Thailand

Work starts on Mercedes’ Alabama EV battery plant

Daimler has broken ground for an electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant in Alabama for its Mercedes-Benz subsidiary.

A ceremony marking the start of construction at Tuscaloosa, just seven miles from Mercedes existing vehicle production site, came just weeks after German auto firms indicated they could pull the plug on new investments in battery manufacturing in the US, if forced to pay increased tariffs under the Trump administration’s “national security” review.

The battery plant is part of a US$1 billion investment in the US that will cover two million square feet— twice the size of Mercedes’ nearby site. The US plant will form part of an eight-strong global battery production network including plants in Germany, China and Thailand.

daimler

Mercedes-Benz

Tuscaloosa

batteries

Daramic chief reveals French facility expansion

US-based lead-acid separator company Daramic is expanding its facility in France, president Bryan Moorehead has revealed.

The move will “add at least 15% to our capabilities” in the country, Moorehead told BEST Battery Briefing on the sidelines of the 16th European Lead Battery Conference (ELBC) in Vienna.

Redflow’s Thai battery plant fulfills ‘biggest order to date’

Australian flow battery maker has delivered $1.2 million worth of batteries made at its new factory in Thailand to support an emergency broadcasting service for a television network on the island nation of Fiji.

Redflow said the zinc-bromine flow (ZBM2) batterieswere bought by New Zealand-based telecoms infrastructure company Hitech Solutions— which has previously used Redflow batteries at telecoms sites in the Pacific Islands.

RedFlow

zinc-bromine flow batteries

GS Yuasa backs Thai lead-acid boost

Thailand’s Siam GS Battery is reportedly preparing to ramp up lead-acid battery production to meet increasing demand at home and across Southeast Asia.

Siam GS, a joint venture between majority partner, Japan lead-acid firm GS Yuasa Corporation and Thailand’s Siam Motors, is investing around $30 million in the expansion, according to the Bangkok Post.

Honda ‘plans Thai battery plant’ for hybrid EVs

Japanese car giant Honda is investing in a batteries production line for a planned hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) manufacturing programme in Thailand.

Honda said the equivalent of around $160 million will be needed to pave the way for commercial production of locally made hybrid electric vehicles and batteries in Thailand, according to the Bangkok Post.

Mercedes-Benz invests in Thai EV battery plant

German auto giant Mercedes-Benz is to invest in a lithium-ion battery assembly plant in Thailand for its plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

Andreas Lettner, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Thailand, told the Bangkok Post the EUR100 million ($122m) Samut Prakan facility is scheduled to start operations in early 2019.

Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant

Nissan in Thailand battery production talks

Just months after selling its Japan-based electric vehicles batteries business to China, Nissan is in talks with Thailand’s government about starting battery production there, BBB has confirmed.

Nissan regional senior vice-president Yutaka Sanada said during a Nissan conference in Thailand the country’s military government is “keen to support investment” in batteries and EV production, a Nissan spokesperson said.

Redflow’s Thai factory starts production

Australian battery company Redflow has started manufacturing core battery components at its new production facility in Thailand.

The site has begun producing electrode inserts made of HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plastic at the factory on the Hemaraj industrial estate, southeast of Bangkok.

Redflow set to launch Thai battery production

Australian flow battery firm Redflow Limited has started installing equipment for a battery production line at its new factory in Thailand— putting the firm on track to launch initial operations in the country by the end of the year.

The announcement follows Redflow’s formation of a new entity— Redflow (Thailand) Limited— to create a base in the country to serve its Southeast Asia business.

zinc-bromine flow batteries

Redflow selects Thailand for battery factory

Australian flow battery firm Redflow has chosen Thailand as the base for its new Southeast Asia manufacturing plant.

Redflow said in a 17 August Australian Stock Exchange announcement it had formed a new entity – Redflow (Thailand) Limited – to negotiate a lease on premises in a free trade zone and apply for licensing and regulatory permits.