Betting On Green: Poland Plans to Open Largest Battery Factory in Europe

South Korea’s LG Chem is planning to open the largest lithium-ion battery factory in Europe to aide the continent’s automotive industry as it prepares its much-hyped shift toward EV production. According to LG, construction of the battery plant — located in Wrocław, Poland — is set to begin immediately and batteries should be ready for slotting into vehicles before the end of next year.

In a an announcement, the company said the plant would have a production capacity of 100,000 batteries per year for EVs that can run up to 199 miles once charged. Previous estimates were more conservative but, with German automakers promising widespread electrification, LG saw no reason for half measures.

“We will turn the Poland EV battery plant into a mecca of battery production for electric vehicles around the world,” said company president UB Lee. “As LG Chem’s Poland EV battery plant is the first large-scale automotive lithium battery production plant in Europe, it will play the role of vitalizing the electric vehicle industry across the whole of Europe. We will put all our efforts into making the plant into a main production hub for EV batteries.”

The factory will employ roughly 2,500 people. LG Chem did not name prospective customers but said they would include top car companies — although Volvo Cars would be a safe bet, since the two companies already announced a partnership last December.

By adding roughly 6 Gigawatt hours of energy production, building the plant in Poland would effectively double LG’s battery capacity for electric vehicles for a total annual capacity of 280,000 EVs — with help from its other factories in South Korea, the United States, and China.

[Image: LG Chem] [Source: Reuters]