Akasol opens battery production plant in Detroit
Commercial vehicle battery system supplier Akasol has just announced the opening of a production facility in the greater Detroit area in the US state of Michigan. Production is scheduled to start in 2020, and by 2021, the production of 400 MWh will apparently be possible by means of a three-shift operation.
With this new production facility, the German company wants to meet the increasing demand for a high-energy battery system from “large international manufacturers”. First in line for production at the new location is the AKASystem OEM PRC second-generation battery system. Battery systems with a high energy density are to follow shortly thereafter.
Akasol has not yet specified the exact location of the facility. According to the Detroit Free Press, the facility will be built on the former Hazel Park Raceway. According to the Detroit newspaper, Akasol’s project is supported by the state of Michigan to the tune of 2.24 million euros within the framework of the “Michigan Business Development Program”. Akasol itself intends to invest tens of millions of euros in the plant over the next five years. The Detroit Free Press reported a total investment – including subsidies – of 40 million dollars.
With a planned capacity of 400 MWh and over 200 employees, the Michigan facility will have a similar capacity to the company’s current series production site in Langen, Germany. In the same vein, Akasol will also be expanding their Langen plant to 800 MWh by 2020. The German company is also well on the way to becoming the European market leader for battery systems for commercial vehicles.
“Not only will our new North American production facility enable us to meet the high demand we’re receiving from our global customers, particularly a well-known Swedish manufacturer of trucks and buses, but it is also a core part of our international growth plans. Our new Michigan site will accelerate our business development activities with both new and existing North American customers,” said Akasol boss Sven Schulz.
Source: via email, finanzen.net
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