Forsee Power, a French company that specializes in designing and manufacturing smart battery systems, has selected the City of Hilliard as the home of its North American headquarters.
The announcement was made Monday in Washington, D.C., at the Select USA Summit, one of the country’s top economic development events of the year. The Summit is hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration to promote foreign direct investment to the United States.
Forsee Power will lease the property at 4555 Lyman Drive, a site formerly operated by Highlights for Children, Inc. The company has committed to hiring 150 employees with more than $9 million in payroll. The site will host corporate office space, manufacturing operations, and research and development capabilities.
“The City wants to attract and grow high-wage jobs, bring in quality development, and create public-private sector partnerships to solve real challenges as part of the Hilliard City Lab program. Forsee Power is doing exactly that with its innovative work in public transportation,” said David Meadows, economic development director for the City of Hilliard. “Forsee Power is already a major player in Europe, Asia, and North America, and we’re excited they’ve selected Hilliard as they build their U.S. customer base.”
Forsee Power designs, assembles, and supplies energy management systems based on the most robust cells available on the market, as well as provides installation, commissioning, and on-site or remote maintenance. Their applications are used in autonomous vehicles/robotics, light urban utility vehicles, bus, truck, rail and marine. The company aims to target the growing commercial vehicle market — primarily buses, school buses, trains, and off-highway vehicles.
“We found in Central Ohio the right ecosystem of potential supply chain partners, academic partners, and a right fit for the workforce as we are looking at hiring production operators, research and development engineers, and a full leadership team to run North America activity,” explains Christophe Gurtner, Chairman & CEO of Forsee Power. “The U.S. administration has designed a very ambitious roadmap toward decarbonation. There are tremendous opportunities to grow on our target market segments: our field-proven experience, our ability to scale up industrial capabilities and to innovate zero emission solutions for electric vehicles manufacturers will be key assets to rapidly position as a leader in North America.”
Forsee Power has committed to having a positive impact on people and the environment by manufacturing sustainable products and mitigating transportation’s impact on climate. The company started in 2019 to work on its sustainability strategy, defining three key focus areas. Those include putting in place a robust and transparent governance system, promoting diversity and a strong health and safety culture, and contributing to the mitigation of climate change through its products, services, supply chain, and behaviors toward consumption and waste.
“Forsee Power’s decision to establish its North American headquarters and new battery production facility in Ohio is a testament to the advantage of building out the rapidly growing EV industry in this state,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “We welcome Forsee Power’s confidence in Ohio’s talent and innovation, and we look forward to partnering with them as they produce and advance this critical technology here.”
“Forsee Power’s decision to choose Ohio for its first U.S. battery systems manufacturing facility aligns with this state’s exceptional position to be a global leader in smart mobility and the EV production and supply chain development,” said J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and CEO. “This investment from overseas attracts a global innovator in the sustainable electromobility solutions that will bring 150 good-paying jobs while strengthening this critical supply chain in Ohio.”
About Forsee Power
Forsee Power is a French industrial group specializing in smart battery systems for sustainable electric transport (light vehicles, off-highway vehicles, buses, trains and ships). A major player in Europe, Asia and North America, the Group designs, assembles, and supplies energy management systems based on cells that are among the most robust in the market and provides installation, commissioning, and maintenance on site and remotely. More than 1,200 buses and 100,000 LEV have been equipped with Forsee Power’s batteries. The Group also offers financing solutions (battery leasing) and second-life solutions for transport batteries. Forsee Power recorded revenue from sales of EUR 72.4 million in 2021 and has more than 600 employees. For more information: www.forseepower.com | @ForseePower
