About the webinar

Battery technologies are key drivers of advances in electric mobility. Battery innovations are expected to reduce costs, improve vehicle performance, enhance safety, and expand electric-vehicle applications.

This webinar will present the latest developments in battery technology and assess their commercial readiness. Speakers will discuss future trends and expected cost trajectories, and what these mean for countries in the region planning electric vehicle programs, charging networks, and industrial strategies, with a special focus on Southeast and South Asia.

This is the first in a four-part webinar series entitled E-Mobility Webinar Series: Scaling Electric Vehicle Technologies in Asia and the Pacific, organized by the Asian Development Bank's Transport Sector Cluster. The series examines the latest developments in electric vehicle technologies, the technical and institutional foundations needed for successful adoption, and practical lessons from global and regional leaders. The first session explored vehicle-to-grid technology; subsequent sessions cover sustainable battery end-of-life management and charging infrastructure. 

This webinar forms part of the E-Mobility Support and Investment Platform for Asia and the Pacific, managed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and supported by the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Environment Programme, and other partners as part of the Global Electric Mobility Program.

About the speakers

	Dr. Juho Heiska is R&D Manager at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SeAMK), Finland, where he leads the Digitalization and Smart Technologies group and its Future Vehicle Technologies research. His work covers lithium-ion cell chemistry, battery degradation and diagnostics, and energy storage from cell to grid scale. He was previously a Principal Lecturer in Energy Technology at Vaasa University of Applied Sciences, where he founded a master’s program in energy storage. Known to Finnish audiences as “Akkutohtori” (The Battery Doctor), he also co-hosts the energy podcast Regeneranssi. He holds a doctorate in chemistry and materials science, focusing on battery materials and thin-film deposition.
	Dr. Pimpa Limthongkul is the Energy Innovation Research Group Director and Energy Storage Technology Research Team Leader at the National Energy Technology Center (ENTEC), Thailand. With over 25 years in academia, government, and industry in Thailand and the United States, she focuses on energy storage materials and systems that support electric vehicles, renewable energy, and efficient power grids. She has co-authored over 70 publications, co-invented over 20 patents and patent applications, and her research helped found two battery companies, A123 Systems and 24M Technologies. She holds a BS from Cornell University and a PhD in materials science and engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
	Dr. Nattaphorn Buayam is a Research Fellow at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). Her work focuses on the electrification of transport, using total cost of ownership analysis to understand electric vehicle adoption, product–market fit, and consumer needs across electric two-wheelers, passenger vehicles, and trucks. She also works on end-of-life management of batteries and vehicles. Her recent work helps the automotive and electrical–electronics industries navigate market adoption challenges, regulatory transitions, and sustainable supply chain development, with an emphasis on localization and long-term industrial competitiveness in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. She holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford.
	Dr. Parveen Kumar is the Program Head, Sustainable Batteries, in the Cities program at WRI India, where he leads projects on electric vehicles, battery energy storage, critical minerals, and the circular economy. He has more than 19 years of postdoctoral experience in science, technology, and policy research, including at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. He has contributed to advanced battery research and development and solar energy initiatives, including a leadership role in the Solar Energy Research Institute for India and the United States (SERIIUS). He has published widely in international journals, reports, and magazines. He holds a PhD from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

About the moderator 

Annika Seiler is a Principal Energy Specialist in the Energy Transition Team at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). She co-leads a bank-wide initiative supporting resilient, responsible, and sustainable critical minerals and clean energy supply chains across developing Asia and the Pacific, and an ADB–World Economic Forum program on data-driven policymaking for energy transition readiness. She was previously a Policy Fellow at the Center for Global Development and Senior Advisor to ADB’s Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management. Over 20 years, she has delivered clean energy transition projects across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. She holds a master’s degree in economics and Chinese studies from the Free University of Berlin.