09:30-18:00, Thursday 3 December 2009
SHIFT 2009 is a unique conference event focusing on near to market electric vehicles, energy storage technologies, charging infrastructure, and new business models for the automotive industry. SHIFT brings together world class vehicle manufacturers & brand owners, advanced technology companies, experts, consultants and leaders from research and other institutions in order to share knowledge and make new connections. Electrifying the automotive sector is a key part of the UK and several global governments low carbon transition plans, and SHIFT 2009 explores the principal challenges and opportunities which will emerge on the path to a low carbon transport sector.
Electric cars are coming. Their use would tend to reduce demand for oil and increase demand for electricity, which can be derived from renewable sources and can be transported thousands of miles rapidly and much more easily than via tankers and lorries carrying fuel. Where electric cars are driven, it will improve life and lifestyle: quieter and no local emissions. They are more fit-for-purpose especially in urban situations, because of the high torque and high efficiency in accelerating as compared to combustion engines.
This is a very large potential market, growing from a low base: exciting combination! There will be technology start up opportunities. There will be growth and diversification opportunities. There will be distribution and dealership opportunities. And there will be investment and infrastructural opportunities. The conference helps to discover these and meet other people who are interested in taking them forward.
Flyer information for sponsors and delegates
Programme
SHIFT 2009 Conference Executive Summary (PDF)
Conference SHIFT 2009
The conference will take place on 3 December 2009; we aim for 140 senior executives to attend, including about 10% investors, 25% high tech SME or multinational brand automotive companies moving forward with alternative vehicles coming to market in the next 0-2 years. Please contact us for more information or register for event(s) now.
Background to themes
It is clear from the past event in this series that there is an urgent need to upgrade the infrastructure and move to electric vehicles, so that the ubiquitous and flexible form of energy, electricity, could be used, a technology that can reach levels of around 8 kWh per 100-person-kilometre as compared to an average of 80 kWh per 100-person-kilometres for a typical internal combustion engine car (source: Professor David JC Mackay, Cambridge University, Chief Scientific Advisor of the Department of Energy and Climate Change, UK).
Goals and attendees
The 2nd SHIFT 2009 Conference is an important business gathering on the sustainable automotive topic. This follows the successful 1st SHIFT Conference in Oxford in 2007. Transport represents around a third of CO2 emissions for Western countries and is one of the largest and most important markets, the car being the second most important purchase for most people. It is a powerful opportunity for business leaders to meet with politicians, scientists, economists, and other thought leaders to address the most significant challenge of our time: how to stimulate a green recovery and put the world on a path to a prosperous low-carbon future, based on clean vehicles.
The conference will note billions of pounds worth of investment in this sector within the next three years in countries globally, such as in the USA, China, France and Germany. We will talk about the opportunities and where they are. We will ask: where will the raw material come from and is there enough? We know that metal is highly, almost 100% recyclable. Do the batteries of today deliver a competitive holistically-calculated ROI/Total-Cost-Of-Ownership for drivers as against petrol. And we will look at the improvements to this coming in through battery nanotechnologies and other technologies.
Strategy, investment and policy frameworks
How will the brand car makers position and extend their new (eV) brands? How will they approach these new markets? What are their beliefs about cannibalisation? How ready are they to move into spaces that reduce use of fossil fuel?
SHIFT takes place in the exciting days before the world is looking to the new Kyoto: the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, which aims to forge a new global framework on climate change, and at a time when many countries are mobilizing resources in response to the global economic downturn. Transport is a large market and a part of the opportunity to change. Many commentators say that the electric segment of the automotive sector will grow strongly going forward. We have before us an unique chance to shape the approach that will determine the future. The outcome of the SHIFT conference will feed into the negotiation process via government representatives at the event and in later communications.
Why attend SHIFT 2009?
Learn about sustainable transport issues and solutions
Develop a shared vision of the sustainable future of the automotive industry with international business leaders
Acquire, understand, keep customers
Transform your business in the automotive sectors
Find low carbon innovation partners
Invest in deep technology companies
Market your brand
Plenary Sessions
Introduction: Infrastructure, Integration: the challenge for alternative vehicles
Electric and Alternative Vehicle Technologies in the Global Park
Battery storage and (Nano) technology for enhanced life and better ROI
Exciting Lifestyle Branded Real Near-to-Market Electric Vehicle Examples
Final: Strategy, Investment, Stimuli and Policy
Who should attend?
Business leaders in large and small energy sector companies and their suppliers, technology providers, engineers, scientists, business developers, expert consultants, economists, politicians, investors, and other thought leaders.
Your inputs
Your presence at the 2nd SHIFT Conference, along with other CEOs, will be a critical force in positively influencing the route to a smart low carbon efficient clean private transport. Electric vehicles are now on the way to mass market for real and in earnest. This is a huge opportunity. Your leadership will send a strong signal that business is ready to work on practical solutions to shifting to the sustainable, low carbon economy. Cambridge is a world-leading and respected technology business cluster supported in part by its fine history of academic achievement. We look forward to welcoming you here in Cambridge on 3 December 2009.