Gov. Andy Beshear, along with state and local officials, joined executives from Envision AESC to break ground on a $2 billion state-of-the-art electric vehicle battery gigafactory in Bowling Green’s Kentucky Transpark.
Envision AESC’s investment will create 2,000 full-time jobs in the region to operate its 30 gigawatt-hour plant, which has the potential to expand to 40 gigawatt-hours. At the plant, the world-leading Japanese EV battery technology company will produce battery cells and modules that will power next-generation EVs by multiple global automotive manufacturers.
Governor Beshear says the groundbreaking “solidified Kentucky’s place as the leader in the emerging electric vehicle sector. The 2,000 jobs associated with this project will greatly benefit families throughout the region and set the foundation for even more growth as we continue to build out a supplier network to serve Envision’s needs.”
The groundbreaking of the approximately 3 million-square-foot Kentucky operation marks the next step for one of the largest economic development projects in the state’s history. Envision AESC’s facility further establishes Kentucky as a leader in the automotive industry of the future.
The company will produce next-generation battery cells that provide 30% more energy density than the current generation, leading to reduced charging times and increased range and efficiency for EVs. The Bowling Green operation is expected to power up to 300,000 vehicles annually by 2027.
The operation also will make EVs more accessible and affordable by implementing high-tech capabilities to increase cost-competitiveness and technological expertise of EV battery production in Kentucky and in the United States. The gigafactory will be powered by 100% renewable energy, supplied by onsite generation and purchased locally from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
“Our new gigafactory and supporting ecosystem will provide a catalyst for further investment in the local supply chain and whole lifecycle opportunities of batteries, creating thousands of new jobs in the heart of Warren County and securing Kentucky’s leading role in the automotive industry of the future,” Envisions AESC’s Managing Director Jeff Deaton added. “We look forward to developing the next stages of this important project together.”
Japan-based Envision AESC is a world-leading battery technology company committed to research, development, design, manufacture and sales of high-power batteries for EVs and energy storage batteries. The company has 4,000 employees across 10 production plants in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, China and France. Over the past 12 years, Envision AESC has produced high-performance, extended range batteries for more than 650,000 EVs in 44 countries, achieving a record of “zero critical battery malfunction.”
The Commonwealth has a longstanding history of automotive production as the nation’s No. 1 per-capita producer of cars, light trucks and SUVs and currently houses more than 525 auto-related facilities employing 100,000 residents across the state. EV-related growth will generate over $8.5 billion in new investment and accounts for well over 8,000 full-time jobs.
Governor’s Office