Battery Maker Receives State Grant

Battery manufacturer Quallion LLC has received a $1 million state grant for mass-producing batteries for electric vehicles. Sylmar-based Quallion will also provide $1 million in matching funds to the money received from the California Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Transportation program. By automating the manufacturing process, Quallion will reduce the cost of electric car batteries, the single most expense component in those vehicles. The company will use the money to create a manufacturing line capable of producing 10,000 one-kilowatt hour lithium ion batteries. The project will create 50 to 100 temporary positions and 100 to 200 permanent jobs in the next three years. Mark R. Madler