Electrovaya Targets Data Centers, Defense as Jamestown Battery Plant Nears 2027 Launch

Electrovaya Targets Data Centers, Defense as Jamestown Battery Plant Nears 2027 Launch Electrovaya expects its Jamestown, New York, plant to begin commercial production by late March or early April 2027. The 137,000-square-foot facility is supported by a CAD$51 million EXIM Bank loan and could generate approximately CAD$10 million annually through Section 45X manufacturing tax credits. The company is expanding beyond forklift batteries into data-center energy storage, robotics, airport equipment and defense . Its new 1,500-volt system is designed for rapid, short-duration power balancing, with deliveries expected after the Jamestown facility becomes operational. Electrovaya is emphasizing battery safety and longevity, citing ceramic separators, more than 40,000 batteries in operation without safety incidents and an expected lifespan of roughly 15,000 cycles. Management reported $72 million in trailing-12-month revenue, $12 million in adjusted EBITDA and 13 consecutive quarters of positive adjusted EBITDA. Electrovaya NASDAQ: ELVA plans to expand its battery manufacturing footprint and enter additional markets including data-center energy storage, robotics, airport ground-support equipment and defense, CFO John Gibson said during a company presentation. The Mississauga, Ontario-based battery technology and manufacturing company is preparing to open its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Jamestown, New York. Gibson said the facility is expected to begin commissioning equipment in December and produce commercially viable products by the end of March or early April 2027. Focus on Battery Safety and Longevity Gibson said Electrovaya’s core competitive position is based on the safety and longevity of its lithium-ion batteries, particularly for material-handling applications such as forklifts. The company uses a ceramic separator rather than the polymer separators used in many conventional lithium-ion batteries, he said. According to Gibson, polymer separators can shrink when exposed to heat, potentially contributing to thermal runaway. Electrovaya’s ceramic separator is designed not to shrink under heat, he said, and the company has more than 40,000 batteries in operation with no safety incidents. He said the company’s claims have been tested by third parties including UL and TÜV. Gibson said conventional lithium-ion batteries may deliver roughly 4,000 to 5,000 cycles, while Electrovaya’s offerings are designed for approximately 15,000 cycles. He said this can extend battery life in high-use applications from roughly two to four years to more than eight years. In addition to safety and longevity, Gibson said Electrovaya batteries provide consistent power throughout their charge cycle, unlike lead-acid batteries, whose performance can decline as they discharge. The company’s material-handling customers include Amazon, Walmart and Home Depot, while its partners include Toyota, Raymond, Bastian Solutions and Jabil. Jamestown Facility and Tax-Credit Opportunity The Jamestown site is a 137,000-square-foot facility on a 52-acre campus, Gibson said. He said the location offers low-cost electricity, support from local and state entities, and room for future expansion. Equipment for the facility was undergoing factory acceptance testing in Korea, according to Gibson. After testing is complete, the equipment is expected to be disassembled, shipped to Jamestown and installed there. Gibson said the company has secured a CAD$51 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of the United States, or EXIM Bank, to fund equipment purchases for the plant. Electrovaya also refinanced working capital last year through a $25 million asset-based lending facility from the Bank of Montreal, he said.