Welcome to the Season 2 premiere of The Battery Belt, the official podcast of the Georgia Network for Electric Mobility (GNEM). To kick off the new season, we welcome Professor William Mustain, Director of the Carolina Institute for Battery Innovation at the University of South Carolina.

In this episode, Professor Mustain explores one of the biggest shifts happening across the battery industry today. As EV demand begins to normalize and electricity demand accelerates from data centers, industrial electrification, and grid expansion, we examine whether battery energy storage is emerging as the next major driver of growth.

Together, we discuss how this transition could reshape manufacturing strategies, research priorities, and the future of the Battery Belt.

Listeners will learn about:
• Why battery demand is expanding beyond electric vehicles
• How stationary energy storage is changing the way utilities plan for the electric grid
• The role of battery chemistry, critical minerals, and manufacturing strategy in meeting future demand
• How universities and industry are working together to advance research, innovation, and workforce development across the Southeast


More than a conversation about batteries, this episode explores how energy storage is becoming a critical piece of the nation's infrastructure, influencing everything from grid reliability to economic competitiveness.


As the Battery Belt continues to evolve, Season 2 begins by examining one of the industry's most important questions: where will the next wave of battery demand come from? Professor Mustain offers valuable insight into how research, manufacturing, and energy policy are converging to shape the future of electrification.


Whether you work in energy, manufacturing, research, policy, or are simply interested in the technologies transforming the Southeast, this season premiere offers a timely look at the opportunities and challenges defining the next chapter of the Battery Belt.