In an increasingly interconnected world, mobility plays a crucial role in society and the economy. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the transportation sector is responsible for about a fourth of all direct carbon dioxide emissions with on-road vehicles being responsible for about 75% of these emissions. As indicated by IEA, global EV sales had doubled in 2021 and represented nearly 9% of the car market and 2022 is expected to see another all-time high for EV sales and development. In addition, about half of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2035 are expected to be EVs.

Simultaneous greening of the power and transport sectors is required to capture the benefits of clean transportation since EVs are primarily powered by national power grids. As the rollout of EVs continues to accelerate in many parts of the world, huge investments will be required to increase electricity generation, upgrade transmission and distribution infrastructure, and deploy charging stations. Furthermore, policies relating to managed charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies need to be developed to reduce the strain that an EV rollout will have on power grids.

In this panel discussion, we will bring together thought leaders operating in the electricity-transportation nexus to discuss trends, opportunities, and challenges from investments, EV charging, and grid integration. In addition, we will be hosting three successful startup founders to explore the role that EVs can play in tackling upstream and downstream power demand challenges.