plant to manufacture advanced battery cells for electric vehicles. The million Holland plant received 50% of its funding from U.S. Department of Energy matching stimulus funds, and started manufacturing battery systems in 2013. The plant can produce enough cells per year to build between 50,000 and 200,000 battery packs for electric cars and hybrids such as the Chevrolet Volt by General Motors, the Ford Focus Electric, and upcoming plug-in electric vehicles from other carmakers. Its research and development arm, called LG Chem Power, is based in nearby Troy, Michigan. LG Chem Power and LG Chem Michigan were originally one company called Compact Power, Inc. Both the Chevrolet Volt and the Ford Focus Electric initially used cells manufactured in Korea by parent LG Chem and then later switched to cells produced in LG Chem Michigan's Holland plant once it opened. In September 2020, LG Chem unveiled its plan to publicly list its energy division under the name of LG Energy Solution by December. Accidents and incidents Visakhapatnam gas leak On 7 May 2020, a gas leak incident that took place at the LG Polymer plant at Gopalapatnam on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam resulted in the death of 12 people, hospitalization of over 300 and around thousands falling sick. Nearly 3000 people were evacuated from villages in five-kilometre radius of the plant. The gas reportedly started leaking around 2:30am when the workers were preparing to reopen the plant after the lockdown ordered due COVID-19 pandemic was relaxed in the region. Seosan plant explosion On 19 May 2020, an alkylaluminum-based catalyst powder exploded due to high-pressure while being transported at the packing room of the LG Chem plant at Seosan. The explosion exposed the pyrophoric powder to the air, causing a fire. As a result, a 39-year-old researcher died and two more workers suffered second-degree burns. See also List of electric-vehicle-battery manufacturers VinFast References External links Auto parts suppliers of South Korea Chemical companies of South Korea Electric vehicle battery manufacturers Battery manufacturers Solar energy companies Silicon wafer producers Multinational companies headquartered in South Korea Technology companies of South Korea LG Corporation Companies listed on the Korea Exchange Manufacturing companies based in Seoul Chemical companies established in 1947 South Korean companies established in 1947 1960s initial public offerings