Kentucky has landed its first major tenant at a battery research laboratory in Lexington as the state jockeys for a prominent role in developing next-generation automobiles.
NOHMs Technologies Inc. said Wednesday it will locate research, product development and manufacturing operations at the Kentucky-Argonne Battery Manufacturing Research and Development Center. The more than $5.3 million investment is expected to create up to 162 jobs in coming years.
Gov. Steve Beshear says the company's arrival strengthens Kentucky's emerging role in developing next-generation batteries.
NOHMs says its lithium-sulfur batteries will deliver enough energy at a cost low enough to jump-start the electric vehicle industry.
Electric car sales now account for a tiny fraction of overall U.S. auto sales.
The battery research center is at the Spindletop research site in Lexington.