Panasonic Opens EV Battery Plant in Kansas
Panasonic has opened a state-of-the-art EV battery factory in De Soto, KS. Photo courtesy Panasonic Energy Co.
DE SOTO, KS—Panasonic Energy Co. has opened a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery factory here. The 4.7-million-square-foot facility will mass-produce cylindrical 2170 cells for use in electric vehicles. When fully operational, it will have an annual production capacity of 32 giga-watt hours. Tesla is one of Panasonic’s main customers.
“The opening of our Kansas factory marks a major milestone in our journey to scale advanced battery production in the United States,” says Kazuo Tadanobu, CEO of Panasonic Energy. “We are accelerating the shift to electrification, reinforcing regional supply chains and nurturing the next generation of battery talent. This facility represents not only our commitment to the region, but also a foundation for long-term collaboration and innovation in the U.S.”
According to Tadanobu, by using advanced assembly lines, the facility will achieve approximately 20 percent higher productivity compared to its eight-year-old factory in Sparks, NV. In the near future, Panasonic Energy plans to start using new materials that will increase cell capacity by up to 5 percent.
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