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Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Honeywell International Inc. a grant totaling $27.3 million. Honeywell International’s facilities in Buffalo, NY and Metropolis, IL will utilize the federal grant for lithium ion battery development.
“The research and development happening at Honeywell right here in Buffalo will help the American automobile industry evolve and emerge as a leader in clean, efficient technology and create jobs in the prominent vehicle manufacturing sector in Western New York,” said Congressman Higgins. “This significant Recovery Act investment will have a huge impact on this community and demonstrates Honeywell’s clear strength as a national innovator.”
“This funding will help support our lithium-ion battery program in Buffalo by accelerating commercialization of the advanced battery materials required to help the U.S. take a leadership role in developing better hybrid-electric vehicles. Honeywell is grateful for the funding, and we’d like to thank Congressman Higgins for his leadership on this important issue, and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, and Congressman Lee for ensuring that this important work was included in the final grant package,” said Jay Kelly, leader of Honeywell’s Buffalo research laboratory.
Congressman Higgins and other members of the federal delegation sent a letter to Secretary of Energy on May 13 supporting Honeywell’s grant application for the national “Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative.”
The funding is expected to help build the domestic materials supply chain necessary for the success of the US advanced battery manufacturing initiative which is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs in the American automobile and related industries.
Honeywell is uniquely positioned to meet this technology challenge. All lithium-ion batteries require lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) a material that is not currently made in the U.S. Honeywell has developed a novel process to prepare high-purity LiPF6, and plans to use the funding to become the U.S.’s first producer of this critical material. The material has been developed at Honeywell’s fluorine research and development facility in Buffalo, N.Y., which has a proven record of developing and commercializing innovative fluorinated molecules.
The goal of this Recovery Act grant is to accelerate the market introduction and penetration of advanced electric drive vehicles. A key objective of the program is to accelerate the development and production of various electric drive vehicle systems to substantially reduce petroleum consumption. Furthermore, advanced electric drive technologies will allow manufacturers to meet increased fuel economy standards while reducing vehicular emissions of greenhouse gases.
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