Two Li-ion Battery Makers Invest in US Production Facilities
12 September 2006
Two lithium-ion battery makers—EnerDel and EaglePicher Technologies—have invested in production facilities in the US.
The EnerDel battery company, a subsidiary of Ener1 and 19.5% owned by Delphi, has installed its first mass production line for lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery electrodes at the company’s Indiana facility. The EnerDel production line is capable of producing the electrode equivalent of 5,000 Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) batteries per month.
EnerDel can now begin to demonstrate its production approach and process expertise to automotive companies and OEMs, as well as begin the required qualification process to mass produce batteries for future HEV models.
EnerDel’s production line also supports the company’s work with the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), a part of the US Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), a group for collaborative research among DaimlerChrysler Corp., Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. In June, USABC awarded EnerDel a contract to produce a new Li-Ion battery based on advanced battery materials and low-cost production technologies. (Earlier post.)
The new production line includes two Hirano Tecseed Coaters, along with the required facility infrastructure.
We’ve invested in the best production equipment for launching the manufacturing program. From a quality control standpoint, it is vital to have two coating lines to allow us to handle the coating of anodes and cathodes separately to avoid any contamination.
—Ulrik Grape, President of EnerDel
Ener1, Inc. is an alternative energy technology company. The company’s interests include: 80.5% of EnerDel, a lithium battery company in which Delphi Corp. owns 19.5%; 49% of Enerstruct, a Japanese lithium battery technology company in which Ener1’s strategic investor ITOCHU owns 51%; wholly owned subsidiary EnerFuel, a fuel-cell products and testing services company, and wholly owned subsidiary NanoEner, which develops nanotechnology-based materials and manufacturing processes for batteries and other applications.
EnerDel was formed in October 2004, when Ener1 and Delphi Corporation combined lithium battery operations.
EaglePicher Technologies announced the construction of a new 24,000 square foot facility located in the Crossroads Industrial Park in Joplin, Missouri. EaglePicher will use the new building for the development and production of Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) cells and batteries for US military critical applications.
Construction will be completed on or before December 29, 2006 and product production is expected to begin by the fourth quarter of 2007.
Eagle-Pilcher produced the Silver-Zinc primary batteries for the Apollo lunar rover in the early 1970s.
Posted by: Ron Fischer | 12 September 2006 at 04:45 PM
Yeah,
Finally some manufacturing jobs in the US
Posted by: Jim | 13 September 2006 at 02:42 AM
Good news for better batteries and PHEVs.
A 50++% battery import duty may be required to keep the local manufacturers competitive, unless the process is fully automated and local wages be better controlled.
A close look at where the current batteries are manufactured is indicative of where the future generation will come from.
Posted by: Harvey D. | 13 September 2006 at 04:41 AM
EEEI for about half year is refurbishing former Energizer facility to produce Li and Ni-Mh batteries. I bet they will be the first in US with Li battery production.
Posted by: Andrey | 15 September 2006 at 02:21 AM
I look at global wages as follows. You can take $20 and hour down to $2, but you can only raise $2 to $2.20. There are so many people in the developing world that there is an almost endless supply of cheap labor.
Posted by: SJC | 16 September 2006 at 08:14 AM
Posted by: sagar | 09 August 2007 at 07:49 AM