A new facility to support the takeoff of electric cars in North America
The world wants green mobility. Needs green mobility. But in order to get millions more electric cars on the roads, we need just as many batteries to power them, and therefore the materials to manufacture those batteries. It’s an entire supply chain and the infrastructure to support it needs to be built from the ground up.
That infrastructure is precisely what Syensqo will be contributing to with the construction of a new, state-of-the-art facility in Augusta, Georgia. It will help ensure electric mobility can effectively spring forward in the years to come across North America.
How?
Thanks to PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride), a high-performance thermoplastic used as a lithium-ion binder and separator coating in batteries. More specifically, the Augusta site will produce Solef®, Syensqo’s signature PVDF product, which enables electric vehicles to go farther on each charge. It extends battery life and improves battery safety. “Our binders are the glue that holds the cathode together,” explains Mike Finelli, Syensqo’s Chief Technology & Innovation Officer and Chief North America Officer. “And our technology can adapt to any type of chemistry: both lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries, as well as the upcoming solid state batteries.”
This will be the largest PVDF production facility in North America: it is estimated to produce enough material for over 5 million batteries per year at full capacity – the equivalent of 45% of the expected demand for PVDF by 2030. In other words, this facility alone will be a crucial supplier for the rapidly growing U.S. electric vehicle (EV) battery market, strengthening the country’s ‘Made in America Battery Belt’ while solidifying Syensqo’s critical support of this industry’s supply chain.
The center of the EV revolution
The Augusta, Georgia site is the result of a private/public partnership: a collaboration between Syensqo, its joint venture partner Orbia and federal and local authorities. Importantly, it was made possible by a $178 million grant from the US Department of Energy, underscoring the project's significance for the American EV market, alongside state and local incentives.
The grant was awarded as part of the U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which aims to expand domestic manufacturing of EV batteries and the electrical grid. “Working together, governments, automakers, and materials providers are helping this vital region become a center of the EV revolution,” adds Mike. “Our new facility will help bring a critical raw material to the American battery industry and realize our commitment to driving sustainable EV innovation.”
Ground was broken on 25 April 2024 in the presence of representatives from local, state and federal authorities, among which White House Senior Advisor Tom Perez, Giulia Siccardo, the Director of the Department of Energy Manufacturing & Energy Supply Chains, Garnett Johnson, the Mayor of Augusta, and the representative for Georgia's 12th congressional district Rick Allen, who commended Syensqo for this project: “Everything this company stands for is what we stand for. Innovation is everything, so thank you so much for the innovation and the technology that you’re pouring into this, I couldn’t be more pleased to be here.”
Syensqo’s own leadership was present for the ceremony as well, including CEO Ilham Kadri, who stated: “Today, we are translating into action our ambitions to help protect our planet. We are proud to unlock the market potential of electrification and boost the adoption of EVs in the US. We are also strengthening the US’s position as a global growth driver and creating new clean jobs and career opportunities in the region.”
A Georgia community prospers too
Indeed, the construction of this important site is also good news for the economic development of the local community. Upon completion, it will generate 500 construction jobs and 100 highly skilled manufacturing positions throughout the value chain. Additionally, Syensqo is investing $1 million to support local workforce development by expanding access to educational resources and technical training for economically disadvantaged communities, who will be a priority for workforce recruitment.
Taking a step back, through the very concrete purpose of providing materials for EV batteries, this project is intrinsically part of Syensqo’s mission of helping to advance humanity towards clean mobility.
