An Indian EV Battery Materials Company Will Build Its First Plant in the United States

An Indian firm that makes a vital component for long-range batteries in electric vehicles announced that it will open its first U.S. plant in southeastern North Carolina, creating hundreds of jobs. Epsilon Advanced Materials Inc. executives and Gov. Roy Cooper announced a $650 million plant in Brunswick County that would begin production of synthetic graphite anode material required for batteries that power EVs and other energy storage devices in 2026. When completed in 2031, the factory will produce 50,000 tonnes (45,359 metric tonnes) of the product yearly. “We’re proud to have North Carolina as the centrepiece of our U.S. manufacturing strategy,” stated EAM founder and Managing Director Vikram Handa in a news release issued by Cooper’s office.

“Having an environmentally friendly world-class facility in North Carolina will allow EAM to provide synthetic and natural graphite anodes to the growing EV battery industry faster, more reliably and at a competitive cost.” According to the corporation, the facility will create 500 new positions with an average yearly pay of $52,264, which is more than the county’s existing average salary of $46,464. Cooper’s government has prioritised luring clean-energy businesses to North Carolina. According to a document provided to a state body that approved some incentives, state and municipal governments have granted more than $33 million in economic incentives for EAM to construct in the form of land, infrastructure improvements, training, and cash payments.