Forge Nano plans to build a battery gigafactory in the United States in 2026

Forge Nano has announced plans to develop Forge Battery, a lithium-ion battery manufacturing company. The newly created business wants to build a Gigafactory in Raleigh, North Carolina, to make lithium-ion battery cells for the defence, aerospace, and niche electric car markets. Forge Battery intends to develop a battery material supply chain focused on the United States to strengthen the domestic battery ecosystem and reduce reliance on foreign sources.  The business and other investors intend to invest more than $165 million in Morrisville, North Carolina, to construct the gigawatt-hour battery manufacturing facility. The Forge Battery factory will manufacture 21700 and 18650 lithium-ion cells using materials covered with Forge Nano’s Atomic Armour surface technology.  Forge Nano’s Atomic Armour will enable Forge Battery to build first-generation high-energy cells with a projected energy density of 300 Wh/kg, better safety, and longer lifetimes that meet or exceed incumbent lithium-ion technology performance.

Forge Battery anticipates its cell technology to surpass current and future cell chemistries because Atomic Armour can improve the performance of present and next-generation battery technologies. Atomic Armour is also used to increase production efficiency and lower cell costs by removing electrolyte additions and minimising electrolyte use. The facility anticipates starting production in 2026. The North Carolina plant for Forge Battery will be aided in part by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee. The JDIG agreement allows for a potential compensation of up to $1,525,500 over 12 years. Based on its current investment plans, Forge Battery expects to receive an additional $6,500,000 from the state of North Carolina, which includes sales tax exemptions on anticipated capital investment.