Over 200 jobs headed to Huntersville as NC looks to charge up electric vehicle tech work

A Mecklenburg County electric vehicle charging technology company plans to invest nearly $4.2 million to expand its Huntersville operation and add 205 jobs, local and state officials said Tuesday.

Atom Power’s EV charging stations will be located throughout North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement. He said electrical vehicles are key to helping the state and nation “transition to the clean energy economy.”

Atom Power’s expansion over the next four years includes creating jobs in electrical, mechanical, and software engineers, electrical technicians, and other manufacturing and support personnel, a Mecklenburg County news release said.

The average annual salary will be $91,804. That’s higher than the county’s current average wage of $80,349.

Atom Power currently has 82 employees. The new employees will increase its workforce by 250%.

For its investment, Atom Power will receive over $1.6 million in state, county and local tax incentives. The state Jobs Development Investment Grant award of $1.2 million over 12 years. The county award is $45,771 over five years.

The company at 13245 Reese Blvd. W. was co-founded nine years ago by CEO Ryan Kennedy. Kennedy attended both Central Piedmont Community College and UNC Charlotte, where he started the business. He invented the only digital breaker switch ever approved for commercial use, according to the county.

Kennedy was on hand for the announcement, as was Cooper and local officials.

NC focus on zero-emission vehicles

Cooper has been focused on the emerging clean energy economy as part of a strategy to reduce state greenhouse gas emissions and deal with the impacts of climate change.

In January, Cooper’s Executive Order 246 set a goal of at least 1.25 million registered zero-emission vehicles, or ZEVs, by 2030, The News & Observer reported. The plan calls for ZEVs, including plug-in hybrids, to comprise half of all North Carolina vehicle sales by 2030, which is in line with car manufacturers like Ford and General Motors’ goals.

North Carolina will receive $109 million over five years as part of a federal infrastructure bill building chargers for electric vehicles, The News & Observer reported.

Five years ago, Cooper signed Executive Order 80, which includes fostering market innovation and development to advance clean energy technology and a skilled workforce.

NC Gov. Cooper set a goal of 1.25 million electric vehicles by 2030. Is that possible?

Other regional expansion plans

The Charlotte area also has seen other expansions recently.

Last month, Australian environmental engineering company EPOC Enviro said it will open a 260,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Statesville and expects to hire 226 employees, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.

The remediation company removes harmful substances from the water, soil and industrial systems. OPEC stands for Emerging Pollutants of Concern.

In March, Charlotte-based Albemarle Corp. said it will invest $1.3 billion to build a lithium hydroxide plant in Chester County, South Carolina, creating over 300 jobs. The facility will serve electric vehicles using lithium-ion batteries.

And in December, Albemarle Corp. said it will invest $200 million and create at least 200 jobs by establishing an advanced materials research and development facility in the University City area. The plant will focus on lithium and battery tech.

The facility is expected to open in early 2025 with completion of the campus by late 2026.

This is a developing story

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