Funding for Lithium-ion Large Cell Manufacturing

Under the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (H.R. 5631), EaglePicher Technologies of Joplin, Missouri, will receive $2.3 million for lithium-ion large cell manufacturing.

The U.S. military has identified multiple needs for high voltage (over 250V) and high current (over 200A) Li-ion rechargeable battery systems. U.S. Navy programs requiring these systems include satellites, future naval capabilities, joint strike fighter, unmanned underwater vehicles and small submarines, and second source development for the Advanced Seal Delivery System.

EaglePicher is building a new 24,000 square foot Li-ion research and production facility in Joplin, which will include dry and clean rooms fabricated by Scientific Climate Systems Inc. of Houston, Texas, for critical process steps. It also will have a full diagnostic laboratory on-site, paperless tracking of all cell and battery build and performance data, PLC capability and bar coding for all process steps.