Hear from Acculon Energy President, Andrew Thomas, as he shares his key takeaways from Acculon’s experience at The Battery Show 2024!
Contact: Betsy Barry
Communication Manager
706.206.7271
betsy.barry@acculonenergy.com
This year, Acculon Energy made its debut at the Battery Show 2024. What an action-packed week we had. Acculon’s president, Andrew Thomas, offers his post-show insights and looks ahead to next year’s show, and beyond! Come along as we discuss the company’s inaugural experience as an exhibitor, key takeaways from the event, and the innovations in battery tech that caught his eye during North America’s biggest battery event.
Interviewer: This year was Acculon Energy’s first time showcasing at the Battery Show. What are your biggest takeaways from the event?
Acculon President: It’s been an exciting experience for us. The Battery Show is one of the premier events in the energy storage industry, and being here for the first time with our own booth was a game-changer. I think the biggest takeaway for me is just how quickly the battery landscape is evolving. There’s a palpable sense of optimism and creativity across the industry, and the shift toward more sustainable and efficient solutions is accelerating faster than ever. The level of engagement from attendees also exceeded my expectations—people are looking for real solutions to global challenges, and they’re ready to invest in innovation.
Interviewer: Was there anything in particular about the show that surprised you?
Acculon President: I was surprised by the diversity of applications for energy storage that were on display. From traditional EV and grid storage solutions to new and emerging applications in aerospace, construction, and the marine sector—there’s a real broadening of how and where advanced batteries can be utilized. Also, the cross-disciplinary collaboration stood out. Companies that traditionally would have only been focused on one sector are now sharing technology and knowledge across industries and market segments to tackle shared problems like advanced and novel cell chemistry, energy density, recycling, and supply chain resiliency. It’s exciting to see that convergence.
Also, I saw innovations in manufacturing equipment, manufacturing processes, and product solutions that improve the quality and drive down the cost of batteries. The industry is certainly not standing still–rather it is full steam ahead.
Interviewer: Speaking of innovation, what kind of technological advancements did you see at this year’s show that have you excited about the future of energy storage?
Acculon President: There were several, but one that really stood out to me was the advancement in battery manufacturing. I also noticed a show-wide focus on safety and innovations surrounding safety. This ranged from manufacturers to manufacturing equipment providers to software providers, commonly marketing the improvement in quality control that is possible with new technology. There were also multiple vendors with new materials and new methods for building safer batteries. I may have some bias based on my personal and our corporate belief that safety enables scale, but I was excited to see safety come into such sharp focus in our industry.
Another broad theme at the show focused on the stage the market is currently in. The world has significant experience in developing and delivering electrified solutions and the ecosystem is evolving from the go-to-market phase into the optimization stage. Where we are on the learning curve was evidenced by the refined approaches, new products, and innovative ways of doing the same job that were marketed by almost all the firms at the show.
Also, there was a range of new batteries, materials, and new battery chemistries with great promise. Examples at the show were solid, semi-solid states, sodium ion, and lithium, sulfur batteries. Understanding new technology requires more data and more analysis, but the innovation engine is hot and the disruption will continue. Our job as the battery company–as the system integrator–is to de-risk these innovations on behalf of our customers and increase the rate of electrician adoption by using the right battery chemistry for the right application to ultimately drive down the price.
Lastly, another exciting area of innovation was in battery management systems (BMS). The next generation of BMS is becoming much more intelligent, with AI integration that allows for real-time optimization and predictive maintenance. This can significantly extend the life of batteries and improve efficiency, which is critical as the world increasingly depends on these systems.
“I think one of the unexpected insights was how many attendees were looking for solutions that were not just innovative but also safe & reliable, especially at the level of system integration. […] That aligns perfectly with what we’re doing […] focused on delivering scalable, safe, & sustainable solutions that can be implemented today.”
– Andrew Thomas,
Acculon Energy President
Interviewer: How was your experience having a booth at the exhibition for the first time?
Acculon President: It was fantastic. There’s something about having a physical presence that brings a new level of engagement with the audience and the industry as a whole. We were able to demonstrate our latest energy storage solutions firsthand and have deeper, more meaningful conversations with potential partners, battery experts, customers, and even competitors. It was also a great opportunity to get real-time feedback on our products. The level of interest we received, especially in our commitment to safety testing and certification, was more than we could have anticipated. I think the booth gave us an excellent platform to elevate our brand and highlight what makes us unique in the marketplace.
Interviewer: What did you learn from the interactions with attendees that you didn’t expect?
Acculon President: I think one of the unexpected insights was how many attendees were looking for solutions that were not just innovative but also safe and reliable, especially at the level of system integration. There’s a real hunger for practical advancements—technologies that can be commercialized now, rather than in five or ten years, as well as solutions that are low-to-no maintenance and designed to last a generation or longer. That aligns perfectly with what we’re doing at Acculon, where we’re focused on delivering scalable, safe, and sustainable solutions that can be implemented today. It’s encouraging to know that the market is not only ready but actively seeking out these solutions.
Interviewer: You mentioned modular battery systems. Could you expand on what Acculon is doing in that space and how it fits into the future of energy storage?
Acculon President: Absolutely. Our modular battery systems are designed to be flexible and adaptable, making them ideal for a range of commercial and industrial applications and hybrid energy systems, where safety, reliability, and scalability are paramount. What we’re particularly proud of is our commitment to safety beyond standards and the versatility of our design, which allows users to easily expand to accommodate different cell chemistries as needed, for example, without overhauling the entire system or going back to the design drawing board. This is crucial for industries like telecommunications and data centers, where energy demands can fluctuate, and downtime isn’t an option. At the show, we received a lot of interest in this technology, especially from sectors looking to integrate more renewable energy sources into their operations without sacrificing safety and reliability.
Interviewer: What’s next for Acculon Energy after this debut?
Acculon President: The Battery Show has provided us with a lot of momentum. Our immediate focus is on continuing to scale our operations and get our products into the hands of more customers as we grow into our role as a leader in the domestic manufacturing of advanced battery modules and packs. We’re also looking at expanding our partnerships, especially with companies and organizations focused on mission-critical power and renewable energy integration. In terms of innovation, we’re doubling down on R&D for next-generation energy storage solutions, including exploring new chemistries in our battery testing lab that can push the boundaries of what’s currently possible. Overall, we’re excited about what’s ahead, and this experience has solidified our belief that Acculon can play a leading role in shaping the future of energy storage.
Interviewer: It sounds like the Battery Show has been a great platform for Acculon Energy to launch into the spotlight. Any final thoughts on the experience?
Acculon President: I would say that the Battery Show 2024 has exceeded our expectations in every way. It’s been a great opportunity to showcase our technology, meet with potential collaborators, and learn from the incredible innovation happening across our industry. If there’s one thing I’d highlight, it’s that the energy storage sector is more dynamic than ever before. The future looks bright, and we’re excited to be a part of it.
Acculon Energy’s debut at the Battery Show 2024 marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for our company, and we are committed to making a significant impact on the future of energy storage solutions. Stay tuned as we continue to push the envelope in innovation and sustainability!