COLUMBUS, OH--Engineers at the Honda Research Institute here have developed a new type of battery that could replace traditional lithium-ion devices.

NAMIE, Japan—Nissan Motor Co. has opened a new factory here to recycle and reuse batteries from its all-electric vehicle, the Leaf.

PIKEVILLE, KY—Battery manufacturer EnerBlu Inc. will invest $372 million to build a new assembly plant here. The company also plans to spend $40 million to move its headquarters from California to Lexington, KY. Altogether, the two facilities are expected to employ 985 people.

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.

SANTA CLARITA, CA—Quallion, a manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for aerospace applications, has opened a new assembly plant here.

CLEVELAND, TN—Procter & Gamble Duracell will invest $36 million over the next three years in its two assembly plants here, create 60 to 80 additional jobs.