Construction crews have made progress on separate projects to transition Honda’s three Ohio production plants to lead the automaker’s electrical vehicle (EV) production in North America.
The $3.5 billion megaproject to construct a joint venture EV battery plant with LG Energy Solutions in Jeffersonville has gained significant attention. Work has also begun at Honda facilities in Marysville, Anna and East Liberty in preparation for the electrified vehicle era.
Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Dorsey Hager confirmed that the EV battery plant construction in Fayette County is on track.
Construction on the 2 million-square-foot plant exterior is complete.
Honda plans to start producing battery prototypes by Oct. 1, forcing construction crews to finish as much construction as possible before the end of 2024. Full production, with batteries going to market, is planned for next summer.
The work done by affiliated members of the building trades to upgrade the Marysville, Anna Engine and East Liberty plant is vital to creating Honda’s North American EV hub in Ohio.
Honda is investing roughly $700 million to retool the three plants, and as of mid-April, Hager said construction work at all three locations is on schedule.
“The three sites will create a total of about 800 construction jobs,” Hager said.
The EV battery plant is being built under a Project Labor Agreement, but Hager said the work at the three plants will not be performed under such an agreement. However, the majority of the work will be done by union construction workers.
All trades will work on these projects at some point. Currently, electrical workers, carpenters, laborers, iron workers and pipefitters are on the job.
Steady work expected for the next year
The work at all three Honda plants involves assembly line upgrades and the installation of high-pressure die-cast machinery. The Marysville plant will consolidate its two production lines into one so employees can produce EVs and vehicles powered by internal combustion engines (ICE) on the same line.
Construction crews have removed most of Maryville’s second line, creating extra space to make it easier for Honda employees on the line to move. This will enhance efficiency in delivering parts and staging vehicles for assembly.
Once production begins, the Marysville plant will supply the units needed to produce EVs within the facility and at East Liberty.
At East Liberty, construction is underway to create a single production line capable of producing EVs, which are much heavier than current gasoline-powered vehicles. Crews are strengthening the overhead conveyor system, which will carry the vehicles through the plant.
The Anna engine plant currently manufactures various parts, including engines, engine components, transmissions, camshafts and crankshafts.
Once the retooling is complete, Honda employees will build the case that houses EV batteries and serve as the main frame structure for the floor of all Honda and Acura EVs.
To achieve this goal, construction crews will install six, 6,000-ton high-pressure die-cast machines to make the cases.
“The building boom and the electric vehicle industry is directly benefiting our affiliated unions and our affiliated members by providing more middle-class jobs and career opportunities,” Hager said.
According to Hager, construction and renovation work at all three Ohio Honda plants will be completed by the fall of 2025.
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