NanoGraf, a silicon anode battery material company, has been awarded a $60 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) fund supporting new and expanded commercial-scale domestic battery manufacturing projects.
NanoGraf will use the grant, in addition to its own capital, to retrofit an existing manufacturing facility in Flint, Michigan. At full capacity, the advanced production facility will produce 2,500 tons per year of NanoGraf’s proprietary silicon anode material – enough material to supply 1.5 million electric vehicles (EVs) per year, according to company officials.
The combined $175 million investment, with additional funds coming from NanoGraf, will create one of the world’s largest silicon anode facilities, advancing U.S. efforts to onshore the battery supply chain and enhancing the performance of domestically made lithium-ion batteries, the company notes.
“As a U.S.-based and U.S.-founded company, we’re committed to strengthening the domestic battery supply chain—and this factory is a big step forward,” said Francis Wang, CEO of NanoGraf. “Our expansion into Michigan will allow us to leap to larger scale production to meet national demands for high-performing EV batteries and consumer electronics.”
The Flint factory is NanoGraf’s third battery material production facility and increases the company’s total manufacturing footprint to over 414,000 square feet. NanoGraf currently produces silicon anode material for the U.S. military out of two Chicago-based manufacturing facilities, including a new R&D facility at 455 N Ashland Avenue and its headquarters at 400 N Noble Street. Of note, NanoGraf recently announced it was supplying batteries to Thales Defense & Security Inc. for handsets used by soldiers in the field.
“We are thrilled to welcome NanoGraf to Flint,” said Sheldon Neeley, mayor of Flint. “The investment from NanoGraf and the Department of Energy will ensure domestic access to innovative battery technology, meeting future demand for higher-performing EVs and creating high-paying jobs that will benefit Flint.”
The project will create approximately 200 construction jobs through a project labor agreement with the North American Building Trades Union, officials stated. NanoGraf’s headquarters, military-focused production facilities and R&D operations will remain in Chicago.
For more information, visit nanograf.com.
