"Demand for high-performance lithium-ion battery systems is expanding dramatically, for vehicles of all sizes as well as the utility grid, and we are going to be fully prepared to meet it with a product stamped 'Made in America'," Charles Gassenheimer, EnerDel parent company Ener1's CEO said in a release.
According to the manufacturer, the new plant will allow EnerDel batteries to be fitted into 600,000 hybrid electric vehicles or 60,000 battery electric cars. The money to be invested into the plant comes from a $118.5 million grant awarded under the federal stimulus package, combined with EnerDel's equal contribution.
The choice of the location was made, aside from the fact that it is near the company's HQ in Indianapolis, based on what Indiana is poised to become. In addition, the Axcess70 industrial park where the plant will be located already has 211,500 square feet of newly-constructed space.
"Indiana is fast becoming the Silicon Valley of the 21st Century auto industry," Gassenheimer added. "We're here because of the talent, the automotive industry experience and the remarkable network of electric drivetrain companies that call this state home. This immediately follows our electric vehicle partner THINK's announcement to establish their U.S. manufacturing facility here, in Indiana."
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