A123 Systems Wants to Mass Produce Li-Ion Batteries in USA
Electric Car Batteries Made in the USA?A123Systems has announced today that is has applied under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program to qualify for $1.84 billion in loans. The goal? Built lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities in the United States, with the first construction location in southeast Michigan near Detroit. Read on for more.14,000 Jobs, 5 Million Hybrids or 500,000 Electric CarsAccording to its press release: "At full operation, A123 expects the combined plants [if the loan is approved] would occupy as much as 7 million square feet and create over 14,000 jobs." They could supply batteries to 5 million hybrid cars or 500,000 battery electric cars (simple math tells us that there's about 10 times more battery cells in an EV than a hybrid).
From the Detroit Free Press:
President-elect Barack Obama and key members of his administration have pointed to plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles as one of the technologies they want to see automakers press for to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
That's a good sign, but we'll have to wait and see what the DOE decides.
Via A123SystemsPhoto: Porter GiffordMore Electric Car ArticlesOuch! Sales of Hybrid Cars Down 42.8% in DecemberBYD Delays Sale of Electric Cars in North-America to 2011Secretive EEStor Granted Patent for Ultracapacitor TechnologyGM Puts the Brakes on $370 Million Chevy Volt Engine Factory
