EnerDel Opens First Mass Production Line for Lithium-Ion Battery Packs

Energy Resource, May 7, 2009

ENERGY RESOURCE-7 May 2009-EnerDel Opens First Mass Production Line for Lithium-Ion Battery Packs(C)2009 JeraOne - http://www.jeraone.com

Senator Evan Bayh (D-Indiana) will be the honored guest at the May 8 commissioning of the nation's first commercial-scale production line for lithium-ion automotive battery packs -- the key energy component for next-generation electric cars and hybrids.

The line is part of a new installation at EnerDel, the first and currently only company in the U.S. with mass manufacturing capacity for the critically important component for high-tech vehicles.

To meet anticipated demand, EnerDel plans to expand both cell manufacturing capacity at the Indianapolis plant and pack assembly capacity at the company's Noblesville facility.

Further expansion is under consideration through purchase or construction of a third factory.

EnerDel said future anticipated annual production capacity would involve creating the ability to produce up to 1,500,000 hybrid packs, or 600,000 plug-in hybrid systems, or 150,000 packs for pure electrics, or a combination, depending upon the company's customer portfolio.

The company expects to employee a total of 3,000 people once full target capacity is achieved.

"Indiana long ago established itself as a national leader in building homegrown, high-tech automotive components, so it is fitting that our state is now on the precipice of building a new domestic industry for the lithium-ion automotive battery," Senator Bayh said.

"The electrification of transportation in America is fundamental to reducing our reliance on foreign oil and ensuring our nation's long-term energy security," Senator Bayh added. "I'm proud of the advances EnerDel is making to ensure that deployment of electric-drive vehicles becomes a reality. If we succeed in making Indiana the Silicon Valley of alternative energy, we will help create a cleaner and more livable planet as we create thousands of new job opportunities for middle-class Hoosiers."

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