Vacuum cleaner manufacturer Dyson plans to build a major battery factory after acquiring a battery technology firm, the company’s founder, James Dyson, told USA TODAY.
Dyson confirmed on Monday that it has acquired Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Sakti3 and plans to use the startup’s solid-state lithium-ion technology to improve the battery life on its cordless vacuums, deliver new products and build a battery production plant.
Dyson, founder and chief engineer of the United Kingdom-based manufacturing and technology giant, said that the company’s battery production facility will require up to $1 billion in investment. Dyson said the U.S. is an option — including Sakti3’s home state.
“I think there are lots of places we could do it, so we are keeping a very open mind about it at the moment,” he said.
Entering the realm of advanced battery production for electric vehicles would put the U.K. company in direct competition with the likes of Silicon Valley’s Tesla Motors, Panasonic and LG Chem. Tesla is currently building a massive factory in Reno, Nev., in conjunction with Panasonic to provide battery packs for its electric cars and stationary electrical storage units.
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