A colossal new battery investment is the latest to show manufacturers going all in on a future dominated by electric vehicles. Japanese company Envision AESC announced April 19 it plans to build a $2 billion “Gigafactory” in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to assemble battery cells for electric vehicles.
The enormous, 30-GWh factory will create an estimated 2,000 new jobs and supply Mercedes-Benz’ new Alabama EV plant among other manufacturers according to company plans. The company hopes to make enough batteries to source 300,000 vehicles a year by 2027.
“This major investment builds on our commitment to the U.S. market, supports growth of the electrification supply chain, and secures high value jobs for future generations in the region,” Envision AESC Group CEO Soichi Matsumoto said. He added that the commitment to the new site brings Envision “one step further” towards building batteries for several EV manufacturers.
The project is large enough that it’s projected to make Kentucky the top state in the U.S. for EV battery production capacity, according to officials.
“This announcement boasts the largest investment amount, jobs creation, and facility size in our history,” said Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott in a statement.
