A French-owned electric vehicle battery manufacturer opened a new factory and headquarters for its U.S. operations in Hilliard.
Company officials, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and French government officials celebrated and toured the new plant on Lyman Drive Thursday afternoon. The company said the plant is a step forward towards a green energy transition and will bring an economic boost to the state.
The new headquarters will be the company's third in the world, with the other two located in France and China. The company said it will bring 150 new jobs to central Ohio and a $13 million investment by 2027.
Forsee's CEO Christophe Gurtner said the batteries made in Hilliard will help power thousands of buses and US trucks by 2028. He said the desire for electric vehicles is growing.
"Right after Covid, we felt the North American market was getting an appetite for electromobility. With governments and (equipment manufacturers) announcing plans for the combination of transport and vehicles, this is when we decided to look for a site in the U.S. We wanted to be ready for when the market would take off," Gurtner said.
And the batteries aren't just for cars and buses. The company showed off smaller battery packs being put in motorcycles and in a lawnmower in its showroom.
DeWine said the company and what it produces are the future of the state.
"I don't know how fast we're going to move to electric, but we're moving to it. It's going to be up to the people what they buy every single year," DeWine said.
DeWine said there is real appeal for these vehicles and specifically pointed to the lawn mower and how quiet it can be because it runs on battery power.
"This company is about the future. You have 150 Ohioans who are going to have good-paying jobs and they're going to be working right here in this factory," DeWine said.
Gurtner showed DeWine around the plant before the two spoke before a large audience.
Gurtner argued the company helps the world move toward a clean-energy economy.
"We want our production to be responsible by the nature of our activity. Forsee Power contributes to reducing the impact on climate change and we will ensure we have a limited footprint from our operations," Gurtner said.
Gurtner said a big reason they chose Ohio and Hilliard is because of an "enterprising spirit" and great collaboration between the state, the region and the city.
The company estimates that with its expansion, it will grow to producing three gigawatt hours of power in total. One gigawatt hour is enough to power about 750,000 homes.
"Our production capacity will reach about 6,000 buses or 12,000 trucks, U.S. trucks, equivalent in 2028 with room to expand," Gurtner said.
DeWine said the state is encouraging more people to get electric vehicles by providing more places to plug in.
"We want to be a part of that. I mean, we have been historically an auto state. We're an auto state. We're also an auto parts state. And as we move away from the engine and we move to electric, we want to be there. We want to be part of that," DeWine said.
