Swiss battery maker ReVolt picks Oregon as US base

PORTLAND — A Swiss company developing zinc batteries for electric cars has chosen Portland, Ore., as its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing center.

ReVolt Technology also announced Tuesday it's applying for $30 million in research grants from the U.S. Department of Energy to answer the government's call for technology that drives energy independence.

ReVolt says zinc-based batteries deliver more than twice the energy of lithium-ion batteries, and they're cheaper to produce.

The company plans to start with 75 Oregon workers and later add 175 more.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski (koo-luhn-GAH'-skee) says the state's effort to attract "green" industry has been an effective way to create jobs.

That's important to Oregon because its 11.9 percent unemployment rate is the nation's fifth highest.