Bosch on Tuesday announced the start of EV motor production at its Charleston, South Carolina, facility, with expansion plans already on deck for 2023.
Production began earlier this month in a 200,000-square-foot section of an existing building at the Charleston site, Bosch said in a press release. The assembly area includes the production of motor rotors and stators—the main components—as well as the final assembly of the motors, according to the company.
2023 Rivian R1S
Bosch plans to add 75,000 square feet to this building in response to an uptick in business and is spending $260 million on that addition, which is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2023.
A spokesperson confirmed to Green Car Reports that initial production is going to Rivian, while the expansion will serve additional customers the company does not want to name yet. Rivian stands out among EV-only automakers as one of the few outsourcing electric motors. The company views this as a cost-saving measure, although it is shifting to in-house motor tech.
Bosch said motors assembled in Charleston can range in power from 50 kW to 500 kW (67 hp to 670 hp) and from 110 lb-ft of torque to 737 lb-ft. They also feature a voltage range of up to 850 volts, with a claimed 98% efficiency.
Opened in 1974, the facility is a key part of Bosch’s pivot away from internal-combustion tech. The company noted that the building now used for electric motor production was previously used to make diesel-engine components.
Bosch Facility in Anderson, South Carolina
Bosch announced this pivot in 2019 after getting caught up in the Volkswagen diesel scandal. It announced in January 2020 that production of diesel-engine components would slowly ramp down but subsequently clarified that it will continue to invest in internal-combustion engine tech for a long time.
Local hydrogen fuel-cell production is also on the way— for Nikola, among others potentially. Bosch in August announced plans to make fuel cells in Anderson, South Carolina, beginning in 2026. The company is an investor in Nikola, which previously discussed plans to use Bosch tech in its fuel-cell semi-trucks.
State funds $550 million in critical port infrastructure projects
CHARLESTON, SC — OCT. 17, 2022 — With great support from South Carolina elected leaders, South Carolina Ports will soon have near-dock rail and an inner-harbor barge operation to ensure fluidity and capacity for the Southeast supply chain.
SC Ports officials and elected officials gathered today in North Charleston to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Navy Base Intermodal Facility. SC Ports is developing the rail-served intermodal yard to provide near-dock rail to the Port of Charleston.
“This resolves the last remaining competitive disadvantage we have as a major East Coast container port,” SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin said. “This critical infrastructure project will greatly enhance SC Ports’ capacity, allowing imports and exports to swiftly move between the hinterland and the Port of Charleston.”
The Navy Base Intermodal Facility sits about one mile from Leatherman Terminal. Containers will be moved to and from the Leatherman Terminal on a dedicated road. Inside the intermodal yard, rail-mounted gantry cranes will lead containers on and off trains.
In partnership with Palmetto Railways, Class I railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern will utilize SC Ports’ state-of-the-art rail yard to further enhance rail competitiveness. Nearly 80,000 feet of rail track will create a capacity of 1 million rail lifts in Phase 1.
The Navy Base Intermodal Facility will also further enhance SC Ports’ successful, rail-served Inland Ports in Greer and Dillon.
SC Ports’ inner-harbor barge operation will support the Navy Base Intermodal Facility by moving containers between Wando Welch Terminal and Leatherman Terminal via a designated marine highway. This creative solution addresses trucking capacity as more cargo continues to flow through SC Ports.
“The inner-harbor barge operation and innovative rail yard will add critical capacity to our port market,” Melvin said. “These investments will further support our customers’ supply chains and attract additional cargo to our port, supporting job creation throughout South Carolina.”
The SC Legislature and Governor Henry McMaster have allocated a total of $550 million to fully fund these projects — $400 million for the rail yard and $150 million for the barge operation.
“We are so grateful to our state leaders for their bold vision and for understanding what South Carolina’s businesses need to be successful,” Melvin said. “Because of their support, our strategic investments in critical port infrastructure will yield dividends to South Carolina for decades to come.”
These projects, which are slated to open in July 2025, will complement the more than $2 billion SC Ports has already invested in its infrastructure and operations to remain competitive as a top 10 U.S. container port.
“South Carolina Ports is widely known as a top driver of our state’s booming economy, but that success doesn’t come overnight or by accident — it takes timely, strategic investment and innovative leadership,” Governor Henry McMaster said. “The latest investment in the Navy Base Intermodal Facility is the next step towards growing not only the Port of Charleston, but our state’s economy as a whole.”
