Panasonic Energy Co.’s electric vehicle battery plant. $4 billion in De Soto, Kan., is taking shape with a goal of starting production early next year.
Work on the 300-acre site, which was formerly home to a US Army munitions plant, began in November 2022. Vertical construction led by a joint venture of Turner Construction Co. (No. 7 in manufacturing) and The Yates Co. Inc. (No. 4) started in April 2023.
Once completed, the 4.7 million square meter plant designed by SSOE Group with architect Mackenzie Inc. it would have a capacity of 30 GWh to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles. Panasonic aims to start production by the end of March 2025.
33%
The increase in manufacturing construction begins in July.
Source: Dodge Construction Network
The plant is designed with two wings and construction is planned to be completed in phases. Work is expected to continue on the second wing, now 44 percent complete, as production begins on the first, which is 99 percent complete, Panasonic said in its most recent progress update. Wing 1 deck is 43% complete.
The facility would be Panasonic’s second in the United States to produce its 2170 cylindrical lithium-ion batteries. It has another 38 GWh plant that produces the batteries in Nevada. Panasonic says locating another plant in the US will help it reduce emissions related to its supply chain.
The plant has already helped boost other local projects. Earlier this year, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced that battery component maker H&T Recharge will invest $110 million to build a plant in De Soto that will supply the Panasonic plant. The electronics firm also agreed to contribute more than $165 million to finance several local infrastructure projects.
