The California Energy Commission (CEC) has announced proposed grant winners of its recent Advanced Vehicle Technology Manufacturing solicitation, which will put nearly $20 million into the state's advanced transportation sector.
These cost-share grants are devoted exclusively to the development of manufacturing or assembly facilities in California that produce alternative fuel vehicles, advanced technology vehicles or eligible vehicle components. Funding was pegged at $10 million for fiscal year 2011-2012, but the CEC can increase total funding if it is retroactively appropriated in the 2012-2013 budget.
Tentative grant winners include the following:
- Tesla Motors Inc., $10 million: Model X manufacturing line;
- Wrightspeed Inc., $5.8 million: manufacturing of the Wrightspeed Digital DriveSystem retrofit kit;
- Quallion LLC, $2.23 million: expansion of battery management system integration facilities for lithium-ion battery modules; and
- Zero Motorcycles Inc., $1.82 million: expansion of volume manufacturing capacity for electric motorcycle production;
The CEC notes that final funding of the recommended projects is contingent upon approval at a public CEC meeting and the execution of grant agreements.
