Winchester, UK - ReVolt Technology, LLC, a developer of innovative, rechargeable zinc-air batteries, has selected Portland, Oregon as the location for its US headquarters and manufacturing center.
By locating in Oregon, the company will be eligible, and intends to apply for, Business Energy Tax Credits from the Oregon Department of Energy for battery research and production.
ReVolt is also applying for $30 million in grants from US Department of Energy (DOE) under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act to accelerate the commercialization of its large format zinc-air batteries for energy storage and electric vehicle applications.
Initially developed by SINTEF, Norway, one of the largest contract research institutes in Europe, ReVolt's patented zinc-air technology is based on research conducted at one of Scandinavia's top scientific institutes. The company's US expansion coincides with increasingly sophisticated energy storage demands from consumer electronics makers, vehicle designers and energy utilities. ReVolt's battery technology offers these industries a high-energy storage platform that is both durable and environmentally safe.
Securing government grants and tax credits will allow ReVolt to accelerate its operations in Portland and US expansion. ReVolt's zinc-air batteries deliver more than twice the energy of conventional rechargeable designs such as lithium-ion. Made using naturally abundant zinc, the batteries have low manufacturing costs and reduce dependence on imported fuels and other energy materials. They degrade into environmentally-safe substances when exhausted, cutting pollution risks and the need for costly battery waste capture programs.
ReVolt plans to employ up to 75 highly skilled employees at its Portland site during its battery development phase and up to 250 employees in subsequent pilot and production phases.
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