These front page headlines say it all : “A BILLION-DOLLAR JOLT FOR STATE,” “BATTERY GRANT: $1.36 billion makes us center of technology,” and “JOBS: Up to 40,000 possible, with 6,800 in next 18 months.”

Michigan is working harder than any other state to become the advanced battery capital of the world. And, now our work is being recognized by the Obama Administration through $1.36 billion in federal grants to grow this new industry in the U.S. A123 and Johnson Controls will receive approximately $550 million to establish a manufacturing base in the state for advanced batteries. Compact Power and Dow Kokam will receive a total of over $300 million for manufacturing battery cells and materials.

GM, Chrysler, Ford, Magna E-CAR and the South Coast Air Quality Management District will receive a total of more than $485 million to manufacture thousands of advanced hybrid and electric vehicles as well as batteries and electric drive components. And, the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Michigan Technological University will receive a total of more than $10 million for education and workforce training programs to train researchers, technicians and service providers, and to conduct consumer research to accelerate the transition towards advanced vehicles and batteries.

We are now the epicenter of the new U.S. advanced battery industry. We will be the state that leads our nation to a new automotive paradigm. We will be the state that will position the U.S. to compete globally with international battery manufacturers. And, we will be the state that ends our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

Tagged as: advanced battery, Alternative Energy, Economic Growth, electric vehicle manufacturing, electric vehicle R&D, global automotive innovation, green manufacturing, Green Technology

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