There were two large auto industry shows that opened last week in metro Detroit: one that mattered to the future of the entire industry and was well attended, and one that didn't have the same energy.
The Battery Show may not have the glamour or historical gravitas of the former North American International Auto Show. And it was held in Novi, a suburb of Detroit, rather than in the heart of the Motor City. But inside, it featured hundreds of tech companies vying for a share of the emerging electric vehicle and battery industry.
While the Detroit show was almost a ghost town for much of last week, the Battery Show was swarming with gear heads, scientists and tech companies offering ways to support — and capitalize on — the industry's EV future.
Detroit 3 automakers used the hometown show to unveil updates to a handful of gasoline-powered vehicles while remaining committed to a future that's all — or almost all — electric.
The Detroit auto show has struggled to find its footing post-pandemic for a number of reasons. But to eventually sell EVs at scale, automakers need consumer buy-in. They need to be able to explain charging, ensure safety and bring down EV prices. And they need to get consumers comfortable with a new type of vehicle. The EV test tracks at the auto show are a good first step since so many consumers have never even been in an electric car.
At the Battery Show a half-hour drive to the northwest, another part of the industry was working to establish the building blocks that should eventually help soothe consumers' nerves.
Conversations revolved around battery safety and fire risk, sourcing lithium and other essential battery materials, and advancing battery cell chemistry for longer range and lower costs. Speakers also discussed preparing the electric grid for EVs and expanding public charging infrastructure.
Thirty miles is too great a distance between the automakers and the companies supporting their EV vision — but it won't last. Next year, the shows will presumably be separated by days, not miles, as the Battery Show is scheduled for October and is moving to Huntington Place, home of the auto show.
Maybe the Detroit auto show will be revitalized once more EVs are available and the "how" of the EV future is clear. Until then, a battery show is exactly what the industry needs.
