Henderson-based K2 Energy goes from startup to international contender

It was only seven years ago when K2 Energy was operating out of a small office inside the Henderson Business Resource Center.

CEO Johnnie Stoker and three other employees had the grand idea to make a better battery.

“We went from essentially working at a card table to running a worldwide company,” Stoker said, referring to the office space at the Henderson Business Resource Center, a business incubator that provides guidance, assistance and rentable office space for startup companies.

Since 2006, the concept has grown and the company has expanded.

K2 Energy opened its more than 20,000-square-foot facility at 7461 Eastgate Road in Henderson on April 30.

The new facility is designed to carry out battery development and testing, engineering and design, battery pilot and manufacturing lines and an analytical line.

Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen, who attended the grand opening, said the company fits into the city’s mission

“Sustainable practices has been developed as one of Henderson’s goals,” Hafen said. “We welcome K2 Energy because that’s exactly what they are doing — working to promote sustainable energy.”

Hafen added that he was impressed by the company’s ability to grow from the resource center to become a company that operates internationally.

“That’s exactly what America is about,” he said.

Over the years, the company has created a lithium iron phosphate battery, which addresses four issues of lithium technology: safety, life, power and the environment.

The product it designed is smaller, about 30 percent lighter and has a longer life in addition to being a “greener” alternative to the lead acid batteries.

There are two types — an energy battery cell, which is more about duration, and the power battery cell.

The product is distributed in three market categories: energy storage, electric vehicles and consumer.

Part of the company’s ability to grow into a new facility comes from picking up new clients ranging from military contracts to the medical field.

More than a year ago, the company picked up a contract with California utility companies, which use the technology in their boom truck — a utility vehicle with an extendable arm mounted to its roof used to operate on telephone lines.

The battery was a suitable alternative that proved to be better for the environment.

Because of increased contracts over the years, K2 Energy was able to expand its workforce.

The company has 44 employees in Henderson and 27 at its plant in China.

Stoker said the company peaked in the number of employees it had last year.

“We had to scale back a little due to the fiscal cliff,” he said, referring to the automatic tax increases and government decreases the nation faced in 2012.

Stoker added that because of the crises, military contracts were put on hold at the time. However, things are already picking up.

Stoker plans to apply for Nevada’s Catalyst Fund, a grant that invests in companies to promote economic development in the state.

If awarded the funds, the company could receive up to $2 million, which Stoker said could go toward expanding its research and development department.

Looking ahead, Stoker wants to open a factory in Henderson where all the cell development is done.

For more information, visit k2battery.com.

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 702-387-5201.