Industry and university researchers will collaborate on developing cheaper and longer lasting energy storage devices at a new $8 million battery research lab at the University of Michigan. Located within the newly renovated Phoenix Memorial Laboratory, the new lab has received $5 million from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, $2.1 million from Ford Motor Company, and $0.9 million from the U of M College of Engineering.

The new facility will be used for prototyping, testing, and analyzing batteries and the materials that go into them. The facility will be open to both automotive and non-automotive battery makers, and is expected to explore battery opportunities, including the integration of the power grid with solar and wind energy utilizing batteries.