Inventing our way out: A123 Systems looks to expand US production

[TayTay]

http://www.johnkerry.com/news/entry/a123systems_announces_plan_to_build_us_based_lithium_ion_battery_mass_produ/">A123Systems Announces Plan to Build U.S.-based Lithium Ion Battery Mass Production Facilities

Planned $2.3 Billion facilities will support aggressive expansion plan to deliver energy storage systems to A123’s multiple OEM customers in the Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicle market

WATERTOWN, Mass.- January 7, 2009 - A123Systems announced it has submitted an application under the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program to qualify for $1.84 billion in direct loans to support the construction of new world-class lithium ion battery manufacturing facilities in the United States, with the first construction location in southeast Michigan.

If A123's application is approved, this program would enable the company to dramatically expand production capacity in the United States, with full production volumes designed to supply battery systems for five million hybrid vehicles or half a million plug-in electric vehicles per year by 2013.

"We're entering an exciting new phase for the automotive industry where we increase the electrification of vehicles, reducing consumption of gasoline through advanced batteries. This new facility would greatly accelerate this change and help ensure that the American economy replaces its dependence on foreign oil with reliance on advanced, homegrown batteries," said David Vieau, A123Systems President and Chief Executive Officer.

At full operation, A123 expects the combined plants would occupy as much as 7 million square feet and create over 14,000 jobs. These plants would produce battery cells and systems to meet the needs of A123's broad automotive customer portfolio, which currently includes over seven vehicle manufacturers and 19 vehicle models ranging from HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) to EVs (electric vehicles).

snip

Senator Kerry: "The new Administration has a great opportunity to insure that a superior American technology originally developed by A123 out of MIT, leads the way to an electric transportation revolution. This is a way to produce tens of thousands of new jobs and millions of oil-free new cars right here in the United States. I look forward to the plant that will be based in Massachusetts as part of the fight we'll lead to guarantee that the electric fuel of the future will be sourced right here at home instead of overseas," said Senator John Kerry.

[karynnj]

1. This is cool -

Lots of good things all together:

- A super good environmentalist Senator who spoke of this all over the US (when I think he said the batteries were from a MA company but made in Canada)
- A new good, tech industry in MA (good MA Senator - there} It is also great that MI will have a plant - as they need it - and it makes sense if they continue to build cars there.
- They can use this to rule the world for MIT (as they tried to in Help!)