Michigan's effort to get in front of development and manufacturing of advanced batteries for electric vehicles is a smart approach, says David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.
Other states have attracted advanced battery companies, as well, but Michigan now has at least 16 businesses involved in the electrification of vehicles. Including the region's three battery manufacturing plants, West Michigan also is home to Eaton Corp.'s hybrid-power-systems business in Galesburg, and Toda America is building a cathode-materials plant in Battle Creek.
Those 16 companies represent almost $6 billion in capital investment in the sector and could create 62,000 jobs in Michigan over the next decade, according to state estimates.
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Currently, most of the battery industry is located in Asia, but that segment focuses on small batteries for cell phones, laptops and other rechargable devices.
"When you talk about the application of batteries to cars, that doesn't really exist anywhere in the world," Cole said. "That's really a capacity that's in the process of being developed, just because of the size of the car."
To find out what could help and hurt the growing industry, read the
rest of the story.Source: Business Review
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