Georgia’s “All-in” Approach to Drive Electric Transportation Investment is Paying Three-Fold

Georgia’s “All-In” Approach to Drive Electric Transportation Investment is Paying Three-Fold

Electric Transportation (ET) is here, and Georgia is attracting a significant national market share of investment. First, there was the major announcement in 2018 of a $2.6 billion SK Innovation battery plant in Commerce, Georgia that included two phases of production investment. This plant will produce enough batteries for 200,000 electric vehicles (EV) and employ 3,000 workers by 2023, an increase in staffing from initial figures. Next came Rivian’s EV plant announcement employing 7,500 in Social Circle. Most Recently, Hyundai Motor Group announced plans to build their first fully dedicated electric vehicle (EV) and battery manufacturing facility in the Savannah region, adding $5.54 billion of capital investment and approximately 8,100 jobs.

These recent wins are just one part of the story, with the total employment in the ET space being nearly 20,000 jobs and $14 billion in capital investment for Georgia.

How did Georgia become a leader in Electric Transportation?

While it may seem like the electric transportation industry just arrived, Georgia has been supporting the growth of the local EV industry for consumers and manufacturers for the past several years.

As the growth of this industry sped forward, so did the collaboration between government, businesses, electric utilities, universities, nonprofits, and other relevant stakeholders.

Last year, these groups mobilized to prepare for the future of electric transportation, including forming The National Electric Highway Coalition (NEHC) and The Georgia Electric Mobility and Innovation Alliance (EMIA).

The National Electric Highway Coalition (NEHC) is a collaboration among electric companies committed to providing EV fast-charging stations to allow the public to drive EVs with confidence along major U.S. travel corridors.

The Georgia Electric Mobility and Innovation Alliance (EMIA), announced by Governor Brian Kemp in July 2021, is led by the Georgia Department of Economic Development and constitutes a statewide initiative between government, industries, electric utilities, nonprofits, and other relevant stakeholders. The partnership is focused on growing the electric mobility ecosystem in the state and strengthening Georgia’s EV ecosystem.

“By bringing together industry leaders and our public and private sector partners, we are proactively developing a roadmap that will keep Georgia at the forefront of electric mobility and innovation," said Pat Wilson, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) at the time of the EMIA announcement.

University research is also playing a big part in the lure of Georgia as a hub for ET. Recently, SK announced plans to work with Georgia Tech to advance next-generation batteries.

These partnerships and proactive planning have helped Georgia become a top destination for EV manufacturers and suppliers. The state is already the heart of the Southeastern Automotive Corridor and is racing ahead as the epicenter for electric transportation technology.

Since 2018, EV companies have created approximately 19,900 jobs and generated $13.78 B in capital investment. EV manufacturers from Korea, Germany, Turkey, and beyond have all opened EV facilities in Georgia, and more companies are on their way.

"The collaboration between the State, local communities, and utility partners in Georgia is unparalleled. Many people dedicated endless hours to supporting Hyundai Motor Group during the selection process in Georgia, and we all look forward to working with them as they grow in Georgia," Ashley Varnum, Business Recruitment Director.

At Georgia Power, our team is excited to be a part of the innovation and future of transportation and energy. We are collaborating statewide and beyond to support the EV industry.

From promoting available sites for future facilities to investing an additional $6 million over three years in fast-charging infrastructure- at Georgia Power, we are partners in powering the growth of electric transportation.