Welcome to the New 'Battery Belt'
The southeast is the new capital for electric vehicle technology. Among the southern states, North Carolina has everything your company needs to be successful and thrive.
It's a no-brainer to come to North Carolina.
North Carolina's Department of Transportation launched its ZEV Plan to reach 80K zero-emission vehicles by 2025.
The EV Industry at a Glance
An Educated Workforce
With at least four companies announcing plans for battery production factories in central North Carolina (DAI Nippon Printing, Forge Nano, Toyota, and VinFast), the need for highly educated and trained graduates is at an all-time high. The Research Triangle alone has 12 major colleges and universities with 46,000 graduates yearly.
The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University also graduates the country's largest number of black engineers.
North Carolina A&T
10 Bachelor programs specializing in engineering
8 Master programs specializing in engineering
5 PhD programs specializing in engineering
North Carolina State University
18 Bachelor programs specializing in engineering
21 Master programs specializing in engineering
13 PhD programs specializing in engineering
Duke University
275 Bachelor programs specializing in engineering
260 Master programs specializing in engineering
87 PhD programs specializing in engineering
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
75 Bachelor programs specializing in engineering
4 Master programs specializing in engineering
6 PhD programs specializing in engineering
Committed to Clean Energy
North Carolina has already publicly committed to clean energy and sustainability, evidenced by the number of executive orders on emissions in the last few years. Additionally, since 2017, the state has announced more than 17,500 jobs in clean energy, with companies promising more than $22 billion worth of new investment.
Executive Order #80
Signed October 29, 2018
“Executive Order 80 affirms North Carolina’s commitment to reducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 2005 levels, calls for a 40% reduction in energy consumption in state-owned buildings, and calls for an increase in registered, zero-emission vehicles (“ZEVs”) to at least 80,000 – all by year 2025.”
Executive Order #246
Signed January 7, 2022
“Executive Order No. 246 updates North Carolina’s economy-wide carbon reduction emissions goals to align with climate science, reduce pollution, create good jobs and protect communities. The Order strengthens North Carolina’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the statewide goal to a 50% reduction from 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, no later than 2050.”
House Bill 951
Signed October 13, 2021
"Today, North Carolina moves strongly into a reliable and affordable clean energy future. This new bipartisan law requires the North Carolina Utilities Commission to take steps needed to get North Carolina a 70% reduction in carbon emission by the year 2030 and to carbon neutrality by 2050," said Governor Cooper. "Making transformative change is often controversial and never easy, especially when there are different points of view on big, complex issues. But coming to the table to find common ground is how government should work."
Supporting EV Manufacturing
The Research Triangle Region is rapidly becoming the new 'battery belt' for companies involved in producing and manufacturing electric vehicles.
Based in Cary, NC, ABB is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation, and power grids. ABB serves customers around the world in the areas of utilities, transportation, and infrastructure.
Located in Kings Mountain, NC, Albemarle is a leading global producer of lithium, bromine, and catalyst solutions. Their 800-acre site sits on one of the world's wealthiest spodumene ore deposits, allowing for a sustainable approach to managing a diverse global footprint of resources.
Epsilon Advanced Materials Inc.
Epsilon Advanced Materials Inc., a producer of synthetic graphite anode material necessary for batteries that power EVs and other energy storage systems, will open a new production facility in Brunswick County, North Carolina. The facility will be fully operational by 2031.
Forge Nano is a world-leading materials science company. Harnessing the power of Atomic Armor, the proprietary nanocoating technology accelerates manufacturing innovation and transforms product performance. Forge Nano has a facility in Morrisville, North Carolina.
Kempower designs and manufactures reliable and user-friendly DC fast-charging solutions for electric vehicles. Kempower’s vision is to create the world’s most desired EV charging solutions for everyone, everywhere. Kempower’s modular and scalable charging system and world-class software are designed and produced in Finland, with a second production facility opening in Durham, North Carolina, in 2024.
This North Carolina-based company enables the transition to a net zero world by being one of the world’s lowest-cost lithium hydroxide producers. They are strategically located to serve the rapidly growing electric vehicle supply chain, including proximity to resources, operations, and prospective customers. Piedmont is on track to be the world's most sustainable provider of lithium hydroxide.
Toyota Battery Manufacturing, the company’s first automotive battery plant globally, will be the hub of developing and producing lithium-ion batteries for Toyota's expanding portfolio of electrified vehicles. When TBMNC comes online in 2025, it will begin production with 100% renewable energy and have six battery production lines. TBMNC is based in Morrisville, North Carolina.
VinFast - a member of Vingroup – envisioned to drive the movement of the global smart electric vehicle revolution. Established in 2017, VinFast owns a state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing complex with globally leading scalability that boasts up to 90% automation in Hai Phong, Vietnam. VinFast will open its first North American manufacturing facility in Chatham County's Triangle Innovation Point mega site in North Carolina.
Research and Development
The Research Triangle Region is where researchers and developers come together to work on the next generation of electricity for batteries and electric vehicles.
Center for Additive Manufacturing & Logistics
The Center for Additive Manufacturing and Logistics (CAMAL) started in 2014 with the support of the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) and NC State University. The center was born from ISE’s strong manufacturing tradition, a legacy that included a pre-eminent Furniture Manufacturing and Management Center and the groundbreaking Rapid Prototyping Lab. It was in this lab that 3D-printed metal parts using the world’s first commercial ARCAM AB Electron Beam Melting (EBM) Machine started in 2003. These strong manufacturing links and a globally respected faculty give us the background and skills to perform groundbreaking research.
FREEDM Systems Center
In 2008, the National Science Foundation chose NC State to lead an effort to create a modern power grid. At the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Engineering Research Center, universities from the United States have joined forces with industry partners to develop a more secure, sustainable, environmentally friendly electric grid.
The FREEDM Center is building the Internet of Energy: a distributed energy resource network that intelligently manages power using secure communications and advanced power electronics. Its research priorities include power electronics packaging, controls theory, solid-state transformers, fault isolation devices, and power systems simulation and demonstration.
PowerAmerica
PowerAmerica, a proud member of Manufacturing USA, brings together the brightest minds in the wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor world. Semiconductor manufacturers and companies that use power semiconductors in their products are working together to accelerate the adoption of next-generation silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) power electronics.
Its objective is to reduce the cost and the perceived risk inherent in this new technology. With the backing of the U.S. Department of Energy and the engagement of top researchers, we exchange knowledge and processes and provide access to an educated workforce. This enables the American industry to develop innovative power electronics products and systems.
Sites Available Now
The Triangle Region is constantly growing, with more and more megasites available for rapidly expanding companies.
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EV & Battery Tech News
VinFast buys land for auto plant for $44M
