The milestone comes one year after the home-grown Michigan energy storage technology company announced a transformational investment to build ONE Circle, its first-ever battery manufacturing campus in Van Buren Township

Talk about a full circle moment. One year after Michigan-based Our Next Energy (ONE) announced a $1.6 billion investment to build ONE Circle, its first-ever battery manufacturing campus in Van Buren Township, the cutting-edge battery maker has begun its pilot production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells from the 20 GWh battery factory.

“Producing our first cells at ONE Circle is an important milestone for our company to meet our customers’ demand for domestically produced LFP cells for stationary storage and electric vehicles,” said Mujeeb Ijaz, CEO & founder of ONE. “Cells produced at ONE Circle are expected to be fully IRA compliant while eliminating nickel and cobalt, delivering a path toward our vision of a North American supply chain.”

Headquartered in Novi, ONE was founded in 2020 with the mission to double the distance electric vehicles (EVs) can travel using safer, more sustainable materials. ONE uses safe, sustainable, low-cost battery chemistries for consumer and commercial EVs, in addition to developing technology for stationary storage – particularly around utility-scale energy storage systems. The home-grown company is dedicated to the long-term vision of achieving vertical integration for American energy storage manufacturing by working to develop a robust and resilient domestic supply chain for critical minerals.

In the weeks following the announcement of ONE Circle in October 2022, Governor Whitmer cut the ribbon on ONE’s new global headquarters in Novi, where the company is developing products to be manufactured at the cell and EV battery pack gigafactory.

“Michigan is leading the future of advanced manufacturing, and we are thrilled that homegrown battery-maker Our Next Energy is starting production of their new cells right here in our state,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “A year ago, the State of Michigan and ONE announced a $1.6 billion factory in Van Buren Township, creating more than 2,100 good-paying, high-skill jobs. ONE is delivering on their long-term commitment to Michigan, as they begin production on domestically manufactured batteries for electric vehicles, bolstered by funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Together, we will continue making the technologies of the future come to life right here in Michigan and growing our economy.”

ONE of a Kind
This latest announcement builds on other achievements for ONE and the state of Michigan, including national recognition for the ONE Circle project and the company’s involvement in the state’s talent recruitment efforts to support the growing EV industry.

In June 2023, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation received a Silver Shovel in Area Development’s Annual Shovel Awards for the ONE Circle project, which was recognized as a Manufacturing Project of the Year. Michigan was among 21 states recognized in the annual awards, which are presented to the states that have achieved the most success in terms of new job creation and company capital investment.

Earlier in 2023, Michigan kicked off the nation’s largest-ever campaign through its EV/Mobility Talent Action Team to promote careers and recruit talent to fill jobs in Michigan’s surging EV and transportation mobility sector. ONE is among the 15 Michigan employers engaged in the public-private partnership with public universities and community colleges as part of the state’s recruitment efforts, and one of eight employers participating in the Michigander EV Scholars Program. Michigan’s focus on talent initiatives is one of the main reasons why ONE chose Michigan for its 2022 investment.

“We are grateful that Our Next Energy has chosen to Make It in Michigan and Team Michigan congratulates them on this important milestone,” said MEDC CEO Quentin L. Messer, Jr. “Our work continues as we remain the leader in clean energy solutions and advanced manufacturing innovation. We look forward to partnering with Our Next Energy as it and the ecosystem that it is catalyzing continue to bring the latest in cutting-edge battery technologies to market.”

Learn why companies and people are choosing Michigan to help lead the future of mobility and electrification at https://www.michiganbusiness.org/industries/mobility-and-automotive-manufacturing/

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