Badland Batteries Cuts Ribbon at Battery Cell Manufacturing Facility

North Dakota facility supports defense, aerospace and autonomous systems with American-made battery cells 

FARGO, N.D. (Oct. 8, 2026) — Badland Batteries celebrated the opening of its battery cell manufacturing plant on Oct. 8, in Fargo, N.D. Completion of the building marks a significant milestone in bringing battery innovation to the United States and rebuilding the domestic manufacturing base needed to power defense, aerospace and autonomous systems.

The new 80,000 square foot facility, using a combination of automation and manned equipment, will manufacture lithium-ion pouch battery cells. The grand opening is bringing together federal, state, local, industry and military leaders, highlighting the importance of domestic battery manufacturing and the role North Dakota is playing in advancing American energy resilience and technological leadership.

"Opening this facility marks an important step forward in building a secure and resilient battery supply chain here in the United States," said Terri Zimmerman, CEO of Badland Batteries and Packet Digital. "Simply put, we believe that America should build its own batteries, and this facility represents years of work towards that goal and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to supporting our nation's defense. These battery cells will help power today's and tomorrow's cutting-edge autonomous and UAS systems, which are critical to our nation's security."

More than 80% of batteries and critical materials used in autonomous systems are manufactured overseas, creating significant supply chain vulnerabilities for the United States. Badland Batteries is the first UAS-specific facility to control the entire manufacturing process, starting with raw material sourcing and in-house qualification of those materials. Domestic or allied-sourced raw materials with full traceability sets the foundation at the new battery cell manufacturing facility, creating a reliable and secure supply chain for customers. Once a battery cell is completed, Badland Batteries will be able to assemble customer-ready battery packs at its manufacturing and assembly facility just one mile away.

“Building a strong domestic battery ecosystem is critical to our nation's economic competitiveness and national security. That’s why we’ve worked over the last six years to secure more than $50 million in federal funding to advance these efforts in North Dakota,” Sen. John Hoeven said. “Badland Batteries' investment in North Dakota advances our efforts to strengthen American manufacturing, create high-quality jobs and reduce dependence on foreign sources for critical technologies. This facility demonstrates how North Dakota continues to lead in innovation and contribute to our nation's energy and defense priorities.”

The facility will support growing demand for domestically produced batteries across critical industries, including unmanned aircraft systems, defense platforms, robotics and other advanced technologies. In addition, Badland Batteries has the capacity to increase production based on industry growth, with the ability to produce more than 15,000 battery cells per day.

"This facility is more than a manufacturing plant," Zimmerman said. "It is a statement that America can reshore critical industries, create meaningful careers and develop the technologies that will power the future."