New lithium battery facility opens in Sacramento, creating clean energy jobs

The referenced article was published by the KCRA 3 on October 8, 2024.

 

Sparkz Celebrates Opening of New lithium Battery Material and Cell Manufacturing Facility in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, CA – Sparkz, a leader in domestic lithium battery material and cell production, marked a major milestone today with the official ribbon-cutting of its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at the Sacramento County Metro Air Park. This facility, which will play a key role in the clean energy transition, was inaugurated by distinguished federal, state, and local leaders, including Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Congressman Ami Bera, and Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra, CEO of Sparkz, among others.

The event celebrated Sparkz’s commitment to onshoring lithium battery production, creating jobs, and driving innovation in California’s clean energy sector. The facility will focus on manufacturing battery material and cells that are essential for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.

 

Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra, CEO of Sparkz, shared his excitement about the new facility’s potential:
“This facility represents more than just a manufacturing hub – it’s a symbol of our commitment to making the United States a leader in clean energy production. Sparkz is dedicated to driving the innovation needed to combat climate change, create good-paying jobs, and strengthen the country’s energy independence.”

 

Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis emphasized the importance of this investment for California’s economy:
“Today’s opening is a testament to the future of California as a hub for clean energy and manufacturing. Sparkz’s investment here in Sacramento is bringing jobs, driving innovation, and contributing to our climate goals. California is proud to lead the way in making the U.S. a global leader in clean energy technologies.”

 

State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who also spoke at the event, highlighted the economic benefits of the facility:
“Sparkz is not only leading the charge in battery manufacturing but also demonstrating the role that clean energy plays in creating economic growth. With public financing and private investment working hand-in-hand, this facility will drive California’s economy forward while advancing our transition to a more sustainable future.”

 

Congressman Ami Bera focused on the national impact of Sparkz’s efforts:
“By investing in domestic battery production, Sparkz is helping to secure the U.S. supply chain for critical clean energy components. This facility will create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, support U.S. energy independence, and reinforce our country’s leadership in the fight against climate change.”

The Sparkz facility is expected to generate hundreds of local jobs, contributing significantly to the Sacramento region’s economy while positioning California at the forefront of sustainable energy innovation.

 

About Sparkz
Sparkz is a leader in battery technology, specializing in the production of next-generation batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. The company is dedicated to driving the clean energy transition through innovation, sustainability, and onshoring manufacturing to the United States.

 

For media inquiries, please contact Abby Rodriguez at [email protected].

Founder & CEO

Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra

Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra is the founder and CEO of Sparkz—the battery start-up reinventing the energy supply chain.

 

Malhotra has been a leader in the energy sector for nearly three decades as a founder, investor and executive. Most recently, he served as the inaugural director for the Energy Investor Center at the U.S Department of Energy (DOE), serving under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

 

At DOE, Malhotra led the Obama Administration’s initiative to boost public-private partnerships to accelerate the commercialization of technologies developed in national research centers like Oak Ridge National Labs.

 

Malhotra was recruited to the Department of Energy after a successful exit of Oorja Protonics—the world leader in methanol fuel cells—which he founded and led as CEO for 10 years. Oorja raised $50 Million in equity financing from leading VCs such as Sequoia, DAG Ventures, Artis Capital and others during his tenure. He boosted Oorja’s revenue and profitability growth, while expanding operations globally in Japan, China, South Africa, Mexico, and India.

 

Oorja was acquired in 2014 by the Private Equity firm MinXing Growth Fund.

 

As an investor and consultant, Malhotra has worked at leading venture capital firms, including Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers as an advisor on clean energy and advanced materials.

 

Earlier in his career, Malhotra led the engineering and product development team at H Power, a pioneer in hydrogen fuel cells. As part of the management team, he managed the successful IPO, which raised more than $100 million in August 2000.

 

He began his career as a post-doctoral fellow at the renowned Lawrence Berkeley National Labs on electrochemical storage systems. Dr. Malhotra has authored seven patents and more than 40 publications in various fields of energy storage technology and materials. He holds a PhD in chemical engineering and an M.B.A from University of Iowa.