Tesla’s Nevada Gigafactory is one of the only plants in the US that produces battery cells for electric vehicles. (Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The Department of Energy says thirteen new electric vehicle battery gigafactories are expected to be fully operational in the United States by 2025. These factories are opening the nation to a new era of battery production. Electric vehicle battery cells are typically sourced from China, Japan, and South Korea, but that’s expected to change with these new plants.
To date, Tesla and Panasonic’s Gigafactory in Nevada are the only plants supplying battery cells for Tesla Model Y and Model 3 vehicles. This also means that the country produces a limited amount of battery cells. Now that the US is expected to see a significant increase in electric vehicle production, it’s also important that battery cell production follows. Various companies have already announced plans to help address potential demand.
The Department of Energy says that new gigafactories will become fully operational in the United States. (Image Credit: Department of Energy)
“In addition to electric vehicle battery plants that are already in operation in the United States, 13 additional plants have been announced and are expected to be operational within the next 5 years. Of the 13 plants that are planned, eight are joint ventures between automakers and battery manufacturers. Many of these new plants will be located in the Southeast or Midwest,” the Department of Energy said in a statement.
These new factories will bring in new manufacturing jobs to the country. However, it also means that battery cell production relies on increased demand for minerals.
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