Tesla is always looking for ways to produce better energy storage not only to extend the range of its electric vehicles but also to power up homes using clean energy, and experts on battery technology have recognized the company's efforts.
In a surprise addition to the 34th International Battery Seminar's program, the organizers presented Kurt Kelty, Tesla's senior director of Battery Technology with the "Battery Innovator of the Year" award, which he received on behalf of Tesla.
Tesla On Battery Technology
Kelty was scheduled to give the Plenary Keynote Address in front of 800 battery experts — including specialists from other EV manufacturers — at the International Battery Seminar, which was held from March 20 to 23 at Fort Lauderdale in Florida. However, before he was even able to utter his first sentence, the prestigious award was bestowed.
Kelty was quick to express his gratitude on behalf of Tesla and say how much of an honor the prize is for the company.
"Everyone recognizes we're not a battery chemistry company. That's not why we got the award. It's more [about] the implementation of the technology," Kelty said.
Tesla's Battery Innovations
Tesla is not new to receiving awards when it comes to its battery technology. In 2016, Tesla's top researcher on battery technology, Jeff Dahn, received the same award and the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering for his research on lithium-ion batteries. And with the company's smart energy storage solutions in response to energy crises and dedication to producing Li-ion batteries in its Gigafactory in Nevada in 2016 and early 2017, it's not really that much of a surprise that Elon Musk's company was honored this time around.
Tesla Will Continue To Innovate Batteries
In his keynote address, Kelty revealed that the company receives battery usage data from its electric vehicle and stationary unit customers in real-time and the company has been learning a lot from the collected data.
He also added that Telsa envisions a well-integrated clean energy system for homes, especially when users combine the company's products together.
"Where we see the future [is] in houses [and] we want to be your EV provider. Put your EV in your garage and you charge it up with one of our chargers, you have a powerwall ... [and] a solar product [solar roof] that we'll be introducing this summer [...] This is the kind of future we see for [your] house," he reveals.
Musk is probably thrilled with the award but there's no reaction yet from Tesla's co-founder and Chief Executive Officer as of writing.
