Land for future tech company in Florence (Credit: Tonya Brown/WPDE)

FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — A global battery technology company headquartered in Japan will invest $810 million and create 1,170 new jobs in Florence County to support the company’s multi-year partnership with the BMW Group.

Envision AESC is committed to research, development, design, manufacturing and sales of power batteries for EV's and energy storage batteries, according to a release.

The plant will be located in an 870-acre Technology and Commerce Park in Florence, with convenient proximity to the interstate and Inland Port Dillon, the Florence plant will encompass approximately 1.5 million square feet.

AESC will supply technology-leading battery cells to be used in the next-generation electric vehicle models produced at the BMW Group’s Plant in Spartanburg. The advanced battery format will result in 20% more energy density than the current generation, reduce charging time and increase range and efficiency for electric vehicles by 30%.

I-95 exits in Florence County (Credit: Tonya Brown/WPDE)

Florence County Council passed a resolution and incentive agreement for the company last week under the code name Project Gemini.

It had been kept under wraps for months and is said to be one of the most significant economic development projects in the state.

Florence County leaders have said no the plant will change the landscape of the county for decades.

South Carolina has been an automotive manufacturing powerhouse for over 30 years, and Envision AESC’s decision to establish operations in Florence County and to create jobs for thousands of South Carolinians shows that we will continue to be one for years to come,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “We have the workforce, business-friendly environment, and the willingness to adapt to industry’s innovation necessary to ensure that companies that choose to do business here will find the success they’re looking for.

Envision AESC has 5,600 employees and 12 manufacturing sites in Japan, U.S, U.K, France, Spain and China.

In the past 12 years, Envision AESC has produced power batteries for more than 800,000 electric vehicles in 59 countries, achieving a record of 'zero critical battery malfunction, according to a news release

Japan-based battery technology company to bring 1,170 jobs to Florence County.

AESC Group CEO Shoichi Matsumoto said, “Our partnership with Florence County, South Carolina is part of our next phase battery strategy to power next-generation EVs in the U.S. This facility is another milestone on our journey to building an electrification network in the U.S. and strengthens our commitment to grow the electrification supply chain while providing high-value jobs for the community for years to come. We are making good progress on our ambition to create high-performance, longer-range batteries for a diverse range of automotive manufacturers worldwide to support the EV transition and we’re excited to bring Florence County on this journey with us.”

Source: abc15NEWS