- The EIB grants 50 million euros in funding to help Forsee Power become a battery champion in Europe.
- This second loan – after a first contribution of 20 million euros at the end of 2017 as part of the Juncker plan – will finance the expansion of the company’s range of products intended for 100% battery, hydrogen hybrid or thermal hybrid vehicles.
- It will facilitate product development for new markets and strengthen Forsee Power’s manufacturing capacity.
Confidence in electromobility to mitigate climate change
The signing of this loan confirms the European Union’s desire to contribute, through the EIB, to the emergence of a battery champion in Europe and to develop the market contributing to reducing CO2 emissions, in favor of climate. It comes in addition to the significant financing obtained in 2020 by the shareholders of Forsee Power and the banks. This significant contribution of 105 million euros in total has already made it possible to launch the development of new ultra-thin batteries and improve the industrial performance of its plant near Poitiers in France. It will also facilitate the long-term development of commercial activities in the new segments and the continuation of the Group’s R&D efforts.
Christophe Gurtner, CEO of Forsee Power is proud to highlight that Forsee Power “has the most complete range of batteries on the transport markets and has already signed major battery supply contracts with leading bus manufacturers including CNHI (Iveco, Heuliez), Alstom (Aptis), CaetanoBus and Wrightbus.” The Group is also taking a position on the rail (Alstom / TER Regiolis and SOCOFER) and industrial vehicles (Kubota) markets.
“This financing is a great opportunity for the Group to consolidate its know-how and expand its offerings in smart and sustainable battery systems. Electric transport must not only be the transport of tomorrow, but it must also be the one of today! This is the only way to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement ” he continues.
“Investments in favor of climate and innovation were at the heart of our strategy in 2020 and it is with great motivation that we are once again supporting Forsee Power in its development after an initial financing at the end of 2017 as part of the Juncker plan”, assures Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the EIB. “We are convinced that the electromobility sector can constantly reinvent itself and be ever more efficient, and it is our desire is to support this extremely buoyant market in Europe”.
Supporting the growth of Forsee Power
The Group supplies durable, high-performance batteries for OEMs around the world, to equip light electric vehicles, commercial vehicles, buses, non-road vehicles, rail vehicles and ships (excluding cars, automobile manufacturers most often own their battery systems). With its historic Industrial Tech activity, Forsee Power also designs battery systems for portable industrial technologies. These are medical and wellness technologies, robotics, household appliances and safety devices.
This 50-million-euro loan signed with EIB will finance the strategic development of the Forsee Power Group through the expansion of its range of products intended for 100% battery, hydrogen hybrid or thermal hybrid vehicles. The Group will thus be able to strengthen its range of battery systems in the market segments already addressed and develop products for new markets, such as off-highway transport (construction and agricultural vehicles) or light urban utility vehicles.
It will also make it possible to increase manufacturing capacity and ensure the working capital requirement to meet the order book and will allow the extension of the scope of the market thanks to increased expenditure in marketing and sales efforts. With an installed production capacity of 1 GWh, expandable to 4 GWh, Forsee Power is well positioned to support the electrification of all types of mobility.