Fortescue Zero’s major advancement in battery development for EVOA

Fortescue Zero (ASX: FMG) will begin operations at its US Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Detroit, by producing a high-voltage (HV) marine battery pack using its scalable battery module (SBM) technology.

The standardised subpack has been designed, engineered and will be used by advanced marine propulsion expert, EVOA, as the launch customer, to power a range of luxury marine vessels, including wake boats and tenders.

Fortescue’s SBM technology allows for the creation of standardised and customised battery packs with quick turnaround.

The marine battery pack being produced for EVOA is a high-performance lightweight product, delivering 30-34kWh, engineered to support EVOA’s powertrain (capable of up to 1,000 horsepower), has fast-charging capability in under 30 minutes and can be configured as a multi-pack power system (up to 6 subpacks).

Fortescue Energy chief executive Mark Hutchinson comments on this.

“Fortescue Zero is uniquely positioned with the expertise and experience to deliver the solutions needed to provide the zero emissions power systems to a wide range of sectors eager to decarbonise,” he said.

“The marine battery packs we have designed and will manufacture for EVOA in Detroit is just the beginning of what is possible with the technology we have created.

“Our scalable battery module product is flexible and adaptable for a range of products and markets.

“We’ve pushed innovation and engineering to the limit everywhere from racetracks to mine sites and now our customers get to see the benefits of our real-world experience and get a neat solution for their battery needs that helps minimise investment and risk in their design and development program.

“Fortescue’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre is also the perfect place to deliver these products.

“It is a fresh start for the birthplace of the automotive industry, bringing a new generation of manufacturing projects that will help decarbonise business and heavy industry, and in turn create a strong future for manufacturing jobs in the United States.

EVOA co-founder and managing partner Mike Anderson also comments on this.

“Electrifying a wake boat is not an easy task, but we were confident from the beginning that working with Fortescue Zero would position EVOA as a leader in the marine market,” he said.

“We believe that to be true now more than ever given the support and dedication that we have received from the Fortescue team.

“We needed an energy system that delivers the power to keep a wake boat with a driver and at least seven of their best friends on plane, without issue, all day long as this is our most demanding application.

“Fortescue delivered just that.”

Production at Fortescue’s Piquette Avenue facility is expected from Q4 2025.

Construction began last year on refurbishing the site of Fortescue’s US Advanced Manufacturing Centre, preparing it to become a major production hub of automotive, marine and heavy industry batteries, fast chargers and other green technologies.

The SBMs will be the first of many battery components coming online at the site, which ultimately has the potential to create hundreds of local manufacturing jobs in the US.