The Navy Base Intermodal Facility is set to open in Jul 2025. (Rendering/SCPA)
Notable quotes from elected leaders
“An investment in our SC Ports is an investment in South Carolina — unlocking new economic potential through new business and new jobs. The Ports’ rail-served intermodal facility and inner-harbor barge operation projects will make South Carolina more competitive and foster economic growth, which is a win for all South Carolinians.”— Speaker Murrell Smith
“The Port has made tremendous investments into its infrastructure in recent years to remain competitive as a top 10 U.S. container port. More than 50% of the port’s economic impact is in the Upstate region. To further that impact, our state is investing in critical, rail-served port infrastructure, which will yield dividends for our state, and the Upstate, for decades to come.” — Senator Harvey Peeler, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee
“By investing in the Navy Base Intermodal Facility and inner-harbor barge operation, we are supporting our supply chain and all the businesses that depend on it to be successful. Having a well-run port with world-class facilities yields significant, lasting economic benefits for our state.” — Chairman Gary Simrill, House Ways and Means Committee
“SC Ports’ growth creates a ripple effect across our state, bringing new economic development, investment and jobs for our citizens. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of the Navy Base Intermodal Facility and inner-harbor barge operation to further benefit our port-dependent businesses.” — Senate President Thomas Alexander
“Many of our industries rely on SC Ports to move their products to global markets. The development of a near-dock, rail-served cargo facility and inner-harbor barge operation is crucial to supporting the efficient flow of goods throughout our state. Our commitment to build vital port infrastructure will ensure South Carolina remains globally competitive for decades to come.” — Senator Larry Grooms, chairman of the S.C. Senate Transportation Committee and the Review and Oversight Commission on the South Carolina State Ports Authority
“South Carolina is one of the few states in the nation with a top 10 U.S. container port. Our continued investment in strategic port infrastructure keeps South Carolina competitive, and SC Ports’ growth brings prosperity and jobs to our state.” — Senator Nikki Setzler, chairman of the Joint Bond Review Fiscal Oversight Subcommittee
“Having a successful port ensures our port-dependent businesses grow. With the support of our SC Legislature, SC Ports will build the Navy Base Intermodal Facility to bring near-dock rail to the Port of Charleston. Our companies will undoubtedly benefit from this well-planned, critical infrastructure project.” — Chairman Bill Sandifer, Chairman of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee and vice chairman of the Review and Oversight Commission on the South Carolina State Ports Authority
“We are proud to invest in these next-generation port infrastructure projects to ensure that we don’t fall behind and that we remain competitive as a state. This is just one of many examples of what our state has done to support our excellent port system, helping to create jobs in communities around the state.” — Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter
“The Port of Charleston is currently the only port on the East Coast without on-dock or near-dock rail. With great support from our SC Legislature, we are now changing that. The Navy Base Intermodal Facility will make SC Ports more competitive. Additionally, the inner-harbor barge operation will benefit the Charleston region by moving more containers via water and train to help reduce highway congestion.” — Representative Leon Stavrinakis
“As state leaders, it is our job to make sure we are bringing economic opportunities to our communities. We are investing in critical port infrastructure to support the growth of our port, which brings significant investment and jobs to our state. By investing today, we look forward to seeing the generational impacts of tomorrow.” — House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford
“When we choose to invest in projects as a state, we do so to create jobs for the hardworking people of South Carolina. Over the years, our investments into port infrastructure have proven to benefit our state. SC Ports’ new rail-served cargo yard and inner-harbor barge operation will also serve a great return on investment for South Carolinians.” — Senator Marlon Kimpson, District 42
“Many South Carolinians depend on the Port of Charleston for their businesses and their livelihoods. As SC Ports grows, our state succeeds. Our continued investment in port infrastructure will create more high-paying jobs for years to come. While SC Ports provides jobs for our citizens, they don’t stop there. They also invest in our communities by supporting local organizations and nonprofits that are boots on the ground.” — Representative Deon Tedder
Notable quotes from project partners
“The Port of Charleston is an important economic engine for South Carolina and plays a critical role in our nation’s supply chain. The Navy Base Intermodal Facility will improve capacity to serve our customers through the Port of Charleston and provide access to markets across the country. We are privileged to be a partner to the Port and provide rail access to their facilities for our customers around the world.” — Ed Elkins, Norfolk Southern Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
“CSX is proud of our long-standing partnership with the state of South Carolina and the South Carolina Ports Authority. We are committed to the development of the Navy Base Intermodal Facility, which will allow CSX to improve service while increasing capacity and efficiency of intermodal rail at the Port of Charleston.” — Maryclare Kenney, CSX vice president of Intermodal and Auto
“As the Southeast economy and the Port of Charleston continue to grow, the demand for transporting more goods in and out of the Charleston region is increasing. The Navy Base Intermodal Facility will add more fluidity and capacity to our supply chain as we move more cargo by rail. We look forward to providing safe and efficient rail service at the rail-served intermodal yard, in partnership with South Carolina Ports, Norfolk Southern and CSX.” —Palmetto Railways CEO Patrick McCrory
About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority, established by the state’s General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. As an economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 225,000 statewide jobs and generate nearly $63.4 billion in annual economic activity. SC Ports is soon to be home to the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet. SC Ports is an industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. Please visit www.scspa.com to learn more about SC Ports.
