SCA Region sparking with Electric Power Projects

The electric spark of innovation has never been more evident in the Southern Carolina region as projects related to alternative energy, particularly EV, are locating in our communities.

SouthernCarolina Regional Development Alliance (SCA) is working with local, state and national industry leaders to attract the EV and alternative industries to Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties.

In October 2022, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed an executive order which formalizes the governor’s efforts to coordinate the future rollout of the state’s electric vehicle infrastructure. The governor’s order prioritizes the state’s efforts to recruit electric vehicle-related businesses to South Carolina by training the state’s workforce to be prepared for the jobs related to the industry and establishing a “one-stop-shop” at the South Carolina Department of Commerce (Commerce) for businesses interested in investing in the state.

The governor’s executive order also creates an Interagency Working Group tasked with working collaboratively with stakeholders and local governments to develop a comprehensive plan regarding the strategic deployment of electric vehicle-related resources and infrastructure across the state. The Working Group will be focused primarily on developing a plan for strategically placing electric vehicle charging infrastructure on South Carolina’s interstates and roadways.

Gov. McMaster announced in February 2023 the launch of scpowersev.com, a virtual hub highlighting South Carolina’s growing electric vehicle (EV) industry and the state’s capacity for further industry expansion.

The website states the state’s commitment to this transformative industry and explains incentives for EV manufacturers. It has an interactive dashboard where users can view the number and location of public charging stations in South Carolina. It also supplies links to news articles about the EV industry in South Carolina.

“EV-related companies account for more than half of the $10.27 billion in economic development South Carolina announced last year. That speaks to our state’s great potential to lead in this sector,” said Gov. McMaster. “Our business-friendly climate and our greatest resource – our people – make South Carolina the place where the EV industry can transform the future. And this website will help us tell that story.”

The SCA region is already seeing growth as a result of the EV industry. In March 2023, Terminal Investment Corporation (TICO) in Jasper County announced a new line of their terminal trucks which move containers around at our nation’s busiest ports. TICO teamed up with Volvo-Penta to create a new model, the TICO Pro-Spotter Electric.

The Pro-Spotter Electric is an emission-free electric vehicle (EV), powered by Volvo Penta’s innovative electric driveline, according to company promotional documents.

“Full battery capacity can be reached in 40 minutes with a 150-kW charger. The design delivers faster acceleration, instant torque, improved efficiency and optimized utilization of energy. Additionally, the Pro-Spotter Electric was designed with the operator in mind for enhanced comfort and a better driving experience.”

As a result, their 300-employee workforce will be increasing. Expansion of the Ridgeland facility is being determined.

“This facility will build about two times as many vehicles in near future as we did this past year,” said Pindar. “We are doubling our production.”

In January 2023, SkyDrive Inc. (“SkyDrive”), a leading electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Toyota, Japan, announced its plans to enter the U.S. market and the establishment of their home base in South Carolina.

They are utilizing the Southern Carolina Landing Pad in Beaufort County which was established by SouthernCarolina Alliance, the City of Beaufort and the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation (EDC).

“The Southern Carolina Landing Pad enables global companies to put feet on the ground in South Carolina by streamlining what can be perceived as an overwhelming process in an unfamiliar market. From regulation and taxation issues to translation or office space, the Landing Pad program will connect businesses to the appropriate service providers, helping them get started in a reliable and cost-effective way,” states Kay Maxwell, Vice President of Marketing for SCA.

Companies locating in the Southern Carolina landing pad can expect:

1. Concierge level assistance on all business and living issues.

2. 90 days free office space in its 10,000 square foot facility (3,400 square feet remodeled in 2020).

3. Free introductory services in the areas of legal, tax, accounting, human resources, engineering, construction, trade, and ports.

4. Assistance on gaining sales.

“By helping businesses make necessary connections and navigate the requirements for doing business in the state, this program allows companies to focus more on securing new North American sales and expanding existing customer bases. The Landing Pad program aims to ensure success for your firm,” added Maxwell.

SkyDrive, which is developing a commercial “flying car,” has outlined its plan to develop an advanced air mobility ecosystem in South Carolina while focusing on building a variety of practical use cases originating from two of its key airports in cooperation with local and state government agencies.”

SkyDrive’s focus has been on working with South Carolina to study practical use cases originating from several of its major airports utilizing the Japanese manufacturer’s eVTOL aircraft, the SD-052.

“The decision to make SCA Region sparking with Electric Power Projects South Carolina our home base and our window into the U.S. market was an easy one considering that it is a significant player in both the commercial and military aviation industries, and it is home to more than 400 aerospace and aviation companies including Boeing and Lockheed Martin. I sincerely believe that the vast number of resources available in South Carolina will provide SkyDrive with a substantial platform that enables us to achieve our goals,” said Tomohiro Fukuzawa SkyDrive’s founder and CEO.

SkyDrive finds South Carolina an ideal location to establish its base of U.S. operations as it has a mild climate throughout the year, abundant tourism, and airports close to city centers, making it a good fit for the utilization of SkyDrive’s SD-05 eVTOL aircraft. It is also home to some of the nation’s most dynamic aerospace companies including Boeing and Lockheed Martin. South Carolina also has a proven ability to excel in advanced aerospace manufacturing, and its robust supply chain includes companies such as the affiliated company of Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd., one of SkyDrive’s major suppliers.

The investments by these companies are just the beginning of the EV industry in South Carolina which has seen $9.6 billion in capital investment statewide in the automotive industry between 2017 and 2023.

In the meantime, the region continues to attract alternative energy projects like Kontrolmatik Pomega, which announced plans in December 2022 to build a 3 gigawattt-hour (GWh) capacity lithium-ion battery factory in Colleton County.

Their $279 million investment will create approximately 575 new jobs.

Located in the Colleton Industrial Campus near Walterboro, Pomega Energy Storage Technologies’s new facility will not only manufacture lithium-ion battery cells, it will also produce the modules and other elements of the company’s containerized energy storage solutions. The factory’s 3GWh capacity will exclusively target the grid-scale energy storage market.

“We are excited about the future for our state, especially in the SCA region,” said Maxwell. “We welcome these industries to our communities and look forward to showing potential industries what we have to offer.”

For more information, go to:

SouthernCarolina Regional Development Alliance – www.southerncarolina.org South Carolina EV – https://scpowersev.com

S.C. Department of Commerce / Electric Vehicles - Electric Vehicle Industry | South Carolina Department of Commerce (sccommerce.com)

TICO – https://ticotractors.com

Krontrolmatik – https://www.kontrolmatik.com/en

SkyDrive Inc. – https://en.skydrive2020.com