A123 Systems Wants to Mass Produce Li-Ion Batteries in USA
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada 
on 01. 7.09
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 Cars
According 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 A123Systems
Photo: Porter Gifford
More Electric Car Articles
Ouch! Sales of Hybrid Cars Down 42.8% in December
BYD Delays Sale of Electric Cars in North-America to 2011
Secretive EEStor Granted Patent for Ultracapacitor Technology
GM Puts the Brakes on $370 Million Chevy Volt Engine Factory
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- 12 Myths About Electric Vehicles
- What to Do With 6 Million Tons of Lithium in Bolivia? Leave It Alone.
- Test Drive the Chevy Volt Plug-In Hybrid Electric Car
- How to Go Green: Hybrid Cars
- Help Spread The Word: Know Your Farmer Know Your Food
- 25 New Year's Resolutions for Going Green in 2010
Comments ()
