A startup company that will convert gas-burning vehicles to pure electric vehicles is opening a facility in Lansing, Michigan. This is good news, since Michigan has plenty of skilled labor, but Michigan also has the highest unemployment rate in the United States at 10.6%. From the Lansing State Journal, MI:
The company, EV Performance Warehouse Inc., plans to convert existing, gas-burning cars into purely electric-driven vehicles. Its first project will be to convert 2,000 fleet vehicles for various companies.
To accomplish that, the company will need technical workers such as engineers, electricians and lab technicians. Company President David Sterrett said the jobs will pay “above prevailing wage” but was not more specific. He said hiring is scheduled to begin before the end of June.
Sterrett said EV Performance is in the process of securing a building and workers could be converting cars to electric in Lansing by the third quarter.
The converted fleet vehicles will sell for $25,000 to $30,000, he said.
EV also plans to do personal car conversions that would cost $8,000 to $15,000, depending on the age and condition of the car and how far a driver would like to be able to drive on a single battery charge.
Hat tip to Kevin.
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I like the idea of a company that will aid in boosting employment: Especially in an area where the employment rate used to be one of the lowest in the country (before US Car Companies started to ship their facilities out of the country and/or in other states where labor and tax rates are lower). Despite the good intentions, in order to be efficient when it comes to converting cars to pure electric, this would have to be a trend that extends outside the boundaries of Lansing. In other words, unless it’s purely for local travel, there’s no real profit-margin for this company. What needs to happen is a conversion on a national scale for businesses of this type to thrive. It all winds down to the general system of checks and balances. EX: If the electric rental car industry sky-rockets because of conversion on a national scale, then the gas-running car rental industry will start to diminish.
Whatever happened to this company? Does anyone know?