Toyota Announces Location For U.S. Automotive Battery Plant

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Toyota announced that its first automotive battery plant in North America will be located at the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite in North Carolina.

The $1.29 billion battery pack plant, hinted at in October, is a part of the $3.4 billion investment in the U.S. related to batteries. The remaining $2.1 billion might be for a battery cell gigafactory - potentially with Panasonic.

The new Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina (TBMNC) will initially have four production lines in 2025. Each production line will be capable of delivering enough lithium-ion batteries for 200,000 vehicles, which means 800,000 total annually.

At a later point, the plant will be expanded to at least six production lines, which means a combined total of at least up to 1.2 million vehicles per year.

However, as we understand, the TBMNC will be mostly focused on battery packs for hybrids/plug-in hybrids, but maybe all-electric models will also be included in the future?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/toyota-announces-location-for-us-automotive-battery-plant/ar-AARxqMW

[Voltaire2]

1. That's an odd investment choice.

The hybrid market is being consumed by the ev market.

[Finishline42]

2. Interesting location

Toyota assembly plants in the US and Canada that produce Hybrids

Greensboro NC to:

Georgetown KY - 408 miles
Princeton, IN - 605 miles
Woodstock, ON, Canada - 751 miles

NC must have really wanted that plant!

[hunter]

3. If these are lithium ion cells with cobalt cathode materials that's not great news.

I didn't find that info in a quick google search.

Lithium Iron Phosphate cells work fine for hybrids and Chinese manufacturers are using them in full electrics, including Chinese made Teslas.

Tesla has recently announced they'll be using lithium iron phosphate prismatic cells in lower priced U.S. models as well.

In a perfect world batteries would would be made from abundant elements that are not exploitative of labor or the environment. Cobalt, lithium, and phosphorous don't qualify. Cobalt is especially problematic.

Tesla Model 3, Model Y Got New Battery Chemistry, and Here's What It Means

Tesla quietly offered a new, cheaper battery chemistry; here’s why it’s important.

The news emerged in late August: Tesla was offering a chance for electric-car buyers who'd ordered a Model 3 Standard Range+ to get their car sooner. That same month, it emerged that orders placed for less expensive Model 3s wouldn't be filled until 2022. And the same went as well for Standard Range Tesla Model Y versions. (Last month, Tesla renamed the Standard Range models, which are now simply called Rear Wheel Drive.)

The new option would allow Tesla to deliver its least expensive Model 3 cars more quickly, at a penalty of just 10 miles on EPA range ratings: 253 miles vs 263 miles—for the same sticker price. In turn, it could presumably shift more of its traditional battery packs to the hot-selling Model Y compact crossover.

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https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a38414682/tesla-new-cheaper-battery/