Lithium-ion battery manufacturer EnerDel announced today it will invest $237 million in a new manufacturing plant near its Indianapolis headquarters in order to meet anticipated demand for advanced battery systems used in both automotive and stationary smart grid applications.
Backed by a mix of private funds and public incentives, the new facilities will more than double EnerDel’s U.S. production capacity and create 1,400 new green jobs.
The announcement came during a special unveiling at the EnerDel facility of the new EnerDel powered C30 electric vehicle platform for Volvo Cars, the best selling platform within Volvo. The unveiling was to commemorate 18 months of collaboration between the two companies, with EnerDel and Volvo management outlining the C30′s imminent path to commercialization to gathered media and investors. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joined EnerDel and Volvo executives for the event.
State and local economic development incentives are valued at $69.9 million, which comprises a state incentive package of $21.3 million and Hancock County package valued at $48.6 million. EnerDel has also applied for an additional $9 million from Federal Government development programs.
“Demand for high-performance lithium-ion battery systems is expanding dramatically, for vehicles of all sizes as well as the utility grid, and we are going to be fully prepared to meet it with a product stamped ‘Made in America’,” said Charles Gassenheimer, Chairman and CEO of EnerDel parent company Ener1, Inc.
| EnerDel was formed in 2004 through a collaboration of industry leaders: Ener1, Delphi Corporation and Itochu Corporation. In 2006 the company won support from the US Advanced Battery Consortium, Argonne National Laboratory, and others. Since then EnerDel has continued to gain commercial success in terms of its technology with respect to PHEV and EV batteries. Their team consists of luminaries from the scientific research community as well as the lithium-ion battery and automotive industries, providing more than 300 years of combined experience in lithium-ion cell manufacturing and engineering.Enerdel manufactures their cells in Indianapolis, in a 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility. They also have the ability to provide more cells through Enertech International, the Ener1 subsidiary in South Korea. Their battery packs are assembled only 10 minutes away from Indianapolis, in our 35,000-square-foot Noblesville facility, through a highly automated process. By serving as a local supplier of advanced performance batteries, the company intends to contribute to the success of the global automotive companies who manufacture HEVs, PHEVs, and EVs, while propelling the revitalization of the US domestic automobile industry |
