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The battery factory key to Ford EV affordability is said to have been laid for Michigan

Ford is reportedly working with the world’s largest supplier of EV batteries, China’s CATL, for a factory in Michigan that will make them for Ford’s upcoming electric vehicles, according to a report Thursday afternoon. Six words Detroit News And Bloomberg.

Outside of Ford’s $11.4 Billion electric truck production complex in Tennessee and Kentucky and BlueOvalSK Joint Venture with South Korea’s SK On, the site chosen around Marshall, Michigan, could prove to be the most important industrial activity as the automaker seeks higher profits from its electric vehicles.

BlueOvalSK Battery Park - render, September 2021

BlueOvalSK Battery Park – render, September 2021

According to a Detroit News report, the project could create about 2,500 jobs and attract at least $2.5 billion in investment. Under an arrangement that appears to be different from existing joint ventures, Ford will own the land and factories, manage the workforce, and receive any incentives from the state.

According to the report, the facility will manufacture lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, which tend to be cheaper. Because of a more stable supply of the critical materials they need, the materials that go into them are less prone to price fluctuations. But the trade-off is that these cells weigh a bit more than they store, and charging in cold weather can slow down considerably.

CATL third generation cell-to-pack technology

CATL third generation cell-to-pack technology

These may no longer be such drawbacks by the time the car hits the market. CATL has shown LFP cells, combined with its latest cell-to-pack technologycan achieve an energy density close to that of current lithium-ion battery packs.

Ford said last year that LFP battery for Mustang Mach-E, Ford F-150 Lightningand perhaps other products, as they surge, perhaps allowing Ford to lower prices due to pending electric car price war and/or achieve higher profits.

Ford F-150 Lightning 2022

Ford F-150 Lightning 2022

CEO Jim Farley said last week that Ford’s future electric vehicles will be “radically simplified” as it seeks to use the smallest possible battery packs, minimize parts, and streamline the assembly process for upcoming electric vehicles.

According to reports, a facility announcement was due on Monday.



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