Two days after the GNEM Summit wraps up in Athens, the EV industry caravan moves 70 miles west to Atlanta for the main event. The Battery Show South and EV World Congress take over the Georgia World Congress Center on April 16–17, 2026, bringing together the companies, technologies, and ideas that are shaping the future of electric vehicles and energy storage.
If the GNEM Summit is the academic and policy conversation, the Battery Show South is where the business gets done. This is a full-scale industry expo with hundreds of exhibitors, technical presentations, and the kind of networking that leads to supply contracts, partnerships, and product launches.
What is the Battery Show South?
The Battery Show is one of the largest advanced battery technology events in the world. The flagship event has been running in Detroit for years, drawing tens of thousands of attendees from across the global battery and EV supply chain. The “South” edition brings that same scale and focus to the Southeast — recognizing that the region has become a critical hub for battery manufacturing and EV production.
Running alongside it is the EV World Congress, which focuses specifically on hybrid and electric vehicle technology. Together, they create a single mega-event covering everything from raw material sourcing to finished vehicle integration.
What you'll find on the expo floor
The expo floor is where the Battery Show South really shines. Hundreds of exhibitors spanning the entire EV and battery value chain set up shop across a massive exhibition hall.
Battery manufacturers and materials
The core of the show. Expect to see cell manufacturers showcasing their latest chemistries — from the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells that are becoming the standard for affordable EVs to the high-nickel NMC cells powering premium vehicles. Companies working on next-generation technologies like solid-state batteries, silicon anodes, and sodium-ion cells will also be demonstrating their progress.
Power electronics and motor technology
Electric motors, inverters, converters, and power management systems are the unsung heroes of EV performance. Silicon carbide semiconductors, which are enabling faster charging and longer range, will be particularly well-represented.
Charging infrastructure
From home chargers to DC fast charging stations to the software that manages charging networks, this section covers the entire charging ecosystem. With US public charging sessions hitting 141 million in 2025 (up 30%), the infrastructure build-out is one of the fastest-growing segments of the EV industry.
Vehicle integration and testing
Automakers and tier-one suppliers showcase how all these components come together into actual vehicles. Expect displays covering battery pack design, thermal management systems, crash safety engineering, and the testing protocols that validate everything works together reliably.
The conference tracks
Battery technology track — Deep dives into cell chemistry advances, manufacturing process improvements, quality control innovations, and the path toward lower-cost, higher-performance batteries.
Electric vehicle track — Focused on vehicle-level integration challenges including platform architecture, thermal management, charging system design, and the software layer that manages it all.
Supply chain and manufacturing track — Covering the practical realities of building battery factories and EV assembly plants in America. Given the Southeast's massive manufacturing investments, this track will be particularly relevant.
Market and business track — For executives, investors, and analysts tracking the commercial side. Sessions cover market forecasts, competitive dynamics, investment trends, and emerging business models.
Why Atlanta makes sense
Atlanta has become the gateway to the Southeast Battery Belt. The city's central location puts it within driving distance of nearly every major EV and battery factory under construction or in operation across the region. SK Innovation's battery plant in Commerce is about 90 minutes northeast. Hyundai's EV factory in Bryan County is about four hours southeast. Rivian's planned facility in Morgan County is under two hours east. And BMW's Spartanburg plant is about three hours northeast in South Carolina.
Practical details
When: April 16–17, 2026
Where: Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA
Getting there: MARTA has a station within walking distance. If you're driving an EV, Atlanta has extensive public charging infrastructure including Tesla Superchargers, Electrify America stations, and ChargePoint locations.
Combining with GNEM: If you're attending the GNEM Summit in Athens on April 14–15, the Battery Show South on April 16–17 is a natural continuation — a full week of EV industry immersion.
The bigger picture
The Battery Show South's expansion into Atlanta reflects a broader shift in the EV industry's geographic center of gravity. The Southeast is building the manufacturing capacity that will produce a significant share of America's EVs and batteries over the next decade. Events like this aren't just conferences — they're markers of an industrial transformation that's reshaping the region's economy. For anyone working in or interested in the EV industry, April 16–17 in Atlanta is worth putting on the calendar.