Michigan Offering $335 million for Manufacturing of Advanced Batteries

“It is imperative that Michigan possess this technology to keep Michigan the center of car manufacturing.”
- Sen. John Pappageorge(R), Michigan
The technology Senator Pappageorge is referring to is the large-scale manufacturing of the lithium-ion battery.  These are the batteries used in the hybrid and electric vehicles that U.S. auto-makers are in large part banking on to turn their endangered industry around.  With General Motors and Chrysler recently receiving their $17 billion lifeline from the federal government, they are both under mandates to produce automobiles that are more efficient and less reliant on oil as a source of energy.
Naturally, the state of Michigan sees itself as the perfect home for development and production of this technology.  The opportunity to stimulate Michigan’s economy with job creation is among the obvious benefits.  With that in mind, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is set to put her signature on a package worth up to $335 million available as incentive to keep the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries within the state.  “All of that we want to make a big play for Michigan,” Granholm said. “We want it to be an American solution produced by American workers.”  The governor’s hope is that on top of being used for more efficient cars, people will use the rechargeable lithium battery in their homes and businesses as well.
At the moment, much of the research, development, and manufacturing of these batteries takes place in Asia, with Japan and South Korea leading the way.