KEY QUOTE: “Plans by Panasonic Energy Co. Ltd. to build a $4 billion electric-vehicle battery plant in De Soto bring the promise of 4,000 jobs. More than that, they position the region as a new player amid a sea change in how the world powers vehicles and other products of everyday life.”

How Small Batteries Like this One will Power KC

-- “We will be the production epicenter for batteries that will power the increasing demand for EVs and a more sustainable world,” Laura Kelly said at a July 13 news conference. “A new facility of this size is transformational not only for Johnson County, but also for the surrounding area. ... We’ve shown that the state of Kansas is truly a winning investment for companies small, large and mega-sized.”

-- The facility is expected to generate 4,000 direct jobs. That would rank Panasonic No. 11 on the Kansas City Business Journal’s most recent Private-Sector Employers List. And although Panasonic would share that slot with Amazon.com Inc., the battery plant expects to pay employees $50,000 a year on average.

-- Officials anticipate the De Soto plant creating an additional 4,000 jobs for suppliers and local businesses, as well as 16,500 construction jobs. All told, the project will generate $2.5 billion in annual economic impact, according to a study by Wichita State University.

-- Demand for electric vehicles is surging, even as overall new-car sales have lagged. Sales of electrified vehicles — battery, hybrid or fuel-cell powered — rose nearly 13% during the second quarter compared with a year earlier, according to Kelley Blue Book. During the quarter, electrified vehicles made up 12.6% of the U.S. market.