The French specialist in smart battery systems plans to expand its production capacity by a factor of 10 and create more than 300 jobs between now and 2021
Paris, 29 March 2018 – Forsee Power, the French expert in smart battery systems for urban mobility solutions, has announced its intention to create a manufacturing facility in the urban community of Grand Poitiers, in France, close to Futuroscope, to produce its dedicated transport batteries. This new facility will enable the Group to begin mass production of its batteries and expand its production capacity by a factor of 10, beginning at the end of 2018. More than 100 jobs are expected to be created this year, and around 300 by 2021, before any additional extension to the plant.
The Group, which announced that it had secured €55 million in funding last December to support industrial production of its battery systems, continues on track with its roadmap to the future. This significant funding package was put in place by the European Investment Bank, Mitsui & Co. in Japan and Idinvest Partners.
“This new facility gives Forsee Power the manufacturing capacity it needs to support the energy transition of public transport systems in Europe. This investment is a perfect fit with the Industry Plan announced by the French government at the end of last year, which particularly targets the development of a French batteries sector”, emphasises Forsee Power CEO Christophe Gurtner, who is proud to represent the French manufacturers.
Offering the market’s most comprehensive range of batteries for transport applications, the Forsee Power Group is very well placed going forward, having already signed major battery supply contracts with high-profile bus manufacturers, including CNHI (Iveco and Heuliez), CaetanoBus in Portugal and Wrightbus in the UK.
Regeneration of a former diesel engine piston plant to create a modern clean energy facility in the urban community of Grand Poitiers
It’s not just vehicles that are engaging in their own energy transition! The former Federal Mogul factory will soon be reborn to house the production of Forsee Power batteries.
The new 15,000 m² facility will initially run 3 automated production lines offering sufficient capacity to manufacture 2,500 electric bus batteries per year (or the equivalent for industrial vehicles). All the roofs of the plant and its car parks will be covered with photovoltaic panels to generate 1.8 MWc of clean electricity to power the plant, with the surplus being injected into the main grid. 10,000 m² of additional land will be held in reserve to facilitate the growth of Forsee Power over the medium term.
Forsee Power has chosen the urban community of Grand Poitiers and the Chasseneuil-du-Poitou site in particular not only for its technical attributes, but also for its ideal location close to the Futuroscope theme park and for the professional and personal living environment offered by the urban community of Grand Poitiers and the wider region of Nouvelle Aquitaine. This new facility will be a persuasive showcase for the French group, which regularly welcomes high-profile international customers, partners and suppliers.