LG Begins Production of First EV Charger Plant in US

Jan 16, 2024 09:08 PM EST

PUBLIC CHARGER FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES — (Photo : PEXELS/ Reinhard Bruckner)

TRAFFIC INDUSTRY CHARGING — (Photo : PEXELS/ Kindel Media)

LG Electronics opened its first US electric vehicle (EV) charger plant on Friday. LG is ready to meet North America's growing EV demand after opening its pioneer U.S. EV charger station. Texas is the company's first international EV charger manufacturing location, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable vehicle solutions.

LG's First EV Charger Factory in the US

LG's inaugural overseas EV charger manufacturing line, situated in Texas, has a spacious 59,000-square-foot facility capable of producing over 10,000 slow- and/or fast-charging EV charging units annually. As of Friday, the Seoul-based corporation has initiated the assembly of 11kW models and anticipates the potential commencement of 175kW fast charger production later this year.

LG chose Texas for its charger factory due to its excellent logistics and transportation infrastructure. Reports stated that financial investment details and the number of employees hired at the site have not been disclosed by LG at this time.

LG's first overseas manufacturing line for electric vehicle chargers, located in Texas, marks a significant shift in its strategy. It replaces imports from its South Korean majority-owned joint venture, HiEV Charger, which it acquired just last year.

As reported, LG has already commenced the assembly of 11kW chargers at its new factory and has plans to introduce 175kW fast chargers in the first half of 2024, followed by 350kW ultra-fast chargers before the year's end.

In 2022, LG acquired South Korean EV charger provider AppleMango, paving the way for its entry into this competitive market, where companies like ChargePoint Holdings and Tesla, led by Elon Musk, dominate. LG faces an expanding market as federal funds and incentives extend the U.S. EV charging network.

Additionally, Reuters shared that the Office of the U.S. Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy reported that charging ports nearly doubled from late 2019 to the first quarter of 2023. Initially, the facility will focus on assembling Level-2 smaller portable wall chargers, with plans to introduce Level-3 touch-screen display models later in the year.

LG's Next Plans for Its EV Charger Facility

LG's first overseas electric vehicle charger manufacturing facility in Texas shows the company's commitment to expanding its EV charger portfolio to meet customers' diverse needs, particularly commercial and long-distance travelers.

LG also plans to use its experience to meet the diverse EV charging demands of hotels, shopping malls, retail outlets, gas stations, and parking facilities to boost this sector. LG also thinks its U.S. hotel TV and digital signage knowledge would help it grow its EV charging solutions business.

LG's decision to establish its electric vehicle charger factory in Texas aligns perfectly with the state's commitment to renewable energy. Texas has been really pushing for electric vehicle adoption and investing in EV infrastructure, making LG's presence there all the more crucial.

Texas is at the forefront of encouraging electric vehicle (EV) adoption and transitioning to solar energy. The federal government offers substantial incentives, including rebates for EV purchases and a 30% rebate on solar system installation expenses.