In an effort to address growing opportunities and challenges around the increased adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and their impact on the smart grid, J.D. Power and Associates and SmartEnergy IP together announced that they will present The Smart EV Executive Leadership Forum.

The Smart EV Executive Leadership Forum will bring together leaders from the energy and utility industries as well as stakeholders from the U.S. electric vehicle market, to discuss a plan for future uptake and adoption of EVs.

Identifying key objectives and parameters for keeping the grid stable, the forum will generate a dialogue among attendants about consumer needs and identify new applications and rate structures to help industry and customers adjust to the new EV lifestyle.

Comprise of presentations and panels, The Smart EV Executive Leadership Forum will address some of the key questions such as: what is the role of EV in smart grid; what do utilities require to know to plan for the uptake and adoption of EVs; what is the role of connected vehicle technology; and more.

Apart from discussing what types of applications will best help consumers and ecosystem partners, the Smart EV Executive Leadership Forum will also provide presentations and panels discussing the role of charging stations; what do consumers want from their electric vehicle manufacturers; what do policymakers require to know about EV adoption and Smart Grid; and more.

The Smart EV Executive Leadership Forum will also include a one day conference, which will be held on November 7, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. At the event, J.D. Power and Associates will also announce the results of a 2011 Electric Vehicle Early Adopter Study.

As global marketing information services company, J.D. Power and Associates provides forecasting, performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions. According to the company, its quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually.

SmartEnergy IP, which will also present The Smart EV Executive Leadership Forum along with J.D. Power and Associates, is a research and consulting organization within SmartMark Communications, LLC.

SmartMark Communications is specialized in energy and utilities customer care domain to help utilities and suppliers market effectively to customers.

In related news, Boston-Power, Inc. – a provider of lithium-ion battery cells, modules and systems - announced its new Swing Key blocks, which is a series of interconnected Swing cells in a robust mechanical enclosure that brings to electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers an advanced battery solution. This solution was showcased at another EV-PHEV-HEV industry event - AABC Europe in Germany.

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