DURHAM, N.C. — National and state leaders gathered Tuesday in Durham to celebrate the grand opening of a new electric vehicle (EV) charging manufacturer’s North American headquarters.
Kempower executives and Gov. Roy Cooper spoke at the grand opening for the $41 million plant in south Durham.
“Clean energy means great-paying jobs and North Carolina is becoming an international clean energy epicenter,” Cooper said.
During the ceremony, Kempower unveiled a recently-launched megawatt charger, which officials said generates the power of two Walmart supercenters and can charge an electric truck in 30 minutes. It’s just one of the products Kempower hopes will support more electric fleets in the state.
During his remarks, Cooper highlighted the benefit to the state’s economy, saying Kempower will bring a $726 million boost to North Carolina’s economy over the next 12 years.
“We are excited that they have chosen this location,” Cooper said. “This facility in Durham, North Carolina, when they could have chosen anywhere else in the world. The Kempower team knows that we have one of the best arrays of public and private universities in the world, the best community college system in the world. They know that we can provide this Kempower team with highly skilled and diverse workforce that they so desperately need.”
The company has already has more than 120 local employees with plans to hire about 500 more in the coming years.
“Certainly, Gov. Cooper has been very aggressive in getting businesses around sustainability in North Carolina and we’re kind of part of that wave,” said Kempower North American vice president of markets and products Jed Routh.
Kempower is continuing to build out its Durham site as it ramps up production of EV chargers.
“Companies are putting a lot of money into EVs,” Routh said. “Those companies that make them and we see that market really growing in the next couple of years.”
The facility will eventually span more than 150,000 square feet.
“This is policy supporting investment, and you know Durham is going to do its part,” said Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams.
