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Looking ahead to Cenex Expo

Transport + Energy are the Content Partner for this year’s Cenex Expo event which takes place on September 4 and 5 at UTAC Millbrook in Bedfordshire. In the lead up to the event, Editorial Director Alec Peachey speaks to Robert Evans, CEO of Cenex – who tells us what visitors can expect to see and do.

Q. What can visitors expect from attending this year’s CenexExpo?

A. “The aim of the Cenex Expo event is to showcase technologies and innovations that bring the event audience up-to-date with the “best of the current” as well as agenda setting for “what next?” The event combines an exhibition and a seminar programme which combine to showcase the technology, policy and market drivers and enablers for an automated, connected and electric future of road transport. The exhibition and seminar programme attract an expert audience to network, share insights and help shape the future of mobility.”      

Q. Why have you changed the name of the event this year? 

A. “The Cenex Expo was first christened as Cenex-LCV, with the LCV being Low Carbon Vehicle. Back in 2008, when the event was first launched, the term LCV was a “call to action” being socialised within government and industry as an inclusive catch all for a range of pathways available, through automotive technologies and alternative fuels, to help cut carbon emissions. The term LCV main-streamed and the event then added the co-located Cenex-CAM, where CAM is Connected Automated Mobility, as a term covering the technology, policy and market transformation toward driverless vehicles.

“Over the first 15 years of Cenex-LCV we saw the emergence of battery electric vehicles and green electricity from renewables as a practical and achievable means of transitioning road transport toward the aspirational policy target of Net Zero.  

“We chose to rename Cenex-LCV and Cenex CAM to have a single inclusive and recognised brand but with the subthemes of Net Zero and Connected Automated Mobility. The subthemes are aligned to the next phase of innovation, toward Net Zero and toward the commercialisation of connected and automated mobility.

“The title Expo renaming reflects the recalibration of innovation community aspirations but also the broaden scope of Net Zero, from scope 1 (vehicle emissions), scope 2 (energy emissions) and scope 3 (supply chain emissions). Cenex Expo will see the showcasing of innovations in material use and manufacturing processes that will bring in circular economy and sustainability considerations to technology developments over the next decade.”     

Q. In terms of visitor attractions and content, what are some of the main highlights?

A. “Highlights include a seminar programme with approaching 200 speakers and an exhibition featuring more than 150 different organisations. This and the expected audience of more than 4,000, makes Cenex Expo the meeting point for the innovation community developing and aiding the introduction of the next generation of vehicles. The full range of technologies for vehicle electrification will be on display along with prototype connected automated vehicles.

“This year the event will feature a Hydrogen Technology Showcase, developed in partnership with the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative partners. It will bring together the leading UK developers of hydrogen technologies for road transport and will combine expert briefings within a two day dedicated seminar programme with “show and tell” activities by exhibitors.” 

Q. What can local council officers expect to get out of attending? 

A. “Local council officers can expect to gain insights on what next for transport and access to the technology, policy and market makers for the future of mobility. The Cenex Expo event is a “must attend” for any local council officer involved in developing and implementing policies to cut road transport emissions.  

“Those attending will have the chance to hear and see “what next” which will help officers develop strategies and advise colleagues based on a forward looking and potentially more robust “future proofing” approach.

“For both Net Zero and Connected Automated Mobility, local council officers will get to hear from their peers involved in trialling the latest new and prototype technologies who will be sharing learning from the demonstration projects they are working on.  

“If there are announcements by the new Government regarding policy initiatives related to EV charging, they could either be made or reported by officials at Cenex Expo.” 

Q. What are some of the challenges facing councils when it comes to rolling out EV charging infrastructure and how are Cenex helping to support? 

A. “The main challenges for councils when it comes to rolling out EV charging infrastructure relate to determining the likely numbers of EV charge points needed to support EV uptake in their areas, which charging solutions best suit which types of location to ensure both convenient and equitable access to EV charging and how best to work with the private sector to ensure the financial sustainability of local EV charging over the short, medium and long-term.   

“The Cenex Expo event will be featuring the latest innovative on-street EV charging solutions in the exhibition and the seminar programme includes a session on “What’s Next for EV Public Charging” and a session also on bi-directional EV charging entitled “Optimising transport and energy through V2X”. It also features sessions that will provide insights into the energy infrastructure needed to help support the roll out of electric and hydrogen fuelled Heavy Goods Vehicles. These sessions take place on the 4th September.

“In addition to the exhibition and seminar content, Cenex will be hosting Local Authority Roadshow on the 5thwhich will provide for local council officers with the latest insights on EV charging from industry experts including technology developers and charge point network operators.”  

Q. How important is collaboration when it comes to accelerating the transition to net zero? 

A. “Collaboration is key when it comes to accelerating the transition to Net Zero. The Cenex Expo event is the main meeting point for the technology developers involved in collaborative research, development and demonstration of the latest new technologies. It is also the event where consensus technology roadmaps are shared, contacts established or renewed and where discussions take place about the next set of collaborative projects that can aid the introduction and accelerated uptake of new technologies in the market.”  

Q. Other than electrification, what other fuel types will be discussed at this year’s CenexExpo? 

A. “This year’s Cenex Expo features a Hydrogen Technology Showcase. Whether you are a sceptic, a convert or on the fence about the role of hydrogen technologies in the transition to Net Zero, this is the showcase for you. This is because it has been developed to provide expert briefings on the latest technology, market and policy developments related to hydrogen technologies for transport applications and the chance for delegates to engage experts in detailed question and answers.   

“We have a session on the 4th September on Fuelling the Future, chaired by Transport + Energy, that has expert speakers discussing what next for red diesel replacement, the future role of the natural gas grid supporting road transport refuelling and what next for Sustainable Aviation Fuels.” 

Q. What can delegates expect to get out of the conference sessions that are being put on alongside the exhibition?

A. “The conference sessions bring extra context to the technologies on display in the exhibition. The sessions address themes in detail with a wide scope covered from micromobility and heavy-duty vehicle decarbonisation through to automated vehicles in passenger transport and logistics.   

“The seminar sessions provide the insights that can help shape policy development for local council officers whilst the exhibition will give the officers the opportunity to see the technologies first hand and meet the companies for 1-2-1 dialogue.”

Q. How do you think events like CenexExpo play a part in helping to accelerate the transition to a decarbonised future?

A. “The Cenex Expo event is a bridge between the technology developer community and the pioneers from local councils and businesses, who help with the demonstration and market introduction phase as first users and early adopters.

“The event helps share learning between key stakeholders that can help realise opportunities and address challenges to derisk investments – from the first phases of market testing, through to early adopter uptake, and on to the ramp up phase in adopting the innovations that will decarbonise future mobility for people and goods and services.”  

Transport + Energy are the Content Partner for this year’s event and will be on Stand C4-515.

Click here to view the full programme.

Register to attend here.

Images courtesy of Cenex.

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