EnerVenue shifts battery production from Kentucky to China

American battery startup EnerVenue has launched mass production of its nickel-hydrogen batteries in Changzhou, China, abandoning previous plans to build its first manufacturing facility in Kentucky, USA.

CEO Henning Rath stated that the decision was driven by the established industrial ecosystem in Changzhou rather than cost alone. The city provides a dense cluster of suppliers, engineers, and specialized automation and hydraulics companies, which allows for rapid engineering iterations and the ability to scale new technology effectively.

The company’s nickel-hydrogen technology is derived from NASA applications used in the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station. While EnerVenue maintains research and development operations in California, the new Changzhou facility is approximately 95% automated and is expected to employ around 400 workers by the end of the year.