Production of stimulus-aided car batteries revs up
The first wave of mass-produced advanced batteries funded by the Obama administration's economic recovery program is starting to roll off assembly lines, setting the stage for new hybrid and electric vehicles.
Quote from the article:
Source: Production of stimulus-aided car batteries revs up
Quote from the article:
| Fending off criticism of the $787 billion stimulus program, the administration has cited the battery industry as one of the success stories. With new facilities coming online in the Midwest, battery manufacturers for the advanced vehicles are providing a test case for the government's attempt to revive the economy. Battery maker A123 Systems Inc. planned to open a new lithium ion battery plant today in Livonia. About 300 workers, many formerly laid-off auto workers, were to join Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Michigan lawmakers to promote their production of battery cells and components. The Watertown, Mass.-based company received $249 million under the stimulus program and plans to open a second facility next year in Romulus, Mich. Automotive supplier Johnson Controls Inc. last week started shipping batteries that were made at a Holland, Mich., facility built with the help of $299 million in federal grants. The factory expects to employ 90 workers by late next year and could produce 75,000 to 150,000 batteries a year, depending on the mix of hybrid and electric vehicles it supplies. The Energy Department estimates that the 48 advanced battery and electric drive projects announced last year under the $2.4 billion program could lead to the production of about 75,000 batteries by next year and 500,000 batteries annually by 2014. Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and South Carolina are the states with the largest share of the projects. Despite the fanfare, the battery industry faces many hurdles. Gas-electric hybrid vehicles represent about 1 percent of new vehicle sales, and many plug-in hybrids and battery electric cars are just entering the market. |
Source: Production of stimulus-aided car batteries revs up
Related Stories
09/08/2010 09:52 AM: Production of Chevrolet Cruze Begins in Lordstown by TimothyTProduction of the much-anticipated 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, which features the spaciousness and amenities of a midsize car with the fuel economy and price of a compact, was celebrated today with red, whi...
09/08/2010 09:39 AM: BMW Manufacturing announces production of the New BMW X3 by TimothyT
BMW Manufacturing announced today that production of the new BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle got underway at the South Carolina plant. In early 2008, BMW Group announced that it would invest $750 mill...
09/07/2010 10:12 AM: BMW announces end of M6 production by Whiplash
BMW has announced the end of production of the BMW M6 Coupé and the BMW M6 Convertible. The two high-performance models provide the most exclusive opportunity to experience on normal roads the hallmar...
08/27/2010 01:37 PM: The Stig He's Ours, says Andy Wilman the Top Gear Production Boss by DavidGP
http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2010/08/27/the-stig-he-is-ours/...
08/20/2010 02:43 PM: The very-first MINI Countryman off the production line by TimothyT
The early bird gets the worm! Watch as the very-first MINI Countryman which will be delivered to a MINI client emerges hot off the production line in Graz, Austria on August 2nd, 2010. ...
