The Dominion Post, Yahoo News – Few things get West Virginians more excited than news that a new industry is coming to the state—and bringing jobs with it. Read the full editorial.
Earlier this month, Sparkz Inc. announced it plans to open an electric battery “Gigafactory ” in West Virginia by the end of 2022, though the specific location hasn’t yet been chosen.
The new Sparkz facility will focus on cobalt-free lithium batteries in hopes of filling in supply chain gaps. At the moment, China dominates lithium-ion battery production. It not only produces the finished product, but it’s the world’s third largest producer of unrefined lithium behind Australia and Chile. Overall, the Asian superpower controls around 72 % of the global market for electric batteries from start to finish, according to One Charge.
