May 10, 2024
Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO of UL Solutions, recently moderated an informative discussion on opportunities in the electric vehicle industry at Illinois EV Industry Day, an event fostering collaboration and innovation in the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) advanced manufacturing sector.
An audience of 250 gathered for the panel discussion, titled “Beyond Carbon – Utilizing Federal Incentives & Policies to Grow Industry.” The attendees represented original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as well as companies in the OEM supply chain for EVs.
Prior to the panel discussion, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker led a fireside chat about the unique and rich opportunities for OEMs in the charging infrastructure and supply chains.
Scanlon served as moderator in her role as co-chair of Innovate Illinois — a diverse coalition of business leaders, higher-education institutions and government officials. Her opening remarks emphasized the widespread impact of the transition to clean energy.
“Society is in the middle of a once-in-a-generation shift as the Electrification of Everything disrupts the way we generate, store, transmit and consume energy,” Scanlon said.
Scanlon asked each panelist to describe their strategies for leveraging collaboration to innovate and for unlocking related opportunities in the EV sector.
Joining Scanlon on this panel were leaders from organizations that have an impact on the industry:
- Chris Meister, Illinois Finance Authority
- Nathaniel Horadam, Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, U.S. Department of Energy
- Nathan Niese, Center for Climate Change and Electrification in Automotive at Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
- Tony Reinhart, Government Affairs for Ford
- Dr. Charles John Bopp IV, Illinois State Geological Survey
The panel offered insights not only on the importance of collaboration and communication in technological innovation, but also on approaches for accessing resources that can spur growth in the EV ecosystem.
The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) hosted this industry event on April 25, 2024, at the Westin O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois.
Safety science expertise has enabled UL Solutions to play an integral role in the EV ecosystem for more than 30 years. This work is grounded in our Ambition to be our customers’ most trusted science-based safety, security and sustainability partner.