As startups and top tier automotive manufacturers alike continue to make commitments to convert more of their production towards electric vehicles (EVs), the need for a robust charging network continues to intensify.
While it is impossible to predict at this stage how many consumers will jump on the EV bandwagon, not having the infrastructure ready to go would quickly kill the momentum.
To help address the shortage, Siemens is investing and expanding its U.S. manufacturing operations to support EV infrastructure. The company will bolster its existing manufacturing footprint of EV infrastructure with the VersiCharge Level 2 AC series product line of commercial and residential EV chargers. With this addition, Siemens is preparing to manufacture over 1 million electric vehicle chargers for the United States over the next four years.
Siemen’s new facility will be its third U.S. eMobility hub and is projected to support 100 jobs across the manufacturing site and regional supply chain. “We’re incredibly encouraged by the continued commitment from the Administration and the Senate’s bipartisan approval of a historic $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, which includes a $7.5 billion investment to construct electric vehicle stations, and Siemens is answering the call to accelerate EV charging production in the U.S.,” said John DeBoer, head of Siemens eMobility solutions and future grid business in North America, in a statement.
The plan is to identify a location this year and begin manufacturing AC chargers in the U.S. in early 2022. “We are developing technologies that truly transform the everyday, and as America embraces electrified transportation, we are ensuring the infrastructure is in place to support it,” said Ruth Gratzke, president of Siemens smart infrastructure U.S., in a statement
The plant will serve as a counterpart to Siemens’ existing operations in Wendell, North Carolina, where the company manufactures charging solutions for buses, trucks and heavy-duty electric vehicles. In 2019, Siemens expanded the 272,000-square-foot Wendell facility to manufacture DC fleet EV chargers, adding over 50 jobs. The Wendell location also works with local educational institutions including North Carolina State University and Wake Tech Community College for training and workforce development.
