RICHMOND- Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Evatran LLC, a subsidiary of MTC Transformers and the manufacturer of the world's first "hands-free" electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), will invest $3.5 million in a new facility in Wytheville in Wythe County that will manufacture Plugless Power™ charging technology for electric vehicles. The project will create 84 new jobs. Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling joined company officials, business and government leaders today on the Governor’s behalf to announce the project. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina and Ohio for the project.
MTC Transformers, a manufacturer of specialized electrical transformers focusing on niche market segments, was founded in Wytheville in 1985. The company started Evatran in April 2009. Evatran officially will separate from MTC Transformers in July 2010.
Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell commented, “The state-of-the-art technology that will be used at Evatran’s new manufacturing facility in Wytheville is vital to the electric vehicle industry. In light of today’s need to ever increase energy conservation, I commend the company’s key involvement in alternative energy solutions such as Plugless Power™. In addition, 84 job opportunities with salaries higher than the region’s average per capita personal income make this project a great win for Wytheville and the Commonwealth overall.”
“Governor McDonnell and I have made clear that our top priority is getting Virginia’s economy moving again and creating new jobs for Virginia’s families,” said Lt. Governor Bill Bolling. “We are very pleased that Evatran has agreed to assist in this effort by investing $3.5 million and creating 84 new jobs in Wythe County. Evatran is developing a revolutionary new technology for the emerging electric vehicle market, and their growing presence in Southwest Virginia will assist us in achieving our goal of making Virginia a leader in developing new and emerging energy technologies. This project is the first step that will eventually lead to the hiring of hundreds of production staff and management personnel over the next five years.”
Evatran is the manufacturer of Plugless Power™, the world's first "hands-free" charging system for electric vehicles. Utilizing a unique dual-component system based on inductive technology, Evatran's Plugless Power™ streamlines the process of charging electric vehicles by eliminating the nuisance of the cord and the plug. The result is a system that is convenient, universal and reliable. Evatran's customers are manufacturers, dealers and drivers of electric or extended-range hybrid vehicles. Other customers utilizing Plugless Power™ may include corporations, municipal governments, utilities, residential developers, homebuilders, retailers and small businesses.
According to Rebecca Hough, co-founder and director of sales and marketing for Evatran, "We are eager to apply the capabilities and dedication of Virginia workers to create a transportation infrastructure that responds to 21st century demands. Evatran is proud to build on the quarter century's worth of domestic job creation begun through our parent company MTC Transformers, one of Virginia's fastest-growing manufacturers. We are delighted that our innovations in clean transportation have so much potential to boost the local economy in Wythe County, our home since 1985.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Wythe County, the Joint Industrial Development Authority of Wythe County, Wytheville, and Rural Retreat, and Virginia’s aCorridor to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $150,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $235,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
“Wythe County is especially pleased to see the continued success of a local company, especially in this challenging time in the economy,” said Wythe “Bucky” Sharitz, Chair of the Wythe County Board of Supervisors.
“The Town of Wytheville is excited about the visibility and opportunity that Evatran provides to participate in the evolving green economy,” voiced Wytheville Mayor Trent Crewe.
Delegate Terry Kilgore, Chairman of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, commented, “This project advances the Tobacco Commission’s goal of creating new jobs and a new economy in Southwest Virginia.”
"Virginia Tobacco Commission Members are extremely proud to make this award,” said Senator Phillip Puckett, a member of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. “The business application and subsequent evaluation report from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership represents initiative for the 21st Century and beyond. The Commission expects Evatran to contribute both a positive economic impact to Southwest Virginia and a strong remedy for our Nation's energy challenges. The R&D Committee [and Tobacco Commission] is excited about awarding the grant to Evatran. It is the beginning of a new era in clean tech manufacturing."