SPARKS, NV--Three years ago, Tesla began construction of its Gigafactory here. This past weekend, the facility began battery production. By the end of 2018, it is expected to produce enough batteries for 500,000 cars, primarily the company's Model 3.
PALM BAY, FL—Oakridge Global Energy Solutions Inc., a supplier of lithium-ion batteries for military, civilian and medical applications, has opened a $40 million, 70,000-square-foot assembly plant here.
TOLEDO, OH—Johnson Controls is expanding the production of absorbent glass mat batteries for automotive applications. Since 2012, the automotive supplier has devoted $130 million to manufacturing this battery technology.
PALM BAY, FL—Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, a lithium battery manufacturer, is proposing to invest $270 million to build an assembly plant here and create 1,000 new jobs by the end of 2018.
MIDLAND, MI—XALT Energy LLC has signed a $1 billion multiyear deal to supply lithium batteries to a Chinese electric bus manufacturer. The battery manufacturer is expected to hire 300 people as a result of the order.
ANN ARBOR, MI—Battery start-up Sakti3 has lured a $15-million investment from vacuum cleaner manufacturer Dyson, which is hunting for technology to improve the battery performance of cordless vacuums and other devices.
LIVONIA, MI—Battery manufacturer A123 Systems filed suit this month against Apple Inc., alleging the electronics giant campaigned to poach employees amid reports that it’s developing an electric car.
UPPSALA, Sweden—Researchers at Uppsala University have developed a rechargeable battery, made from alfalfa and pine resin, that can be recycled with a low-energy input and non-hazardous chemicals.
RENO, NV—Tesla Motors has chosen Nevada as the site for a massive, $5 billion factory that will pump out batteries for a new generation of less expensive electric cars. Four other states—California, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico—were vying for the project and the estimated 6,500 jobs it will bring.