Coastal Community Foundation is honored to announce Gret Mackintosh as the 2022Griffith-Reyburn Lowcountry Artist of the Year. The Lowcountry Artist of the Year award supports the creation of a new artwork that represents the look and feel of the South Carolina Lowcountry’s lifestyle, culture or environment.
After a 13-year career as a landscape architect, Mackintosh decided in 2018 to focus on her art full-time. She is a painter, working primarily with acrylics, but also with watercolors and oils occasionally. Drawing on her background, Mackintosh’s work is often nature-inspired, with her latest pieces focusing on aerial views of the Charleston region.
For the Griffith-Reyburn award, Mackintosh plans to paint an aerial map of the Charleston peninsula framed by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers on each side. While the medium, size and subject of this piece will be similar to her previous work, this will be her first time painting a more detailed depiction of downtown Charleston.
“Maps are relatable to everyone, that’s the neatest thing about them,” said Mackintosh. “The Lowcountry is so full of character of all types: a rich history of land, waterways and natural features that shape our lives every day, roads and bridges and the urban areas that provide connections. This painting will tell a unique story of the Lowcountry.”
The Lowcountry Artist of the Year award was established at Coastal Community Foundation in 2003 by Mike Griffith and Donna Reyburn. The $6,000 grant is intended to cover the artist’s living expenses during the creation of the piece, allowing more time and energy to be spent on the artistic process.
Once complete in the fall of 2022, the piece will remain the personal property of the artist, to keep, show or sell at her discretion. Mackintosh’s past work can be found online at gretmackintosh.com.
Specialty outdoor retailer REI Co-op will open a new store in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina in fall 2022. The location will offer a wide assortment of apparel, gear and expertise for camping, cycling, running, fitness, hiking, paddling, climbing and more. For those who adventure on two wheels, a full-service bike shop will be staffed by certified mechanics.
“We look forward to opening a third store in South Carolina and being a resource to REI members and the broader outdoor community in and around Mount Pleasant,” said Jacki Harp, REI regional director.
“Our local team will also seek partnerships with outdoor nonprofits to support their efforts in protecting natural places and welcoming more people outside.”
Store Facts
Address: Indigo Square; 1720 Shoremeade Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464. The location, a former grocer, is near US 17 and SC 517
REI Co-op Membership: More than 167,000 members in South Carolina, and more than 28,000 members in the region
Closest REI Stores: Columbia, S.C. (119 miles away); Pineville, N.C. (204 miles away), Greenville, S.C. (207 miles away) and Atlanta, Ga. (316 miles away)REI Stores in South Carolina: Columbia (opened 2020) and Greenville (opened 2011)
As the country’s largest consumer co-op, anyone is welcome to shop and tap into the company’s resources in support of an active lifestyle. Members who join the co-op enjoy a range of benefits, including a used gear trade-in program; discounts on experiences, rentals and shop services; a share of the co-op’s annual profits based on qualifying purchases; and more.
REI actively partners with nonprofits across the nation to steward and maintain local trails and public lands to connect more people to the outdoors. Last year, the co-op invested $7.1 million in more than 450+ nonprofits across the country. Over the last five years, the co-op has invested nearly $184,000 in South Carolina-based land agencies and nonprofit partners. Recent recipients include Anne Springs Close Greenway, Conestee Foundation Inc., Friends of Harbison State Forest, Friends of Paris Mountain, Friends of Sesqui, and Palmetto Conservation Foundation.
