Innovate Alabama Funds Johnson’s Battery Tech

Innovate Alabama is joining investments by NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and NFL All-Pro Myles Garrett by placing a $1-million investment with Mobile native and inventor Lonnie Johnson, AL.com reports. Johnson will use the money for his company, Johnson Energy Storage (JES) of Tuskegee, to research all-solid-state batteries. Johnson is also a former NASA engineer who has spent 25 years researching battery technology and is the creator of the Super Soaker water gun. Innovate Alabama is responsible for allocating funds from the State Small Business Credit Initiative, a federal program reauthorized under the American Rescue Plan Act. JES is among the first companies to receive funding from InvestAL. Many JES engineers and scientists are Tuskegee University alumni, with Johnson also being an alumnus.