Buckeye Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On August 3, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown announced $4,455,000 to The Ohio State University to construct a battery innovation laboratory and education center. This new facility will allow for critical battery development and testing that will bolster the growth of Ohio’s electric vehicle industry. U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded the funds as Congressionally Directed Spending supported by Senator Brown.

“We know how to make cars in Ohio, and this investment in research and development will ensure we continue to lead the world in the next generation of vehicles,” said Brown. “The Ohio State University is one of our state’s economic engines, and we fought for this investment to help make Ohio the center of the electric vehicle supply chain.”

The battery innovation lab will include a 4,000 square foot dry room, which is necessary for the assembly of battery cells due to the extreme moisture sensitivity of cell components. The dry room and new battery cell assembly equipment will facilitate the accelerated development and translation of batteries from the lab to practical scales, including the electric vehicle market.

The NIST Engineering Laboratory promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology for engineered systems in ways that enhance economic security and improve quality of life. 

Brown has been a leader in bringing new manufacturing opportunities to Ohio. Last year, he worked to pass into law the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and the groundbreaking Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. These laws make historic investments to bolster semiconductor and battery production, and position the U.S. and Ohio to lead the world in the production of new technology like electric vehicles (EV), solar panel production, and sustainable aviation fuel. Additionally, these laws boost advanced manufacturing hubs across the country, make historic investments in the Manufacturing USA and Manufacturing Extension Partnership programs Brown has long championed, and include Brown’s Buy America provisions in construction projects.

Original source can be found here.