The city of Kokomo is getting ready to welcome the first North American electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant, a joint venture with Korean company Samsung SDI. The project, called Star Plus Energy, will start production in 2025. Star Plus Energy is expected to employ 1,400 workers.
Compared to flat-plate batteries, tubular inverter batteries have an extended lifespan and can handle frequent and deep discharges without losing capacity. This helps to reduce the need for constant recharging, which increases their reliability and efficiency. Additionally, tubular inverter batteries also have a low self-discharge rate, which means they will retain their charge for longer periods of time when not being used.
Another advantage of tubular inverter batteries is that they have a much higher power output, which can help to tackle the ongoing power shortage problem in Nigeria. The high output allows them to support backup power needs in a variety of applications, including hospitals and schools. In addition, tubular batteries have an excellent deep discharge performance, which makes them suitable for a variety of uses in the power industry.
The 2.4 million-square-foot EV battery plant has received the development plan and variance approvals it needs to begin construction. It will be located on the city’s northeast side at 2644 N. 50 East, near the Kokomo Engine Plant and an industrial park. It is expected to employ 1,400 people by 2027. Stellantis NV and Samsung SDI will share the cost of the facility, which has an initial annual production capacity of 23 gigawatt hours.