Proterra to open a new EV battery plant in South Carolina

Proterra announced plans to open a new EV battery system manufacturing plant in South Carolina to produce battery systems for Proterra Powered customers’ commercial electric vehicles. It’ll be the company’s third battery production facility nationwide. In December 2020, Proterra opened its second battery production site co-located in its EV bus manufacturing facility in Los Angeles County.

The California-based electric bus manufacturer, that debuted on Nasdaq in early summer 2021, is going to debut on the European market as provider of batteries for Isuzu.

Proterra new battery production site in South Carolina

Proterra, that has just appointed Gareth Joyce as CEO, has committed to a minimum investment of at least $76 million, with additional investments planned over the next several years, and expects to create more than 200 new jobs over the next several years at the 327,000 square foot battery system production plant. The factory is expected to launch in the second half of 2022 with multiple gigawatt hours of annual production capacity for Proterra’s battery systems, it is released. By 2025, the factory is expected to support additional battery system production capacity, as well as the production of ancillary systems incorporated into electric medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles and equipment. 

Proterra’s new battery system manufacturing facility will be located at the 42.76-acre Carolina Commerce Center in Greer, South Carolina near Proterra’s electric bus manufacturing facility in Greenville, South Carolina and adjacent to the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. By opening the company’s first EV battery system factory on the East Coast of the United States, Proterra aims to bring battery production closer to its Proterra Powered customers and its own Proterra Transit electric bus manufacturing operations.

“Electric vehicle technology is an opportunity to create clean energy jobs, strengthen American manufacturing, and advance the U.S.’s climate leadership on a global scale. Through opening our new battery system production plant, Proterra is proud to help realize these important goals while driving the transition to clean, quiet transportation with our EV technology,” said Gareth Joyce, President of Proterra. “With our company’s history in South Carolina and the Upstate region, we are excited to build on our strong partnership with the state of South Carolina, Spartanburg County, and the City of Greer and bring EV battery system manufacturing to the region.”

Battery production in house

“Today’s announcement by Proterra is further proof that South Carolina is leading the charge in the electric vehicle revolution. We applaud Proterra for the work they’re doing to create a more sustainable future for the transportation industry and look forward to their continued success in the Upstate,” said South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster.

“It’s clear that South Carolina is focused on the future. We’ve worked hard for years to cultivate our reputation as a global leader in the automotive industry, and we will ensure our continued success with the speed we are gaining in the electric vehicle market. We congratulate Proterra on their new facility in Spartanburg County,” said South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III.

“Proterra expanding their South Carolina operations with a presence in Spartanburg furthers our county’s status as an automotive leader, a manufacturing leader and the Upstate’s status as a leader in electric vehicles,” said Spartanburg County Council Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Economic Development Committee David Britt.