Gov. Beshear, AESC Group Break Ground on Electric Vehicle Battery Factory in Bowling Green
From the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development:
Today, Gov. Andy Beshear, along with state and local officials, joined executives from AESC Group to break ground on a $2 billion state-of-the-art electric vehicle battery gigafactory in Bowling Green’s Kentucky Transpark.
AESC Group’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.
“In April, when [AESC Group] announced plans to locate in the commonwealth, it solidified Kentucky’s place as the leader in the emerging electric vehicle sector. Today’s groundbreaking signifies another major step forward for Envision and our state,” Gov. Beshear said. “I want to once again welcome this incredible company to Kentucky. 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.”
Today’s 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. AESC Group’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).