He will deliver a keynote address, on 21 March, entitled, "The Path Forward: A New Phase of EV Charging." Cornelia, a recognised leader in the EV charging sector, will explore the industry's transition into a new era focused on the quality, speed, and reliability of EV charging infrastructure.
"Today's EV charging is a major barrier to widespread electrification of the automobile industry. Mercedes-Benz HPC is dedicated to solving this issue through setting new benchmarks in seamless customer experiences and reliability of public EV charging,” said Cornelia. "I am excited to connect with key stakeholders across the industry to discuss how we collectively improve availability, access, safety and predictability for all EV drivers today and into the future."
Despite significant investments in EV charging infrastructure across the United States, nearly half of consumers cite charging as the biggest hurdle to EV adoption. Cornelia's keynote will address these concerns head-on, advocating for an enhanced charging experience as the lynchpin in the cultural shift toward electric transportation, available to all drivers from day one.
Cornelia's participation in the event comes after the launch of the Mercedes-Benz Charging Network, inaugurated at the first charging hub in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Mercedes-Benz, in partnership with MN8 Energy, has committed to invest over US$1bn to deliver 2,500 chargers within at least 400 charging hubs across North America by the end of the decade.
Cornelia stands at the forefront of the EV charging industry as the president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz HPC North America. He is a longtime leader in the EV sector and previously led Strategic Finance for the launch of Tesla's charging network and helped pioneer Volta Charging's innovative model to redefine driver experience. He also holds advisory positions at Bluedot and eDRV, contributing to innovative EV charging solutions.
"The launch of Mercedes-Benz HPC North America's new charging network is a major event in the EV charging industry," said Luke Vinci, president of MVP Media Network, which hosts the EV Charging Summit & Expo. "We know accessibility and reliability of charging infrastructure will determine the success of transportation electrification. We're thrilled to have Andrew sharing his perspective and expertise with EV Charging Summit attendees."
Andrew Cornelia's Sessions at the EV Charging Summit & Expo include his keynote address: The Path Forward: A New Phase of EV Charging, from 9:35-9:45 am, Thursday 21 March and he will be a member of the keynote panel: The Realities of Today's EV Charging Network to Meet Rising Deployment Demands, from 9:45-10:30 am on 21 March. Other panellists will include Chris Hutter, CEO, National Power; Jim Castelaz, founder and CTO, Motiv Power Systems; and Alex Schroeder, CTO and former executive director, Joint Office of Energy and Transportation.
Mercedes-Benz HPC North America is a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Investment Company and MN8 Energy, a leading renewable energy company. MN8 will develop and operate the EV charging stations that form the Mercedes-Benz High Power Charging North America network.
