Forsee Power to build electric bus batteries in France
French battery specialist Forsee Power has announced it will make batteries in Grand Poitiers. The new factory that is set in an old diesel engine plant, is to produce up to 2,500 battery system for electric buses annually, starting this year.
The new factory at Grand Poitiers is the first step in the Forsee Power’s planned expansion. The French battery specialist wants to increase its battery production capacity tenfold by 2021 and create 300 jobs along the way.
The first 100 workers will start their jobs at the new factory this year as production is set to start in late 2018. The factory itself exists already and used to make diesel engine pistons. Once refurbished, the 15,000 m² facility will run 3 automated production lines with the capacity to manufacture 2,500 electric bus batteries per year.
The plant’s roof and car parks will be covered with photovoltaic panels to generate 1.8 MW of clean electricity to power the operation with the surplus being injected into the main grid. 10,000 m² of additional land will be held in reserve to facilitate the growth of Forsee Power in the medium run.
Grand Poitiers and the Chasseneuil-du-Poitou site in particular are close to the Futuroscope theme park and offer living opportunities in the wider region of Nouvelle Aquitaine. Forsee Power intends to use the factory as a showcase for the French group and its batteries.
Forsee Power says it has signed battery supply contracts with large European bus manufacturers, including CNHI (Iveco and Heuliez), CaetanoBus in Portugal and Wrightbus in the UK.
0 Comments