Creating Jobs in the Electric Vehicle Industry
Michigan can be the hub for 21st century auto
technology innovation and continue to grow
and provide jobs for future generations. How? By making sure electric car manufacturing and sales succeed.
Michigan should support jobs by supplying technology and parts for electric cars and promote small business growth, by encouraging the purchase of EVs and access to charging stations.
The impact of electric vehicles in Michigan is already being felt. GM's Chevy Volt has led to more than $700 million in investments at eight manufacturing plants for production of the vehicle and its components. General Motors plants to add a second shift, representing nearly 1,000 jobs at its Detroit- Hamtramck assembly plant as the automaker looks to boost production of the Volt.
"Next year, GM plans to build 60,000 Volts at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant, with 45,000 designated for the U.S. The new targets add 1,000 Volts to the number to be sent overseas this year and 15,000 to official 2012 estimates. The update comes as GM plans to add as many as 2,500 jobs to its Detroit-Hamtramck factory as soon as this summer."
Detroit Free Press, May 19, 2011
Ford has invested $1 billion to modernize
its Michigan Assembly Plant from an SUV
factory to a plant to build the 2010 Focus
and all-new 2011 Focus Electric pure battery
EV.Dow Kokam, a new lithium-ion battery maker formed by Dow Chemical and two other companies, broke ground in Midland on a $322 million, 400,000 square-foot plant. The company expects to complete the factory in January 2012 and employ 320 people.
"Hybrid and electric cars offer a range of benefits, including reduced emissions and enhanced energy security. But new jobs are the most immediate payout from government support of advanced auto technologies and lithium batteries. Michigan will add thousands of new jobs as it ramps up to manufacture as many as 400,000 battery packs a year by 2012."A Michigan State University study found that a low-carbon fuel standard - a policy that would support the success of electric vehicles - could create up to 11,000 jobs and add more than $3 billion to the state's economic activity by replacing petroleum imports with fuel produced in Michigan.
Hybridcars.com, April 12, 2010
We must establish incentives and policies to create a system for charging electric cars and supporting fleet purchasing to ensure Michigan becomes a leader in the global competition for jobs.