The UK-based EV startup Arrival announced today that it is establishing a High Voltage Battery Module (HVBM) assembly plant on Charlotte’s west side, adding 150 jobs and investing approximately $11.5 million. This will be Arrival’s third facility in Charlotte, including its North American headquarters in South End and its Van Microfactory also on the west side.
Arrival assembles its own proprietary battery modules that can be used in all of its platforms, enabling the customer to configure their battery requirements according to their specific needs. The in-house design fits within Arrival’s plug-and-play hardware and software architecture that allows for scalability, upgradability and ease of repairs and maintenance.
Arrival’s proprietary software runs across all of its in-house components, diagnosing potential issues and optimizing the customer experience, improving the total cost of operations. Operators are able to replace just one module instead of a whole pack, saving both costs and downtime.
The modules manufactured in Charlotte will be used in the vehicles produced at the nearby Microfactories and be used in Arrival’s products, starting with the Arrival Bus and Van. Earlier this week, Arrival also announced a collaboration agreement with Li-Cycle, a leading lithium-ion battery recycler in North America, to create a closed-loop EV battery supply chain in the U.S. and Europe. This local HVBM facility will be a key piece of Arrival’s broader sustainability strategy that also includes recycled materials, easy upgradability to prolong the life of the vehicle and use of local supply chains to reduce shipping emissions.
“By bringing the assembly of our proprietary High Voltage Battery Modules in house, we’re striving to be as vertically integrated as possible. This will enable us to have even greater control over the functionality and cost of our products and pass those cost savings on to the customer while also working toward our goal of zero waste production,” said Mike Ableson, CEO of Arrival Automotive. “We’re excited to add another facility in Charlotte, as we prepare to open our new North American Headquarters building just down the road and continue to work in tandem with the City to develop solutions for their electrification and sustainability goals. This is a big milestone for Arrival as we ramp up operations in the region in advance of production starting in Rock Hill in Q2 next year.”
“North Carolina is leading the way in developing and securing our clean energy future and we’re excited that Arrival Automotive is expanding its electric vehicle operations in Charlotte,” said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. “Our high-quality workforce and booming clean energy industry will help the company reach the goal of making electric vehicles affordable and accessible for everyone.”
Arrival continues to work with the City of Charlotte on achieving the goals set out in its Strategic Energy Action Plan (SEAP) that outlines strategies for clean energy focused on transportation, buildings, energy generation, and equitable workforce development. Arrival believes its transformative approach can provide cities with the solutions they need to create sustainable urban environments and exceptional experiences for their citizens.
Arrival’s mission aligns with the City of Charlotte’s goal to improve sustainability efforts and reduce greenhouse emissions. In June 2018, the City passed the Sustainable and Resilient Charlotte by 2050 Resolution, which set aggressive and aspirational community-wide greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals for the City of Charlotte. It strives to have city fleets and facilities be 100% fueled by zero-carbon sources by 2030.
The project was a collaborative effort between the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance and the City of Charlotte with support from the North Carolina Governor’s Office and North Carolina Department of Commerce.
