US EV Grants Winners Begin "Battle for America's Future"

The US has announced yesterday the winners of the $2.4Bn battery and EV development grants, a move aimed at meeting President Obama's goal of having some 1 million electric vehicles on the roads by 2015. The biggest winner of the grants are, as was to be expected, the Big 3, but smaller companies are also on the list.

GM will receive $105.9 million grant for "production of high-volume battery packs for GM's Volt," 105 million for electric drive component manufacturing facilities, as well as another $30.5 million for EV fleet trials".

The only Big 3 carmaker to still not ask for government bailout will receive $62.7 million for producing a Ford electric-drive transaxle with integrated power electronics and $30 million to "accelerate the launch and commercialization of PHEVs and EVs by partnering with 15 of America's leading utilities."

Chrysler will receive the smallest amount of the three, with only $70 million for the development, validation and deployment of "220 advanced plug-in hybrid electric pickups and minivans."

A123 Systems will receive $249.1 million for the "manufacturing of nano-iron phosphate cathode powder and electrode coatings; fabrication of battery cells and modules; and assembly of complete battery pack systems for hybrid and electric vehicles."

Delphi will receive $89.3 million to expand the Kokomo facility and for "existing electric drive electronics components."

Magna E-Car Systems is the winner of $40 million to be used for increased production capacity of advanced automotive electric-drive system components.

Electric Transportation Engineering (eTec) will get $99.8 million to deploy EVs and the charging infrastructure to support them, together with partner Nissan.

KD ABG MI will receive from the US $161 million for "production of manganese oxide cathode/graphite lithium-ion batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles."

Compact Power will receive $151.4 million for production of lithium-ion polymer battery cells for GM's Volt, even if GM was awarded money for about the same task.

Johnson Controls ill receive $299.2 million for production of nickel-cobalt-metal battery cells and packs.

For research, the US will pump about $10.5 million in Wayne State University, Michigan Tech and the University of Michigan.

"The battle for America's future will be fought and won in places like Elkhart and Detroit," President Barack Obama was quoted as saying by detnews.com.