Taiwanese battery manufacturer E-One Moli said it is to build a battery gigafactory in British Columbia, Canada.
It said the $1 billion facility will produce up to 135 million lithium-ion battery cells per year, making it Canada’s largest factory for high performance battery cells.
Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, was joined on Tuesday by the premier of British Columbia, David Eby, and mayor of Maple Ridge, Dan Ruimy, to announce the deal.
The Canadian government will contribute up to $204.5 million in grants to the project. The government of British Columbia will add $80 million towards the construction.
E-One said the cells made in Maple Ridge will be aimed at high-performance vehicles and aerospace applications, as well as consumer electronics and power tools.
Its website states the focus is on developing ultra-high power, cylindrical cells in 21700 and 18650 formats. They are rated for continuous 20A discharge and pulse discharge in excess of 50A, and can operate down to down to -40°C. They can fast charge at 2C+.
Construction is due to begin in June 2024, and be fully operational in 2028.
