Advanced Energy United News

The Pantagraph/AP: Another Electric-Vehicle Maker is Coming to Illinois

Written by Pantagraph Editorial Board | May 7, 2021

The Pantagraph profiled a new electric vehicle manufacturing plant opening in Joliet, quoting AEE's Electrifying Illinois report on EV-related jobs. Read snippets below and the full article here

JOLIET — Another electric-vehicle maker is coming to Illinois, joining Rivian Automotive in a widening industry for the state. 

Lion Electric Co. will invest at least $75 million in a Joliet plant that ultimately will produce 20,000 zero-emission vehicles a year and create 745 or more jobs. It is the Canadian company's first U.S. manufacturing facility to produce small trucks and heavier electric machinery, officials said Friday...

The announcement comes as electric vehicle startup Rivian ramps up for production in the former Mitsubishi plant in Normal, which it bought in 2017 for $16 million. The company is building all-The electric pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles. It also is developing delivery vehicles for Amazon...

The trade association Advanced Energy Economy estimates electric transportation sector jobs in Illinois will double by 2024, to as many as 9,500. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that $7.5 million would be invested in a new electric vehicle worker training academy at Heartland Community College...

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Read the full article here