboratory of the Rockies

Fail-safe design for behind-the-meter battery energy storage systems aims to prevent a single-cell failure from escalating to a module- or rack-level event. This talk presents a bottom-up framework that combines multiscale modeling with targeted experiments to quantify propagation risk and guide design. I will highlight how thermal architecture and battery-management–system controls work together to limit heat- and fault-driven escalation.

Scaling Early Thermal-Runaway Detection from Cell to EV Module

Photo of Loraine Torres-Castro, PhD, Battery Safety Lead, Sandia National Laboratories , Battery Safety Lead , Power Sources R&D , Sandia National Laboratories
Loraine Torres-Castro, PhD, Battery Safety Lead, Sandia National Laboratories , Battery Safety Lead , Power Sources R&D , Sandia National Laboratories

Early thermal-runaway detection in scaled electric-vehicle battery systems remains challenging due to sparse sensing and signal averaging across parallel-connected cells. This study experimentally evaluates advanced gas sensors and high-voltage electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in commercial Tesla modules housed in a pack-representative enclosure. Controlled single-cell overheating was used to assess diagnostic response at module scale, addressing the gap between cell-level validation and full-pack implementation.

SOLID-STATE BATTERY DESIGN AND SAFETY

Liquid, Solid, and Semi-Solid Batteries with Focus on Battery Safety

Photo of John Zhang, PhD, CTO/CSO, Polypore International , CTO/CSO , Polypore International LP
John Zhang, PhD, CTO/CSO, Polypore International , CTO/CSO , Polypore International LP

This presentation will address the safety behavior and underlying mechanisms of SSBs, with direct comparison to liquid-state batteries (LSBs). Testing results show that, during internal shorts in high-energy systems, the severity of fire and explosion follows the order: SSB > LSB. The data indicate a counterintuitive trend—the greater the liquid content in the battery, the safer its behavior under abuse conditions.

Engineered Cathode Chemomechanics Enables Ultra-Low Stack Pressure Solid-State Batteries

Photo of Paul V. Braun, PhD, Professor & Grainger Distinguished Chair, Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign , Prof & Grainger Distinguished Chair , Engineering , Univ Of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Paul V. Braun, PhD, Professor & Grainger Distinguished Chair, Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign , Prof & Grainger Distinguished Chair , Engineering , Univ Of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Stresses resulting from electrode material chemomechanics are strongly coupled to solid electrolyte-electrode interface failures. Such failures are significant barriers to realization of practical Li-metal solid-state batteries (SSBs). We show the importance of cathode chemomechanics at commercially relevant low stack pressures (e.g., <1 MPa). Utilizing these learnings, we build long cycle-life SSBs with practical areal capacity (5 mAh/cm2) operating at less than 1 MPa stack pressure at room temperature.

Safety and Manufacturability of Semi-Solid-State Li-Metal Batteries with Ultra-Thin Anode

Photo of Alex Kosyakov, Co-Founder & CEO, Natrion Inc. , Co Founder & CEO , Natrion Inc
Alex Kosyakov, Co-Founder & CEO, Natrion Inc. , Co Founder & CEO , Natrion Inc

Natrion is the manufacturer of Active Separator, a thin, flexible solid-state electrolyte separator for lithium secondary batteries. Natrion will present its latest validation of the performance and safety of semi-solid lithium-metal batteries pairing Active Separator with 5-20 micrometer-thick lithium-metal anodes. This will include cyclability of high-capacity pouch cells at ambient temperatures and pressures (zero clamping) demonstrating 1000+ Wh/L, 400+ Wh/kg energy densities, as well as independent abuse testing results.

ABUSE TOLERANCE, ADVANCED TESTING, AND SIMULATION

Cycling-Induced Electrode Deformation and the Potential Safety Implications

Photo of Adam Cohn, PhD, Principal Scientist, Materials Science and Electrochemistry, Exponent, Inc. , Principal Scientist , Materials Science and Electrochemistry , Exponent
Adam Cohn, PhD, Principal Scientist, Materials Science and Electrochemistry, Exponent, Inc. , Principal Scientist , Materials Science and Electrochemistry , Exponent

This presentation will examine cycling-induced electrode deformation and the associated potential safety implications.

Flammability and Safety of Next-Generation Battery Electrolytes: From Liquids to Gels

Photo of Mickael Dollé, PhD, Professor, Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal , Professor , Département de chimie , Université de Montréal
Mickael Dollé, PhD, Professor, Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal , Professor , Département de chimie , Université de Montréal

Electrolyte flammability is a critical safety and deployment barrier for next-generation batteries. This presentation introduces standardized flash point measurements applied to both aqueous-organic and gel-polymer electrolytes, providing quantitative insight into ignition risks across liquid and quasi-solid systems. By linking flammability to solvent composition, solvation structure, and polymer-solvent interactions through spectroscopic and data-driven analysis, we highlight key design rules to mitigate volatility and combustion risk. These results offer actionable guidance for industrial development of safer, high-performance electrolyte formulations.

Performance of Highly Durable Zinc Secondary Batteries Using SOE Technology

Photo of Masatsugu Morimitsu, Dr.Eng., Professor, Department of Science of Environment and Mathematical Modeling, Doshisha University , Professor , Department of Science of Environment and Mathematical Modeling , Doshisha University
Masatsugu Morimitsu, Dr.Eng., Professor, Department of Science of Environment and Mathematical Modeling, Doshisha University , Professor , Department of Science of Environment and Mathematical Modeling , Doshisha University

This talk presents the charge-discharge cycling performance of laminated zinc rechargeable batteries using SoE (segmentation of electrolyte) technology for electric vehicles (EVs) and stationary energy-storage applications. This technology suppresses zinc dendrite formation during charging, enabling high durability with stable voltages and high voltage efficiency.

How Safe Are Solid-State Batteries? Identifying Hazards with a Bottom-up Approach

Photo of Nathan Johnson, PhD, Senior Member of Technical Staff, Sandia National Laboratories , Senior Member of Technical Staff , Sandia National Laboratories
Nathan Johnson, PhD, Senior Member of Technical Staff, Sandia National Laboratories , Senior Member of Technical Staff , Sandia National Laboratories

This talk examines safety considerations in solid-state batteries using a bottom-up approach. By analyzing material behavior and interface interactions, we identify potential failure mechanisms and highlight emerging insights that challenge assumptions about the inherent safety of solid-state systems.

KEY STANDARDS FOR ENERGY STORAGE

Developments and Market Updates: Energy Storage System Codes and Standards

Photo of Kevin Fok, Director of Compliance, LG Energy Solution Vertech, Inc. , Director of Compliance , LG Energy Solution Vertech
Kevin Fok, Director of Compliance, LG Energy Solution Vertech, Inc. , Director of Compliance , LG Energy Solution Vertech

Energy-storage systems are continuing to be deployed at a rapid pace. There have also been recent developments in codes and standards requirements. This presentation discusses the market growth, updates about codes and standards, and potential impacts on projects.


For more details on the conference, please contact:
Craig Wohlers
General Manager
Cambridge EnerTech
Phone: 1-617-513-7576
Email: cwohlers@cambridgeenertech.com

For sponsorship information, please contact:
Companies A-K
Sherry Johnson
Senior Business Development Manager
Cambridge EnerTech
Phone: 1-781-972-1359
Email: sjohnson@cambridgeenertech.com

Companies L-Z
Rod Eymael
Senior Business Development Manager
Cambridge EnerTech
Phone: 1-781-247-6286  
Email: reymael@cambridgeenertech.com


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