Tesla, UNLV to partner on battery research

LAS VEGAS — Electric car company Tesla is planning to unveil a formal research partnership with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

UNLV President Len Jessup is scheduled to join a Tesla vice president and Gov. Brian Sandoval for an announcement ceremony on Wednesday at UNLV’s campus.

Tesla is planning on funding the research, which will focus on battery manufacturing.

Nevada lawmakers approved nearly $1.3 billion in tax incentives last year to attract the car company to the state. Tesla is building a “gigafactory” east of Reno that could be producing car batteries next year.