Proterra to Build New EV Battery Factory in South Carolina

Proterra Expands Battery Production with New South Carolina Facility

Proterra, a leading American manufacturer of commercial electric vehicles specializing in transit buses and charging infrastructure, is establishing a new battery production facility in Greer, South Carolina.

Production at the new plant is anticipated to commence during the latter portion of 2022. The facility will boast “multiple gigawatt hours of annual battery system production capacity,” as stated by the company.

Current Battery Production Capacity

While Proterra has not revealed the precise production volume projected for the South Carolina location, the combined annual capacity of its existing plants is substantial.

The Burlingame, California plant currently has a maximum annual output of 345 megawatt hours. The Los Angeles facility can produce up to 675 megawatt hours annually, according to Shane Levy, Director of Corporate Communications.

Growth in the Electric Commercial Vehicle Market

The global market for electric commercial vehicles is currently valued at an estimated $62.4 billion. Significant growth is projected in this sector.

Driven by both governmental regulations and corporate sustainability goals aimed at reducing emissions, the commercial EV market is forecast to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 17.3% over the next nine years.

Numerous automakers are actively working to meet this increasing demand. For instance, General Motors launched its Brightdrop commercial EV brand in January, and Ford recently strengthened its commercial EV division in preparation for the release of the Ford E-Transit work van.

Investment and Job Creation in South Carolina

Proterra’s investment in the new South Carolina plant totals a minimum of $76 million. This will facilitate the creation of over 200 new jobs.

The 327,000-square-foot facility is situated on a 42.76-acre site within the Carolina Commerce Center. Its location is strategically close to Proterra’s existing electric bus manufacturing operations.

Expanding Reach with "Proterra Powered"

This new facility marks Proterra’s expansion into battery production within the eastern United States. The company anticipates this will improve proximity to its “Proterra Powered” clientele.

Beyond manufacturing its own electric vehicles, Proterra collaborates with other automotive manufacturers. They provide powertrain solutions for integration into their vehicles.

Examples of this collaboration include Daimler’s Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley school bus, produced by Thomas Built Buses, and the new refrigerated trucks from Volta, both of which utilize Proterra’s technology.