The co-op launched the REI Cooperative Action Fund last year, a community-supported public charity designed to harness the collective power of the co-op’s members and employees to build a more just, equitable and inclusive outdoor culture. Black Girls RUN! Foundation chapters in Charleston, Columbia, Florence/Myrtle Beach and Greenville/Spartanburg received grants in the first round of funding.
Join the REI team
REI expects to hire approximately 50 employees for REI Mount Pleasant. Candidates interested in joining the REI team can apply online at REI.com/jobs and a timeline for hiring is here. Candidates can set up a job alert on the co-op’s career site to be notified when positions are posted. New employees will receive a wide variety of benefits, including generous product and service discounts, competitive pay and retirement contributions. REI employees also enjoy unique perks, such as two paid “Co-op Way Days” each year that allow them to enjoy their favorite outdoor activity and an additional paid day off on Black Friday to encourage all employees to #OptOutside.
About the REI Co-op
REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of 21.5 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service.
REI has 178 locations in 42 states and the District of Columbia. If you can’t visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app. REI isn’t just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI’s active adventure travel company that runs more than 100 itineraries across the country. In many communities where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner-to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to—and steward—the outdoor places that inspire us all.
Alot.com has named its 25 Top Hippie Hideouts in the United States and our beloved Folly Beach made the list.
The publication described Folly Beach by saying:
“Charleston, South Carolina might be the most famous trendy city in the state, but if you want a real hippie experience, you’re going to want to travel a few miles south of the city to the town of Folly Beach. This place is so far out that you might not even realize you’re still in South Carolina!
Though you might not realize it, Folly Beach is prime real estate for surfing, so the town attracts all sorts of laid-back, beach bum types—perfect for any hippie at heart! After a day of surfing, you might even find that a drum circle has spontaneously coalesced on the shore. And don’t forget to give Bert’s 24-hour market when the munchies hit at strange times!”
Charleston, South Carolina is known as the Holy City because there are more than 187 churches. Its churches have shaped the city and several of them are worth walking through!
“What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?” – Henry David Thoreau
Imagine that, today would have marked the 82nd birthday of John Lennon and yesterday marked the 51st anniversary of the release of “Imagine”
Thank goodness the dreamers still live on…
About Imagine
This Day in History: October 8, 1971
On this day in 1971, October 8, one of the greatest songs ever written was released. On October 8, 1971, one day before his 31st birthday, John Lennon released “Imagine”, a song that today, still provides a global message of peace, love, and unity. Its words, so simple and clear, resonate with power and emotion.
Let us take a few moments to listen to his words and think about how we make the world a better place
John Lennon, the Dreamer
John Lennon was a man who led a revolt, a revolt for peace around the world. Tolerance and acceptance are sometimes the most simple yet most difficult things to achieve. John believed in both. He united children, adults, enemies, and families and taught us to love one another through selfless actions and generosity.
John didn’t believe in religious differences, race or ethnic differences, or social barriers. He believed in the goals of respect, equality, and peace.
Deep down inside, once you shed the fame and celebrity status, was a simple man who created a vision with his music that so many of us try to adhere to each and every day.
He only asked one thing of all of us and that is to look inside ourselves for the truth.
John once said “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” Think about that statement. We all share a common goal in life and that is happiness. Some find happiness in material wealth while others find it in the comfort of being surrounded by loved ones. He broke the barriers of difference and promoted individual thought coated with the bond of true love.
John transcended reality and fantasy and made it one. He wanted us to believe in everything and the magic it has to offer.
Here are just a few of the most inspirational words he was able to share during his living years:
“Everything is clearer when you’re in love.”
“I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now?”
“If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that’s his problem. Love and peace are eternal.”
“Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.”
“It doesn’t matter how long my hair is or what color my skin is or whether I’m a woman or a man.”
“Love is the answer, and you know that for sure; Love is a flower, you’ve got to let it grow.”
“My role in society, or any artist’s or poet’s role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all.”
“The more I see the less I know for sure.”
“We’ve got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can’t just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it’s going to get on by itself. You’ve got to keep watering it. You’ve got to really look after it and nurture it.”
From all the musicians, poets, mothers, fathers, children and dreamers, Thank you John for inspiring all of us with the poetry of love.
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