CALSTART, a US-based clean transportation nonprofit, has recommended three recipients for a total of $43 million in first-round California Energy Commission (CEC) grant funds: Sparkz, Sepion Technologies and South 8 Technologies in partnership with Nanotech Energy.

The selection follows an evaluation of 14 applications that were submitted in April as part of California PowerForward battery-manufacturing infrastructure grant program.

Sepion Technologies plans to build a lithium-ion battery separator manufacturing facility in West Sacramento, California with the grant.

Sparkz has opened its Sacramento manufacturing facility, which will serve as the project location for its PowerForward project.

“Through programs like PowerForward, Sparkz is able to accelerate the scale-up of its battery material manufacturing to meet growing domestic customer demands as programs like the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provide tax credit opportunities to domestic battery consumers,” said Sanjiv Malhotra, founder and CEO, Sparkz.

South 8 will expand manufacturing of its LiGas electrolyte in San Diego and integrate a LiGas injection system into Nanotech’s battery cell production facility in Chico to provide LiGas battery cells for zero-emission vehicles and other applications.

“CALSTART is excited to announce the awards for the PowerForward program, which will grow critical elements in the battery supply chain, and foster innovation and collaboration throughout the state,” said Phoebe Bisnoff, CALSTART’s Battery Manufacturing Program Manager.

Source: CALSTART