Utah is a hot spot for new business transplants so it’s no surprise that a manufacturing company responsible for a whole new industry has chosen it for its headquarters. It’s the fact that within the entire state it has settled in Naples that’s a bit more surprising. EV Labs President and CEO James Lawrence spoke publicly for the first time on Tuesday about the new EV Labs electric vehicle manufacturing plant during a live radio interview on Newstalk KVEL. EV Labs already has a location in Naples with materials coming in. They’ve been quietly building and expect to hire up to 100 people by the end of the year and that is just the beginning. Lawrence explains that they expect to be manufacturing 50,000 vehicles a year within 5 years. The vehicles will focus on electric powertrains, big box trucks, and buses. If you’re having a hard time catching the vision, it’s okay. This is essentially an entirely new industry and something most people are unfamiliar with though it is expected to be the wave of the future. “I feel that we are not just developing a business,” stated Lawrence. “We are developing an industry and I think it is an industry that will benefit the Basin and beyond. I’m fairly certain of that.” For those that ask why an electric vehicle manufacturing plant makes sense here in the Basin, Lawrence emphasizes that nothing is going to replace the diesel engine for a long time but that there is no place he would rather be than the Uintah Basin where people have rural values and a great work ethic. To listen to the in depth 3 part interview, click here: https://basinnow.com/public_affairs.php
