Battery plant executives visit board of supervisors

The top leadership of Amplify Cell Technologies, the company partnering with three major commercial vehicle manufacturers to produce lithium ion phosphate batteries in North America, visited the Marshall County Board of Supervisors Jan. 21.

Chief Executive Officer Kel Kearns and Chief Human Resources Officer Jacqueline Jones, made a power point presentation to show progress in plant construction. They provided updates on construction and programs they will implement to hire and retain a workforce of 2,000 at plant completion in 2027.

Kearns brought several batteries to show supervisors and described how the technology works, overall.

District 1 supervisor Charles Terry expressed surprise at the small size of the cells.

“I was expecting batteries much bigger like ones going into cars,” he said. “The ones going into most cars are bigger than this.”

Kearns said he worked 30 years for Ford Motor Company and has worked in five countries. The Byhalia battery plant is the third startup factory he has overseen.

His coworker Jacqueline Jones, who is responsible for hiring for the battery plant, located in Chickasaw Trail Industrial Park, has a background in manufacturing. She worked for Frito Lay in Jackson and 24 years with Kraft Foods, before coming back to work for Lennox HVAC four years and then for Memphis Light Gas and Water as vice president, CHRO of Human Resources.

Her role in startup will be in hiring and promoting job fairs and training.

“We’re about leading battery technology and establishing this technology in the U.S.,” Kearns said. “We aim to be the largest manufacturer of batteries for commercial vehicles.”

The company vision is to produce sustainability for the future using the latest technology.

Batteries for vehicles on the road today are generation one batteries.

“This is a couple of generations beyond that,” he said.

This technology uses the raw materials of lithium, magnesium, iron, phosphate, copper and aluminum in manufacture of the individual cells. Many of these small cells are put together in a module configured specifically for each truck or bus.

Daimler, Paccar and Accelera by Cummins are the three companies who have partnered to create Amplify Cell Technologies to manufacture batteries for their 18-wheelers, heavy trucks and buses.

The plant will occupy 2.2 million square feet. In Phase I, 21 gigawatt hours of battery capacity per year will be used at full-scale production.

Multiple sizes and shapes of cells unique to the product will go into commercial vehicles trucks, buses and 18-wheelers.

Jones said Amplify will form community partnerships to hire and fill the diverse jobs in the facility.

The company will operate a mobile YMCA – trucks and vans – to interface with the community in projects that include meals for kids, educational materials, swim safety instructions and workforce development. It partners with the Byhalia Area Chamber as a sponsor of events.

The startup began with 20 employees in June of 2024 and now has 80 employees. The facility will have up to 200 employees in 2026 and 2,000 in 2027.

Jobs to be filled include chemical and mechanical engineers, technicians, trades people, supervisors, maintenance technicians, materials and logistics specialists, procurement, Information Technology workers and administrators.

A summer internship program or Boot Camp will be put together in Holly Springs and the company will recruit from pools of college graduates and PhD programs to fill technical jobs.

“We’ve got something for everyone,” Jones said. “It’s important to build the right culture, too.” She said the company offers not just jobs, but careers. The company will recruit from local colleges and state universities to provide internships leading to permanent jobs.

Kearns said they are looking for self-starting people who problem solve and are excited.

“There are no glass ceilings,” he said. “A person can move through different rolls when they get out of high school and, in 20 years, take my job.”

Kearns said once the battery’s lifetime is spent, the raw materials are recovered and recycled to use in manufacture of new batteries.

Terry asked how young people can prepare themselves for this new workforce.

“Times have changed and we need to be prepared,” he said.

District 2 supervisor Johnny Walker said it is important to prepare the school children for the new workforce.

“We are trying to prepare them for what’s coming.” he said. “It will be wise (for you) to get in the school system and to get them on the right track.”