On June 7, 2023, AESC (previously Envision AESC) held a groundbreaking ceremony on its new battery plant in Florence County, South Carolina.

The brand new $810 million manufacturing facility introduced in December 2022 will produce BMW’s sixth-generation cylindrical battery cells with an ordinary diameter of 46 mm, though at this level we nonetheless do not know which model – (peak of 95 mm, 120 mm, or each). The cells shall be assembled into battery packs at BMW’s plant in South Carolina, the place the German producer intends to supply six absolutely electrical BMW X fashions (crossover/SUV sort).

In response to the plan, AESC’s new manufacturing facility may have an annual capability of 30 gigawatt-hours (GWh) and will begin manufacturing in 2026.

The listing of confirmed BMW suppliers of the brand new cylindrical cells all over the world contains CATL and EVE Power (every of them will construct one plant in Europe and one in China).

“The AESC Florence website helps the Firm’s multi-year partnership with BMW Group, introduced in October 2022. Underneath the settlement, AESC will provide technology-leading battery cells for subsequent technology electrical car fashions produced at BMW’s Spartanburg plant. The superior battery format will lead to 20% increased power density than the present technology, with decreased charging time and elevated vary and effectivity of 30%.”

AESC intends to broaden its battery manufacturing capability in america to 70 GWh (and so far as we all know, 300+ GWh globally):

The Japanese firm, initially established as a three way partnership between Nissan and NEC, was acquired by the Envision Group in 2019. It was renamed to Envision AESC shortly. So far as we all know, on the time, Nissan maintained some stake within the firm of round 20 p.c. Most just lately, the corporate was renamed once more to AESC.

An fascinating factor is that AESC beforehand was centered on pouch battery cells (mid- to high-nickel cathodes), whereas the challenge in South Carolina is expounded to the all-new, massive, cylindrical cells. AESC notes that over the previous 13 years (since 2010, when the Nissan Leaf was launched), the corporate produced batteries for greater than 800,000 EVs (almost certainly together with BEVs, PHEVs and HEVs) “attaining a flawless file of ‘zero crucial incidents.”

AESC US Managing Director Jeff Deaton stated:

“This groundbreaking marks one other main milestone in AESC’s dedication to investing in South Carolina and manufacturing electrical car batteries. AESC continues to be a worldwide chief in creating subsequent technology EV battery expertise, and we’re proud to be additional rising our capability to construct these merchandise in U.S. services, accelerating the transition to wash power transportation.”

AESC gigafactory in South Carolina:

• location: Florence, South Carolina an 870-acre Expertise and Commerce Park
  a 1.5 million sq. foot plant
• funding: $810 million
• manufacturing capability: 30 GWh per 12 months
• batteries: BMW’s sixth-generation cylindrical battery cells (no information about model – 4695, 46120, or each)
• development begin: June 2023
• manufacturing begin (goal): 2026
• jobs: 1,170
• the plant shall be powered by 100% internet zero carbon power