North Carolina Construction News staff writer
A manufacturer of charging stations for electric vehicles will build a new manufacturing facility in Durham County, a $41 million investment.
Kempower will invest $41 million into the project, demonstrating again the growing momentum of North Carolina’s clean energy economy.
Kempower Corporation is headquartered in Finland. The company manufactures and distributes a wide variety of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, serving the markets for public charging stations as well as large electric vehicle fleets and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
With the new site in North Carolina, Kempower will start to produce NEVI compliant DC fast-charging units in 2023 and gain the ability to directly supply its customers in the United States.
“We think North Carolina is a perfect location for us and fulfills our high ESG requirements. I would like to thank the State of North Carolina for the fantastic support during the thorough evaluation process. We will make sure that the global Kempower team works together to successfully scale up the production in the U.S.,” said Kempower’s CEO Tomi Ristimäki.
“Kempower is committed to make EV charging reliability a top priority. In the U.S., driving long distances is more common than in Europe, making the reliability of chargers an even more pressing issue.”
Kempower’s project will receive a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee. Over the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $726.25 million.
“North Carolina’s manufacturing workforce continues to deliver a competitive edge to companies like Kempower,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “We never take for granted the importance of a strong, well-trained workforce. As our First in Talent strategic plan makes clear, we’ll continue to invest in our people and the educational systems that create opportunities for everyone.”