The companies are joining in the venture with the Argonne National Laboratory, a Chicago-based developer of new battery technologies.
Developing the capability to mass manufacture advanced battery cells is expected to require investment of $1 billion to $2 billion during the next five years, said The National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Battery Cell Manufacture, most of which is expected to come from the federal government.
The alliance said lithium ion batteries “are anticipated to replace gasoline as the principal source of energy in future cars and military vehicles.”
The alliance said it will seek to develop one or more manufacturing and prototype development centers in the United States.
“Today, United States automobile manufacturers and defense contractors depend upon foreign suppliers — increasingly concentrated in Asia — for lithium ion battery cells,” according to the alliance.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne lab will “serve in an advisory role as the alliance begins operations,” it said, adding that “additional battery developers and materials suppliers are anticipated to join the alliance.”
It said U.S. truck and carmakers are "expected to play an important role in the alliance" and would be invited to serve on its board along with representatives of the Department of Defense.
The founding members of the Alliance include 3M, ActaCell, All Cell Technologies, Altair Nanotechnologies, Dontech Global, EaglePicher Corp., EnerSys, Envia Systems, FMC, MicroSun Technologies, Mobius Power, SiLyte, Superior Graphite and Townsend Advanced Energy.
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